Migration and Early Americans
What is the Beringia land bridge, and why was it important?
Beringia was a land bridge between Asia and North America that allowed early peoples to migrate to the Americas.
What was the primary food crop of the Mayan civilization?
Maize (corn) was the primary food crop of the Maya.
What role did religion play in the Aztec empire?
Religion was central to the Aztec empire, with rituals, ceremonies, and human sacrifices conducted to honor their gods.
What were the mounds built by the Mound Builders used for?
The mounds were used for religious ceremonies, burials, and as platforms for buildings.
How did the environment influence the lifestyle of the peoples of the Great Plains?
The Great Plains peoples were nomadic, following buffalo herds and living in portable shelters like tepees to adapt to the open, flat land.
What major event helped expose the Beringia land bridge?
The Ice Age caused sea levels to drop, exposing the land bridge.
What method did the Inca use to farm in the mountainous regions?
The Inca used terrace farming, carving flat areas into the mountains to grow crops.
How did the Maya track time and important events?
The Maya created complex calendars to track time, important events, and astronomical cycles.
How did the Anasazi adapt to their desert environment?
The Anasazi built cliff dwellings and used irrigation to farm in arid desert regions.
What technique do scientists use to estimate the age of ancient artifacts?
Carbon dating is used to determine the age of artifacts.
What kind of lifestyle did the first Americans live?
The first Americans were nomadic hunter-gatherers who followed large game.
How did the Mayans and Aztecs adapt their environments to support large populations?
The Mayans built cities in jungles, while the Aztecs created floating gardens, to farm on lakes.
Which civilization was located in present-day Mexico and built large cities like Tenochtitlán?
The Aztec civilization built large cities, including their capital, Tenochtitlán.
What form of shelter did the Inuit build, and what materials did they use?
The Inuit built igloos out of snow and ice as shelter in the Arctic region.
What is archaeology, and how does it help us understand early peoples?
Archaeology is the study of ancient peoples through their artifacts. It helps reconstruct their lifestyles and migration patterns.
How did early peoples adapt after the extinction of large animals like mammoths?
They turned to hunting smaller animals, fishing, and gathering plants, and eventually developed farming.
What farming technique did the Eastern Woodlands peoples use to grow their crops?
The Eastern Woodlands peoples used the “three sisters” farming method, growing maize, beans, and squash together.
What was the significance of the Inca road system?
The Inca built an extensive road system to connect their empire, facilitating communication, trade, and military movement.
What was the primary resource for the Plains peoples, and how did they use it?
The buffalo was essential to the Plains peoples for food, clothing, shelter, and tools.
How did the Iroquois Confederacy promote peace among its members?
The Iroquois Confederacy was formed by five nations to create unity and peace among the groups, using a council to make decisions.
What crop played a crucial role in the development of permanent villages in the Americas?
Maize (corn) became a staple crop that allowed early peoples to settle and form permanent communities.
How did farming change the social structure of early American societies?
Farming allowed for population growth, permanent settlements, and the development of more complex societies and cultures.
What was the significance of quipus in the Inca empire?
Quipus were a system of knotted strings used by the Inca to record information, including population data and resource management.
What were the two main resources that shaped the cultures of the Pacific Northwest peoples?
The Pacific Northwest peoples relied heavily on the sea (for fishing) and forest resources for their culture and economy.
How did geography and climate shape the diversity of Native American cultures across North America?
Different environments, from deserts to forests to coasts, led to the development of diverse cultures, with each group adapting to local resources and climate.