Over 9,000 years ago in Mexico, ancient people domesticated corn and developed basic calendars for farming, leading to the first civilizations in North America. Many advanced civilizations developed across North America, including the Olmec, Zapotec, Maya, Toltec, Mexica (Aztec), Mississippian, Anasazi and others. These civilizations built large cities and structures like pyramids, and made contributions in astronomy, mathematics, medicine, engineering and more before Europeans arrived.

1. CivilizationsOf North America By Manuel Alderete

2. ** 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

3. Olmec Civilization 1800 B.C. Mexico

4. Cuicuilco Civilization 1400 B.C. Mexico

5. Teotihuacan 200 B.C. – 650 A.D Mexico

6. Teotihuacan existed around the same time as the Roman Empire.

7. Teotihuacan was a metropolis of about 200,000 people.

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

9. Palenque Maya Civilization Mexico

10. Sayil Maya Civilization Yucatan, Mexico

11. Uxmal Maya Civilization Mexico

12. There are literally too many Mayan cities to count!

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

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

15. Tajin Mexico

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

17. Zapotec Civilization Oaxaca, Mexico

18. Mixteco Civilization Mitla Oaxaca, Mexico

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

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

21. Tazumal Maya Civilization El Salvador

22. Tikal Maya Civilization Guatemala

23. Copan Maya Civilization Honduras

24. Poverty Point Mississippian Civilization Louisiana, USA

25. Cahokia Pyramids Mississippian Civilization Indiana, USA

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

27. Mississippian Civilization Eastern United States

28. Moundville State Park Mississippian Civilization Alabama, USA

29. Miamisburg Circular Pyramid Mississippian Civilization Miamisburg, Ohio, USA

30. Ocmulgee Pyramids Mississippian Civilization Ocmulgee, Georgia, USA

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

32. Moundville Pyramids State Park Mississippian Civilization Alabama, USA

33. Emerald Mound Pyramids Mississippian Civilization Mississippi, USA

34. Etowah Pyramids Mississippian Civilization Georgia, USA

35. Etowah Pyramids (scale model) Mississippian Civilization Georgia, USA

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

37. Pueblo Bonito Anasazi Civilization New Mexico, USA

38. Pueblo Bonito Anasazi Civilization New Mexico, USA

39. Aztec Ruins State Park Anasazi Civilization New Mexico, USA

40. Chaco Canyon Ruins Anasazi Civilization New Mexico, USA

41. Wupatki Ruins Anasazi Civilization Arizona, USA

42. Wupatki Ruins ball court Anasazi Civilization Arizona, USA

43. Cliff Palace Ruins Anasazi Civilization Colorado, USA

44. Anasazi Ruins Anasazi Civilization Grand Canyon, AZ , USA

45. Anasazi Tower Anasazi Civilization Utah, USA

46. Aztalan State Park Pyramids Mississipian Civilization Wisconsin, USA

47. Manitou Mounds State Park Mississippian Civilization Manitou, Canada

48. Powerful Astronomers

49. Advanced Calendars

50. Inventors of the wheel.

51. Mathematicians

52. Inventors of a calculator (abacus) called Nepohualtzitzin.

53. Writing and books

54. Almanacs on astronomy

55. Books on medicine, law, philosophy.

56. Libraries full of books.

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

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

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

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

61. Oh…hellllll no!

62. 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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