Assignment 1, The Peopling of the Americas

Essential Questions

1. How do archaeologists and anthropologists view evidence about the ancient peopling of the Americas? What factors support their theories?

2. How did Native societies live and work prior to the arrival of the Europeans?

3. Explain the variety and lifestyles of the Natives in the Americas prior to the arrival of the Europeans.

4. How did Native societies respond to the arrival of European colonists?

Description 

Anthropologists teach us that humans migrated to the Americas from Asia through a land bridge that crossed what is now the Bering Sea. After arriving in North America, modern humans traveled south and eventually reached the southern parts of South America. Along the way, they left artifacts. Just how much survived the glacial ice sheets is not known, but what is known is that by the time the Europeans arrived in the Americas, complex and differing communities and nations covered the continents.

In this assignment, we will take a very brief look at just what those people left and how they are viewed today.

Objectives

Students will identify and describe the key vocabulary words and essential questions relating to the peopling of the Americas.

Instructions

• As a class, we will go through the PowerPoints and videos shown as items 1-7 below. You will need to pay careful attention to your notes and the reading material.

• As individuals, you will read items 8 and 9 listed below.

• You will complete the printed assignment.

Online Files for this Assignment

1. To view the first video about human migration to the Americas we used in class, click here.

2. To view the second video that discussed how humans populated the Americas, click here.

3. To view the PowerPoint about the peopling of the Americas, click here.

4. Click here to read a fairly traditional view of human migration to the Americas - and some great artwork, too.

5. Click here to read an idea about human migration to the Americas that leans on the idea that people lived in Beringia for thousands of years, and did not just pass through it.

6. Click here to access Chapter One of the textbook.

7. To view the entire online textbook > Click here.

Sources

The Kelp Highway

The Gault Site

An Argument for Coastal Route and Interior Migration

A copy of the printed assignment will be posted soon.