1. Civilizations of TheCivilizations of The
Americas TimelineAmericas Timeline
By: Ian LittlefieldBy: Ian Littlefield

2. 40,000 b.c.40,000 b.c.
 In 40,000 b.c. the ice ageIn 40,000 b.c. the ice age
was coming to the end ofwas coming to the end of
its almost 60,000 year,its almost 60,000 year,
reign. The ice age wouldreign. The ice age would
hang around for anotherhang around for another
almost 30,000 years butalmost 30,000 years but
just now was the Beringjust now was the Bering
Straight revealed by theStraight revealed by the
dropping sea levels.dropping sea levels.
 Image source: www.gettingoutside.com/Image source: www.gettingoutside.com/
files/Serpentine-Hot-S...files/Serpentine-Hot-S...

3. 33,000 - 10,000 b.c.33,000 - 10,000 b.c.
 During this timeDuring this time
humans first startedhumans first started
to walk across theto walk across the
Bering land bridge toBering land bridge to
the Americas.the Americas.
 Image source:Image source:
capitalistliontamer.files.wordpress.com/capitalistliontamer.files.wordpress.com/
2010/.2010/.

4. The OlmecThe Olmec
The Olmec civilization startedThe Olmec civilization started
around 1500 b.c. and wentaround 1500 b.c. and went
until almost 400 b.c. Theuntil almost 400 b.c. The
rivers that the Olmec lived byrivers that the Olmec lived by
flooded each year depositingflooded each year depositing
fertile river soil that they usedfertile river soil that they used
for planting there crops. Thefor planting there crops. The
Olmec had two classes the eliteOlmec had two classes the elite
and the commoners.The eliteand the commoners.The elite
were the rulers and the priests.were the rulers and the priests.
The commoners were laborersThe commoners were laborers
they did the work around thethey did the work around the
Olmec empireOlmec empire
Image source: 0uterspace.wordpress.comImage source: 0uterspace.wordpress.com

5. Olmec religionOlmec religion
Olmec rulers were priest kingsOlmec rulers were priest kings
who came from the elitewho came from the elite
ranks. The priests and priestranks. The priests and priest
kings were some of the mostkings were some of the most
skilled and respected warriorsskilled and respected warriors
in the Olmec military. Thein the Olmec military. The
Olmec believed that the priestsOlmec believed that the priests
were protected by the gods inwere protected by the gods in
battle and thus could not bebattle and thus could not be
killed unless the gods werekilled unless the gods were
angry with them. To preventangry with them. To prevent
this from occurring theythis from occurring they
sacrificed captured enemies tosacrificed captured enemies to
appease their gods.appease their gods.
Image source: rllewellyn.netImage source: rllewellyn.net

6. Epi-OlmecEpi-Olmec
The Olmec mysteriously disappearedThe Olmec mysteriously disappeared
from all there cities between 400from all there cities between 400
and 350 b.c. Artifacts were thenand 350 b.c. Artifacts were then
found in another city some 330found in another city some 330
miles away called Tres Zapotes.miles away called Tres Zapotes.
Artifacts were found there veryArtifacts were found there very
similar to those of the Olmec.similar to those of the Olmec.
Historians believe that the OlmecHistorians believe that the Olmec
may have taken a major militarymay have taken a major military
loss and had to flee with the fewloss and had to flee with the few
citizens and soldiers that survivedcitizens and soldiers that survived
to another city. There they startedto another city. There they started
a new culture but kept some of thea new culture but kept some of the
same ways of making buildings.same ways of making buildings.
Image source: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Epi-Image source: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Epi-
Olmec_cultureOlmec_culture

7. The MayansThe Mayans
The Mayans began aroundThe Mayans began around
1800 b.c. with small1800 b.c. with small
farming villages. Some offarming villages. Some of
those villages could notthose villages could not
farm but had largefarm but had large
deposits of limestone thatdeposits of limestone that
the Mayans used to buildthe Mayans used to build
there buildings. The restthere buildings. The rest
of the villages farmedof the villages farmed
and provided food for theand provided food for the
mining villages.mining villages.
Image source: www.raingod.com/.../Image source: www.raingod.com/.../
images/HanGrottes01.jpgimages/HanGrottes01.jpg

8. 100 b.c. - 200 a.d.100 b.c. - 200 a.d.
In this time period the MayansIn this time period the Mayans
started to use their gatheredstarted to use their gathered
limestone to change their smalllimestone to change their small
villages into large andvillages into large and
impressive cities. Mayan citiesimpressive cities. Mayan cities
were usually centered aroundwere usually centered around
a temple. The Mayans built aa temple. The Mayans built a
pyramid surrounded by openpyramid surrounded by open
plazas with a pyramid at theplazas with a pyramid at the
top. The Mayan priest kingstop. The Mayan priest kings
climbed these pyramids toclimbed these pyramids to
perform religious ceremonies.perform religious ceremonies.
Image source: frogview.comImage source: frogview.com

9. Mayan AgricultureMayan Agriculture
The Mayan population was growing so theThe Mayan population was growing so the
demand for food did as well. To copedemand for food did as well. To cope
farmers devised ways to farm landfarmers devised ways to farm land
that before was useless. In thethat before was useless. In the
lowlands where the Mayans minedlowlands where the Mayans mined
limestone they now also farmed bylimestone they now also farmed by
bringing soil from the bottom of riversbringing soil from the bottom of rivers
and spreading it over rocky groundand spreading it over rocky ground
and by digging channels through toand by digging channels through to
rivers they dealt with crops dieingrivers they dealt with crops dieing
from lack of water. In the highlandsfrom lack of water. In the highlands
they used terraces to prevent soil fromthey used terraces to prevent soil from
sliding down hill. When thissliding down hill. When this
happened the Mayans started to havehappened the Mayans started to have
a surplus of food and they traded thea surplus of food and they traded the
extra with other civilizations for jadeextra with other civilizations for jade
and cacao beans.and cacao beans.
Image source: pruned.blogspot.comImage source: pruned.blogspot.com

10. Mayan ReligionMayan Religion
Like the Olmec the Mayans hadLike the Olmec the Mayans had
Priest-Kings and priests. TheyPriest-Kings and priests. They
were warriors and usually led thewere warriors and usually led the
Mayan army into battle. TheMayan army into battle. The
priests and Priest-Kings werepriests and Priest-Kings were
sometimes killed in battle butsometimes killed in battle but
their army always won the fight.their army always won the fight.
when the Priests died theywhen the Priests died they
received the best burials possible.received the best burials possible.
The Mayans sacrifices were moreThe Mayans sacrifices were more
specific than the Olmec. Thespecific than the Olmec. The
Mayans only sacrificed capturedMayans only sacrificed captured
enemy soldiers, virgins, or theenemy soldiers, virgins, or the
Priest-Kings blood. The MayansPriest-Kings blood. The Mayans
instead of cutting the throat of ainstead of cutting the throat of a
sacrifice they threw the sacrificesacrifice they threw the sacrifice
into a pit filled with thousands ofinto a pit filled with thousands of
gallons of water with sides thatgallons of water with sides that
stretched almost 40 feet above thestretched almost 40 feet above the
water level.water level.
image source: facstaff.gpc.eduimage source: facstaff.gpc.edu

11. Tiwanakans and the MocheTiwanakans and the Moche
The Tiwanakans were a raceThe Tiwanakans were a race
that appeared in 300 b.c.that appeared in 300 b.c.
and that continued toand that continued to
prosper until almost a.d.prosper until almost a.d.
1200. At it’s height the1200. At it’s height the
Tiwanakans owned 1,500Tiwanakans owned 1,500
square miles from Peru tosquare miles from Peru to
Bolivia. About 400 yearsBolivia. About 400 years
after the Tiwanakansafter the Tiwanakans
developed anotherdeveloped another
culture the Moche cameculture the Moche came
into being.into being.
Image source: www.reedboat.org/Image source: www.reedboat.org/
Tiwanaku/tiwanaku1.jpgTiwanaku/tiwanaku1.jpg

12. Different EnvironmentsDifferent Environments
The Tiwanakans lived in highThe Tiwanakans lived in high
mountains where there wasmountains where there was
little rain and the only sourceslittle rain and the only sources
of water were lakes so theof water were lakes so the
Tiwanakans dug irrigationTiwanakans dug irrigation
channels and took soil fromchannels and took soil from
the lake bed to spread overthe lake bed to spread over
inhospitable land that wouldinhospitable land that would
not grow crops. The Moche onnot grow crops. The Moche on
the other hand lived in a placethe other hand lived in a place
were the land was dry andwere the land was dry and
needed water. Using mud theneeded water. Using mud the
Moche built hundreds of milesMoche built hundreds of miles
of aqueducts and used terraceof aqueducts and used terrace
farming on the hillsides.farming on the hillsides.
Image source: worldreligion.nielsonpi.com/Image source: worldreligion.nielsonpi.com/
media/moche.jpgmedia/moche.jpg

13. Social Structures and ReligionSocial Structures and Religion
The Tiwanakans had an elite and aThe Tiwanakans had an elite and a
commoner class. The Tiwanakanscommoner class. The Tiwanakans
worshipped the condor.worshipped the condor.
Tiwanakan leaders wereTiwanakan leaders were
worshipped as gods and oftenworshipped as gods and often
fought alone when greatlyfought alone when greatly
outnumbered by the enemy. Theoutnumbered by the enemy. The
Moche social structure was aboutMoche social structure was about
the same. The religion of thethe same. The religion of the
Moche was very different though.Moche was very different though.
The Moche worshipped manyThe Moche worshipped many
different gods and made sacrificesdifferent gods and made sacrifices
unlike the Tiwanakans. Theunlike the Tiwanakans. The
Moche abandoned their cities inMoche abandoned their cities in
600 and six hundred years later600 and six hundred years later
the Tiwanakans would do thethe Tiwanakans would do the
same.same.
Image source: www.instablogsimages.com/Image source: www.instablogsimages.com/
images/2008/12/19/an.images/2008/12/19/an.

14. The AztecThe Aztec
The Aztec were a band of hunter-The Aztec were a band of hunter-
gatherers living on an island ingatherers living on an island in
northwestern Mexico. Aroundnorthwestern Mexico. Around
1100 they received a command1100 they received a command
from their god that they mustfrom their god that they must
move until they find an eaglemove until they find an eagle
sitting on a cactus eating a snake.sitting on a cactus eating a snake.
The Aztec wandered for almostThe Aztec wandered for almost
200 years until they found the200 years until they found the
sign. During this period theysign. During this period they
passed through many landspassed through many lands
controlled by other tribes thatcontrolled by other tribes that
would not let them settle there.would not let them settle there.
The Aztec finally found theirThe Aztec finally found their
home by lake Texcoco in thehome by lake Texcoco in the
valley of Mexico. They namedvalley of Mexico. They named
their new city Tenochitlan.their new city Tenochitlan.
farm1.static.flickr.com/ 213/476281191_487c3c1farm1.static.flickr.com/ 213/476281191_487c3c1

15. Aztec FarmingAztec Farming
The Aztec could not farmThe Aztec could not farm
their wet swampy land sotheir wet swampy land so
they constructedthey constructed
chinampas or floatingchinampas or floating
gardens that were thingardens that were thin
strips of land about 300strips of land about 300
feet by 30 feet. The Aztecfeet by 30 feet. The Aztec
were able to plant cornwere able to plant corn
and squash here andand squash here and
gather from the crops bygather from the crops by
boat. The Aztec tradedboat. The Aztec traded
with other tribes forwith other tribes for
lumber and stone.lumber and stone.
Image source:Image source:
img1.photographersdirect.com/.img1.photographersdirect.com/.
../wm/pd932021.jpg../wm/pd932021.jpg

16. The Aztec EmpireThe Aztec Empire
The Aztec formed a mightyThe Aztec formed a mighty
empire by conqueringempire by conquering
other tribes around themother tribes around them
and forcing them to growand forcing them to grow
food and give wood andfood and give wood and
metal to the Aztec warmetal to the Aztec war
effort. So much waseffort. So much was
demanded of conquereddemanded of conquered
tribes and Aztectribes and Aztec
commoners. That somecommoners. That some
began to starve whichbegan to starve which
created resentmentcreated resentment
among the tribes.among the tribes.
Image source: www.batuhijauschool.org/.../Image source: www.batuhijauschool.org/.../
aztek1.jpgaztek1.jpg

17. Aztec ArmyAztec Army
The Aztec army was made up of
multiple different kinds of warriors.
They had archers swordsmen and spear
woman. Archers usually carried their
bows and slings used for throwing
rocks. The swordsman carried swords
and sometimes daggers or shields.
Spear woman were thought of as almost
mythical warriors for the Aztec. They
carried 5 foot long spears used for
thrusting that had a slim smooth tip.
They also carried shorter heavier spears
for throwing with barbed tips which
prevented the enemy from removing
them from their comrades to throw them
back. Spear woman carried strong
round shields covered with spikes for
bashing. If they lost their spears then
they would resort using their short
swords called moon daggers. They
usually came into battle with a black
jaguar by their side.
Image 2 source:zazzle.com.au image 3
source:myspace.com image 1
source:homepage.ntlworld.com

18. Aztec ReligionAztec Religion
The Aztec religionThe Aztec religion
worshipped over 1000worshipped over 1000
gods especially the god ofgods especially the god of
war and the sun and thewar and the sun and the
god of rain. Theygod of rain. They
performed humanperformed human
sacrifices to appease theirsacrifices to appease their
gods some believe thatgods some believe that
the Aztec started warsthe Aztec started wars
just to capture enemyjust to capture enemy
soldiers for sacrifices.soldiers for sacrifices.
image source:travelersdigest.comimage source:travelersdigest.com

19. The IncaThe Inca
Very few dates areVery few dates are
known of the Incaknown of the Inca
because they had nobecause they had no
writing system. Thewriting system. The
only date we reallyonly date we really
know about is whenknow about is when
their empire came totheir empire came to
its height in 1525.its height in 1525.
Image source:Image source:
www.infinitepossibilityproductions.com/www.infinitepossibilityproductions.com/
advent...advent...

20. How The Inca Conquered a RegionHow The Inca Conquered a Region
The Inca ruler first sent scouts to the targetedThe Inca ruler first sent scouts to the targeted
region. The scouts judged the regionsregion. The scouts judged the regions
fertility, the strength of it’s armies, it’sfertility, the strength of it’s armies, it’s
defenses, and memorize it’s geography.defenses, and memorize it’s geography.
The scouts returned and the king gatheredThe scouts returned and the king gathered
his army according to the report from hishis army according to the report from his
scouts. Before attacking the Inca ruler sentscouts. Before attacking the Inca ruler sent
ambassadors to the region to persuade theambassadors to the region to persuade the
tribes to become part of the empiretribes to become part of the empire
peacefully. Usually the tribes refused andpeacefully. Usually the tribes refused and
then the massive Inca armies attacked. Thethen the massive Inca armies attacked. The
Inca made members of conquered tribesInca made members of conquered tribes
join their armies. New soldiers that didjoin their armies. New soldiers that did
well were given rewards like picks from thewell were given rewards like picks from the
spoils of new conquests. If conquered tribesspoils of new conquests. If conquered tribes
were peaceful then their leaders werewere peaceful then their leaders were
allowed to stay in power. All tribes wereallowed to stay in power. All tribes were
forced to learn Quechua, the Incanforced to learn Quechua, the Incan
language.language.
image source:lastdaysoftheincas.comimage source:lastdaysoftheincas.com

21. Inca Social StructuresInca Social Structures
The Inca had commoners andThe Inca had commoners and
nobility. The commonersnobility. The commoners
had to pay tribute to thehad to pay tribute to the
nobility and worked to makenobility and worked to make
roads that made trade androads that made trade and
moving the armies of themoving the armies of the
Inca much faster. The IncaInca much faster. The Inca
government even decidedgovernment even decided
who married who in thewho married who in the
empire. Marriage wasempire. Marriage was
encouraged since onlyencouraged since only
couples could own land andcouples could own land and
thus give tribute.thus give tribute.
Image source: i26.photobucket.com/Image source: i26.photobucket.com/
albums/c124/guspav/aztec2..albums/c124/guspav/aztec2..

22. Inca FarmingInca Farming
The Inca used differentThe Inca used different
farming methodsfarming methods
according to the elevationaccording to the elevation
they were at. In thethey were at. In the
highlands they usedhighlands they used
terrace farming andterrace farming and
irrigation channels. Inirrigation channels. In
the lowlands they grewthe lowlands they grew
crops on just the soil thatcrops on just the soil that
was there. This waswas there. This was
called a vertical economy.called a vertical economy.
Image source:Image source: ebooks.adelaide.edu.au/.ebooks.adelaide.edu.au/.
../images/pl71.jpg../images/pl71.jpg

23. Inca religionInca religion
The Inca priestsThe Inca priests
performed allperformed all
ceremonies most ofceremonies most of
which were animalwhich were animal
sacrifices. Only insacrifices. Only in
times of flood ortimes of flood or
famine would thefamine would the
Inca sacrifice humans.Inca sacrifice humans.
Image source: filer.livinginperu.com/Image source: filer.livinginperu.com/
isabel2/yale_cuchillo.jpgisabel2/yale_cuchillo.jpg

24. The Arrival of the SpanishThe Arrival of the Spanish
In 1519 Hernando Cortez fired hisIn 1519 Hernando Cortez fired his
cannons at the Aztec. In 1532cannons at the Aztec. In 1532
thirteen years later Franciscothirteen years later Francisco
Pizzaro did the same to thePizzaro did the same to the
Inca. Cortez came to theInca. Cortez came to the
shores of Aztec territory withshores of Aztec territory with
550 men, 16 horses, 14550 men, 16 horses, 14
cannons, and three dogs.Theycannons, and three dogs.They
fired their cannons at Aztecfired their cannons at Aztec
messengers and caused themmessengers and caused them
to flee. When they told theirto flee. When they told their
leader about this he wasleader about this he was
stricken with fearstricken with fear..
Image source: lastdaysoftheincas.com/Image source: lastdaysoftheincas.com/
wordpress/wp-content/uwordpress/wp-content/u

25. Aztec ProblemsAztec Problems
When the Spanish arrived theWhen the Spanish arrived the
Aztec were fighting multipleAztec were fighting multiple
wars with rebelling subjectwars with rebelling subject
tribes. The Aztec leadertribes. The Aztec leader
belived that Cortes was a godbelived that Cortes was a god
come back to reclaim his city.come back to reclaim his city.
He found out how wrong heHe found out how wrong he
was when he was takenwas when he was taken
hostage. The Spanish heldhostage. The Spanish held
him captive until an Aztechim captive until an Aztec
rebellion killed him and droverebellion killed him and drove
the Spanish out. The Spanishthe Spanish out. The Spanish
lost most of their men in thelost most of their men in the
rebellion but joined the waringrebellion but joined the waring
subject tribes together andsubject tribes together and
destroyed the Aztec.destroyed the Aztec.
Image source: www.spvocation.org/.../Image source: www.spvocation.org/.../
FOTM/conquistadors.jpgFOTM/conquistadors.jpg

26. Conquest of the IncaConquest of the Inca
The Inca were in a civil war becauseThe Inca were in a civil war because
the ruler had died and his sonsthe ruler had died and his sons
were fighting over the throne.were fighting over the throne.
The son Atahualpa finally becameThe son Atahualpa finally became
the ruler of a greatly weakenedthe ruler of a greatly weakened
empire. When the Spanish led byempire. When the Spanish led by
Pizzaro attacked he was capturedPizzaro attacked he was captured
and killed very quickly. The lastand killed very quickly. The last
king of the Inca Manco Inca leadking of the Inca Manco Inca lead
an army of 200,000 soldiersan army of 200,000 soldiers
against the spanish but it failedagainst the spanish but it failed
because so many resources hadbecause so many resources had
been used up in the civil war. Thebeen used up in the civil war. The
Inca retreated into the mountainsInca retreated into the mountains
until they were finally defeated inuntil they were finally defeated in
1572.1572.
Image source: www eng/inca/images/Inca-Image source: www eng/inca/images/Inca-
Sp..infoperu.com/peru/Sp..infoperu.com/peru/