The document provides background information on early civilizations in Mesoamerica, including the Olmec, Maya, and Aztec civilizations. It notes that the Olmec may have been the first civilization in the Americas and were mound builders, while the Maya had a sophisticated culture with accurate calendars, writing, mathematics, astronomy, and engineering. It also discusses the Mississippian culture in present-day Alabama that practiced farming and was influenced by technologies from Mesoamerica.

1. BELLRINGER
Anticipation Guide
Agree Disagree 1. Early Native Agree Disagree
____ ____ Americans were ____ ____
hunter-gatherers
Pg. 13
____ ____ 2. People of the ____ ____
Olmec Civilization
were mound builders.
Pg.14

2. Chapter One: Converging Cultures
Section One: The Migration to America
A. The Asian Migration
 Scientists believe that
the first people came to
the Americas around 15,000 years ago.
 Most came from Asia across a “land bridge”
called Berengia.
An ice age had caused the oceans to recede and
exposed this land bridge connecting Asia and
North America.

3. These people were mostly nomadic – moving
around from place to place.
These were hunter-gatherer societies.
They hunted wild game and gathered
berries, etc. for food.

4. Question:
 Define CIVILIZATION
 What are some characteristics of a
civilization?
1._____________________
2._____________________
3._____________________
4._____________________
 Why are civilizations important to
history?

5. B. Civilizations in Meso-America
Meso-America - present day Mexico and
Central America.
What made these “civilized” people
different from nomadic people?
What is a revolution?
AgriculturalRevolution – people learned
to farm and began to develop societies
with complex government and social
systems.

6. The Olmec and the Maya
The Olmec may have been the
1st people to create a
civilization in the Americas.
Located in present-day Mexico.
The Olmec built large villages,
pyramids, and large monuments.

7. After the Olmec fall, the Mayan
civilization developed.
Also in Mexico.
The Mayans had a very sophisticated
culture.

8. They developed an accurate calendar, a
system of writing, mathematics,
engineering and were interested
in astronomy.
Why is the year 2012 so
important to the Mayans?
The Mayans often warred with each
other and eventually disappeared.

9. CHUNK #1
 As part of your notes, turn to
Pg.15 in your textbook.
 Read the 3rd paragraph and
write three facts about the
Aztec.

10. The Aztec
The Aztec created a
huge empire with great
military power and strength.
They often went to war taking over
other villages and people.
The Aztec would be present in Mexico
when the Spanish arrived in the 1500s.

11. C. Mississippian Culture
This culture is the beginning of the people we
will call the American Indians.
Farming- The agricultural technology of
Mesoamerica spread into the American
Southwest and up the Mississippi River Valley
area.
The rich soil of the flood plains was good for
growing maize and beans.

12. Moundville, Alabama
•Many of these people
were mound builders.
•This culture spread to
the Southeast United
States, into present
day Alabama.
Does anyone know
which Indians lived in
present day Alabama?

13. REVIEW
1. Where is Meso-America?
2. What were the 3 great civilizations of
Meso-America.
3. What were some of the defining
characteristics of these societies?