Module 8: Peoples of the Americas

Civilizations in the Americas emerged separately from other major civilizations in the world. The indigenous people of the Americas are believed to have been immigrants from Asia, who crossed over to America during the Ice Age, approximately 20,000 years ago. These new immigrants quickly spread throughout the Americas, in small and culturally distinct groups. The development of agriculture in the Americas five thousand years ago led to the flourish of new culturally advanced societies and innovations. Pre-Columbian American civilizations, such as the Mayas, Aztecs, Incas, and Olmecs were socially stratified and technologically advanced.

In this unit, we will see that civilizations developed in two main regions of the Americas: Mesoamerica and the Peruvian highlands. In fact, we will see that the entire area that stretched from central Mexico to Chile formed a continuous chain of developing civilizations.

Time Advisory

This unit will take you 6 hours to complete.

Section 8.1 Origins of American Societies: 2 hours
Section 8.2 Spread of Civilization in Mesoamerica: 2 hours
Section 8.3 Cultures of South America: 1.5 hours
Section 8.4 Module 2 Quiz: 0.5 hours

Learning Outcomes

Upon successful completion of this unit, the student will be able to:

Identify the major Pre-Columbian civilizations in the Americas.
Describe the relationship between geographical features and developments of early civilizations in the American continent.
Compare and contrast the different political, social, and religious characteristics of particularly the Mesoamerican and Peruvian civilizations.

Section 8.1 Origins of American Societies

Please read the entirety of all four sections in order to get a sense of the evolution and character of the early native tribes of the Americas.

America: Beginning to 8000 B.C.

America: 8000 to 5000 B.C.

America: 5000 to 3000 B.C.

America: 3000 to 1500 B.C.

Please read this entire two-page article for an overview of the earliest civilizations that emerged in Mesoamerica.

History of Mesoamerican Civilization

Please read this page in its entirety for an overview of the early civilizations in the Andes.

View of Civilization of the Incas

Section 8.2 Spread of Civilization in Mesoamerica

Please read this article in its entirety to learn about the sophisticated nature of these early civilizations in Mesoamerica, particularly the Olmecs, Mayas, and the Aztecs.

Mesoamerican Archaeology; Origins of Civilization

Please read this text in its entirety in order to get an understanding of the Toltecs, the cultural predecessors of the Aztecs.

Chapter 10: Dawn in the Desert: The Rise of the Toltecs

Please read the entirety of this article (PDF).

The Toltecs

Question & Answer

Section 8.3 Cultures of South America

Please read the entire article, which questions scholars’ traditional interpretation of Chavin culture.

Understanding Chavin and the Origins of Andean Civilization

Please read the entire article "The Tiahuanaco Culture" (PDF)

The Tiahuanaco Culture

Question & Answer

Section 8.4 Quiz

Please take the assigned quiz and submit for grading. This quiz pertains to Chapter 8 of the textbook World Civilizations: The Global Experience, published by Pearson Education.

Module 8 Quiz