The First Americans
Why do scientists think people first migrated to the Americas?
To search for hunting grounds for food
Which civilization came first? Olmec, Maya, Aztec, or Inca?
Olmec
Which groups were known as the Mound Builders?
Adena, Hopewell, and Mississippian
The Aztec government was ruled by religious leaders. What is that called?
Theocracy
What kind of objects do scientists study to learn about the past?
Artifacts
What is the name of the land bridge that connected Asia and North America?
Beringia
What did early civilizations start doing instead of only hunting?
Farming
What did the Mound Builders make large mounds out of?
Dirt
What did the Aztecs see that showed them where to build their city?
An eagle holding a snake on a cactus
What did farming allow people to do?
Stay in one place and build villages
What happened to Beringia after the Ice Age ended?
It was covered by water
What crops did the Aztecs grow?
Corn (Maize), Beans, Squash
What was the biggest Mound Builder city?
Cahokia
What city did the Aztecs build on a lake?
Tenochtitlan
What made the Inca’s mountain farming possible?
Terraces (steps cut into the mountains)
What tool helps scientists find out how old artifacts are?
Carbon dating
What was the capital city of the Inca Empire?
Cuzco
What designs were the mound builders known for?
Serpents
What type of farming did the Aztecs use to grow crops on water?
Floating gardens (chinampas)
Which civilization made giant stone heads?
The Olmec
Name three reason people may have moved from Asia to the Americas?
to find food, better weather, and new land
Put these civilizations in the right order from oldest to newest: Olmec, Maya, Aztec, Inca.
Olmec → Maya → Aztec → Inca
What were mounds used for?
Burials, ceremonies, and homes for leaders
Name two ways the Inca built their empire.
Built roads, farmed on terraces, had strong leaders, lived in the Andes Mountains
How were the Aztec and Inca alike?
Both had strong leaders, large cities, and advanced farming methods