CivilizationsOfNorthAmerica

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 Civilization1800 B.C.Mexico

Cuicuilco Civilization1400 B.C.Mexico

Teotihuacan200 B.C. – 650 A.DMexico

Teotihuacan existed around the same time as the Roman Empire.

Teotihuacanwas a metropolis of about 200,000 people.

Maya Civilization1,000 B.C. – 1540 A.DMexico and Central America

PalenqueMaya CivilizationMexico

SayilMaya CivilizationYucatan, Mexico

UxmalMaya CivilizationMexico

There are literally too many Mayan cities to count!

Toltec Civilization950 A.D. – 11000 A.DMexico and Central America

Tajin Civilization600 A.D – 900 A.DMexico

TajinMexico

Zapotec Civilization500 B.C. – 1540 A.DOaxaca, Mexico

Zapotec CivilizationOaxaca, Mexico

Mixteco CivilizationMitlaOaxaca, Mexico

Mexica (Aztec) Civilization1325 A.D – 1521 A.DMexico City

Tenochtitlan (Mexico City)Mexica (Aztec) Civilization350,000 residents

TazumalMaya CivilizationEl Salvador

TikalMaya CivilizationGuatemala

CopanMaya CivilizationHonduras

Poverty Point Mississippian CivilizationLouisiana, USA

Cahokia Pyramids Mississippian CivilizationIndiana, USA

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

Mississippian CivilizationEastern United States

Moundville State ParkMississippian CivilizationAlabama, USA

Miamisburg Circular Pyramid Mississippian CivilizationMiamisburg, Ohio, USA

Ocmulgee Pyramids Mississippian CivilizationOcmulgee, Georgia, USA

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

Moundville Pyramids State ParkMississippian CivilizationAlabama, USA

Emerald Mound Pyramids Mississippian CivilizationMississippi, USA

Etowah Pyramids Mississippian CivilizationGeorgia, USA

Etowah Pyramids (scale model)Mississippian CivilizationGeorgia, USA

Yes, Native Americans built pyramids, too.

There are HUNDREDS of ruins throughout the United States to prove it !

Pueblo Bonito Anasazi CivilizationNew Mexico, USA

Pueblo Bonito Anasazi CivilizationNew Mexico, USA

Aztec Ruins State Park Anasazi CivilizationNew Mexico, USA

Chaco Canyon Ruins Anasazi CivilizationNew Mexico, USA

Wupatki Ruins Anasazi CivilizationArizona, USA

Wupatki Ruins ball court Anasazi CivilizationArizona, USA

Cliff Palace Ruins Anasazi CivilizationColorado, USA

Anasazi Ruins Anasazi CivilizationGrand Canyon, AZ , USA

Anasazi Tower Anasazi CivilizationUtah, USA

Aztalan State Park Pyramids Mississipian CivilizationWisconsin, USA

Manitou Mounds State Park Mississippian CivilizationManitou, 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 apologizebecause 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 AztecsBy Jacques Soustelle

Mexico: From the Olmecs to the Aztecsby Michael D. Coe

The Mayaby Michael D. Coe

1491: New Revelations on the Americas Before Columbusby Charles Mann

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