Native American Civilizations Ancient America Civilizations of the

Native American Civilizations Ancient America

Civilizations of the South n Of all Native American societies, those in the South were the most elaborate – Incas § § – Mayas § § – Located in Peru, the Incas created an empire of perhaps 6 million people. Created a complex political system and had a large network of paved roads Very sophisticated written language and accurate calendar. Advanced agricultural system as well. Aztecs § § Built a large infrastructure Included a very harsh religion that often centered around human sacrifice.

Southern Civilizations Continued All three of these societies had economies based on agriculture, but each had distinct cities. n Tenochtitlan, the Aztec capital and present Mexico City, had a population of 100, 000 in 1500, larger than any European city n

Northern Civilizations n Northern societies did not develop vast empires as those of the south did. n Most of these civilizations were based on hunting and gathering. – Eskimos of the Arctic Circle fished and hunted seals.

Mobile Societies n Agricultural societies in the Northeast were mobile than others. – Their farming techniques were designed to exploit the land quickly § Would set forest fires to clear the land § Plant crops like corn, beans, squash, etc § Once the land was exhausted from farming or from the settlement, they would move on.

Agricultural Revolution n All over America, tribes were becoming more sedentary in the last centuries prior to European exploration. – They were developing new ways of producing food, clothing and shelter. – Created less of a need to move