CivilizationsOf North America By Manuel Alderete

** Over 9,000 years ago, corn plants were domesticated by ancient people in Mexico. ** This meant crops needed to be planted at certain times in order to be productive. ** This led to the first basic calendars for farming. ** Over 3,000 years ago , surplus food and calendar-keeping led to CIVILIZATION . The Spreading of Civilization in North America

Olmec Civilization 1800 B.C. Mexico

Cuicuilco Civilization 1400 B.C. Mexico

Teotihuacan 200 B.C. – 650 A.D Mexico

Teotihuacan existed around the same time as the Roman Empire.

Teotihuacan was a metropolis of about 200,000 people.

Maya Civilization 1,000 B.C. – 1540 A.D Mexico and Central America

Palenque Maya Civilization Mexico

Sayil Maya Civilization Yucatan, Mexico

Uxmal Maya Civilization Mexico

There are literally too many Mayan cities to count!

Toltec Civilization 950 A.D. – 11000 A.D Mexico and Central America

Tajin Civilization 600 A.D – 900 A.D Mexico

Tajin Mexico

Zapotec Civilization 500 B.C. – 1540 A.D Oaxaca, Mexico

Zapotec Civilization Oaxaca, Mexico

Mixteco Civilization Mitla Oaxaca, Mexico

Mexica (Aztec) Civilization 1325 A.D – 1521 A.D Mexico City

Tenochtitlan (Mexico City) Mexica (Aztec) Civilization 350,000 residents

Tazumal Maya Civilization El Salvador

Tikal Maya Civilization Guatemala

Copan Maya Civilization Honduras

Poverty Point Mississippian Civilization Louisiana, USA

Cahokia Pyramids Mississippian Civilization Indiana, USA

What Cahokia Pyramids looked like 1,000 years ago. East St. Louis, Indiana, USA

Mississippian Civilization Eastern United States

Moundville State Park Mississippian Civilization Alabama, USA

Miamisburg Circular Pyramid Mississippian Civilization Miamisburg, Ohio, USA

Ocmulgee Pyramids Mississippian Civilization Ocmulgee, Georgia, USA

Ocmulgee Pyramids (scale model in museum) Mississippian Civilization Ocmulgee, Georgia, USA

Moundville Pyramids State Park Mississippian Civilization Alabama, USA

Emerald Mound Pyramids Mississippian Civilization Mississippi, USA

Etowah Pyramids Mississippian Civilization Georgia, USA

Etowah Pyramids (scale model) Mississippian Civilization Georgia, USA

Yes, Native Americans built pyramids, too. There are HUNDREDS of ruins throughout the United States to prove it !

Pueblo Bonito Anasazi Civilization New Mexico, USA

Pueblo Bonito Anasazi Civilization New Mexico, USA

Aztec Ruins State Park Anasazi Civilization New Mexico, USA

Chaco Canyon Ruins Anasazi Civilization New Mexico, USA

Wupatki Ruins Anasazi Civilization Arizona, USA

Wupatki Ruins ball court Anasazi Civilization Arizona, USA

Cliff Palace Ruins Anasazi Civilization Colorado, USA

Anasazi Ruins Anasazi Civilization Grand Canyon, AZ , USA

Anasazi Tower Anasazi Civilization Utah, USA

Aztalan State Park Pyramids Mississipian Civilization Wisconsin, USA

Manitou Mounds State Park Mississippian Civilization Manitou, Canada

Powerful Astronomers

Advanced Calendars

Inventors of the wheel.

Mathematicians

Inventors of a calculator (abacus) called Nepohualtzitzin.

Writing and books

Almanacs on astronomy

Books on medicine, law, philosophy.

Libraries full of books.

This is my heritage: as a Mexican. as a Salvadoran. as a Guatemalan. as a Honduran. as a Native American.

Am I supposed to be ashamed of this genius in my heritage?

What, am I supposed to apologize because my ancestors weren’t British, or German, or Greeks?

Wait a minute! Your family came here from Europe , And YOU are telling me that my existence here is “illegal”?

Oh…hellllll no!

Recommended Books Daily Life of the Aztecs By Jacques Soustelle Mexico: From the Olmecs to the Aztecs by Michael D. Coe The Maya by Michael D. Coe 1491: New Revelations on the Americas Before Columbus by Charles Mann

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