Early American Civilizations
Olmec
Southern Mexico, discovered practical uses for rubber, known as "rubber people"
Southwest indians
cliff dwellers, adobe houses, Navajo, Pueblo, Apache, Hope Tribes
Juan Ponce de Leon
First spaniard to explore florida
Sir Walter Raleigh
English nobleman, organized two expeditions to Roanoke Island
Mansa Musa
considered the wealthiest man to ever live. In 1300's, his pilgrimage to Mecca caused economic havoc everywhere he visited
Maya
their studies of the sun, moon, and stars were used to create a 365 day calendar
Artic and subarctic Indians
lived in igloos, hunted caribou, whales, seals, and walruses
Franciso Coronado
Spanish explorer, saw Grand Canyon
Jamestown
first permanent colony established in 1607, first colonists were seeking gold, silver, and adventure; tobacco became a profitable cash crop
Esteban
survived a shipwreck and captivity in the early 1500's and may have been the first African in North America
Aztec
warrior empire, built Tenochtitlan from drained swamp land, their leader was Montezuma
Southeast indians
mound builders, used these mounds as tombs for religious ceremonies; Seminole, Cherokee, and Creek tribes
Henando do Soto
Spanish explorer, started in Florida, traveled to Mississippi River
Captain John Smith
declared that any man who did not work would not eat
Middle Passage
journey that slaves made under horrible conditions from Africa to the America's
Spanish conquistadors (conquerors)
overthrew the Aztec empire through warfare and disease
Animisim
the belief that all natural objects (both living and non-living) have souls. Indian priests and shamans attempted to communicate with these spirits
Leif Ericson
Viking adventurer, founded Vinland (which became present day Newfoundland)
Virginia House of Burgess
first representative assembly in America 1619
Christopher Columbus
turned to the support of Spain's King Ferdinand and Queen Isabella to finance his voyage
Following the Tower of Babel, people scattered across the earth
One theory is that the pope crossed a land bridge the linked Asia to Alaska to get to America's
Nomadic
peoples constantly on the move in search of game (wild animals hunted for food)
Sir Francis Drake
English sailor, plundered Spanish ports in South America
Pocahontas
Indian girl kidnapped by the English, converted to Christianity, changed her name to Rebecca, later married John Rolfe, traveled to England and met King James 1
Spanish exploration focused on...
French exploration focused on...
French settled along the St Lawrence and Mississippi Rivers and Great Lakes