Pre-Columbian SocietiesOBJECTIVE #2: LOCATE AND DESCRIBE THE NATIVE AMERICAN EMPIRES IN MESOAMERICA, THE SOUTHWEST, AND THE MISSISSIPPI VALLEY

Native American Civilizations in the South

The most elaborate civilizations developed in South America Peru (the Incas created the largest empires in the Americas) Mexico (the Meso-Americans and Olmec people also developed a

great civilization) In Central America and the Yucatan peninsula of Mexico the Mayan

Civilization became the most sophisticated civilization Written language Number system Calendar Agricultural system Trade routes

Native American Civilizations in the South

The Mayans were eventually taken over by the Aztecs (who called themselves the Mexica)

The Aztec capitol was Tenochtitlan and it became the most advanced/organized city up to that point Large buildings Schools Organized military Medical system Slave work force Trade system

Native American Civilization in the North

The Native American civilizations in the North were primarily hunting and gathering societies

In Alaska, the Eskimos fished and hunted and tribes in the Pacific North West and East led “nomadic” lives and fished salmon

Other North American societies were agricultural and focused on farming and built irrigation systems

Native American Civilization in the South East

The east was covered in forests and was inhabited by the “Woodland Indians”

In the Mississippi Valley there were several different tribes including: Iroquois Cherokee Muskogean Seminoles

The Iroquois

The Iroquois included five distinct Native American nations and would become the most powerful Native American tribe in the Northeast

They developed a political system that helped build their tribe to be the largest and strongest