美国历史American History (r).ppt

American History—The Earliest Inhabitants Around 20,000 years ago, a group of Asian people arrived in Central and South Americas by way of North America. These people were the ancestors of American Indians. When Columbus found the new continent, there were about 20 million Indians living in Americas, among which around one million people lived in today’s Canada and mid-northern part of the U.S. Most of the inhabitants lived in today’s Mexico and the southern part of the U.S. Around 10,000 years ago, another group of Asian people came to the northern part of North America, and they were the ancestors of the later Eskimos. Around the year 1000, a party of Icelandic Vikings sailed to the eastern coast of North America. They were the earliest Europeans to come to the continent, but they did not establish any permanent settlements there. Maya civilization It dominated Mexico and Central America A large settled population, agricultural food production, a religion, writing Maya civilization Maya civilization Toltec Civilization The Toltec Civilization was one of three great empires of the Basin of Mexico, after the fall of Teotihuacan (Maya civilization) and before the rise of the Aztecs. The capital was at Tula, and during the Toltec heyday (about AD 900-1200), Tula controlled most of central Mexico, the Yucatan peninsula, the Gulf coast, and perhaps even Chiapas and the Pacific coast as well.  Toltec Civilization(托尔特克) Toltec Civilization Aztec Civilization(阿兹特克文明)1427-1521 The Aztec civilization was a highly advanced and filled with unique customs, a comprehensive language, and amazing technology. It built great cities and developed a complex social, political and religious structure. The capital was located on the site of present-day Mexico City. Aztec Civilization Aztec Civilization Christopher Columbus Replica of the Santa Maria Columbus map Columbuss notes in Latin Columbus had been back and forth across the Atlantic four times before his death. Disco