01:512:104 Lecture Notes - Lecture 1: Beringia, Caravel, Sub-Saharan Africa
16 May 2018
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Chapter 01 - New World Beginnings 33,000 B.C. - A.D. 1783
I. Introduction
Recorded human history is only one small portion of earth history
• European explorers “stumbled” on the Americas, altering the course of history in
Europe, the Americas, Asia, and Africa
II. The Shaping of North America
• Geologic forces and climate change created the distinctive No. American continent
III. Peopling the Americas
• Ancient Americans probably crossed the Bering “land bridge” from Asia between 35,000
and 10,000 years ago (25,000 year window). Receding ice and rising oceans eliminated
the bridge.
• These peoples slowly migrated and inhabited both continents, perhaps numbering up to
54 mill. by 1492 AD (4 mill. In No Amer)
IV. The Earliest Americans
• Corn/maize was the central agricultural crop that sustained many of the Indian cultures,
moving them from nomadic hunters toward settled agricultural societies
• Complex maize culture spread slowly from Mexico north and east into No. Amer,
reaching the southeast as late as 1000 AD – Creeks, Choctaws, Cherokees – three-
sister farming: corn, beans, squash
• Iroquois developed their confederacy as late as the 1500s
• Most American societies were small & migratory – women farmed, men hunted –
women often held political and cultural authority
• Though Americans did not dominate the land, they still manipulated it to meet their
agricultural needs
V. Indirect Discoverers of the New World==
find more resources at oneclass.com
find more resources at oneclass.com
Document Summary
Chapter 01 - new world beginnings 33,000 b. c. Recorded human history is only one small portion of earth history: european explorers stumbled on the americas, altering the course of history in. The shaping of north america: geologic forces and climate change created the distinctive no. Peopling the americas: ancient americans probably crossed the bering land bridge from asia between 35,000 and 10,000 years ago (25,000 year window). Receding ice and rising oceans eliminated the bridge: these peoples slowly migrated and inhabited both continents, perhaps numbering up to. The earliest americans: corn/maize was the central agricultural crop that sustained many of the indian cultures, moving them from nomadic hunters toward settled agricultural societies, complex maize culture spread slowly from mexico north and east into no. Amer, reaching the southeast as late as 1000 ad creeks, choctaws, cherokees three- sister farming: corn, beans, squash.
