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Period: 35,000 BCE to 30,000 BCE
Last Glacial Maximum begins
The Earth enters a period of intense cold during the Ice Age, and large amounts of water are locked in glaciers, lowering sea levels. This creates a land bridge, called Beringia, between present-day Siberia (Asia) and Alaska (North America). -
Period: 30,000 BCE to 24,980 BCE
First migrations may have started
Early human groups, likely following large game like mammoths, begin moving eastward across Beringia, unaware they are moving from one continent to another. These groups were small and highly mobile, relying on hunting and gathering. -
Period: 25,000 BCE to 20,000 BCE
Peak migration period
As glaciers cover much of North America, human groups continue to move across Beringia. At this point, some may have started settling in Beringia, living off the land while others continued migrating further into the Americas. -
Period: 20,000 BCE to 16,000 BCE
Beringia still present
The ice begins to recede as the climate warms slightly, but the Bering Strait remains passable for thousands of years. Migration continues, possibly accelerating as the mammoth herds move further south. -
Period: 16,000 BCE to 14,000 BCE
Coastal routes emerge
With ice sheets retreating, the first groups may have begun moving south along the Pacific coast, where the climate was less harsh. These groups might have made use of small boats or followed coastal resources. -
Period: 14,000 BCE to 12,000 BCE
Clovis culture emerges
By this time, humans have settled as far as the southern United States and Central America. Distinct tools and cultures, such as the Clovis point, begin to emerge. -
Period: 10,000 BCE to 9000 BCE
End of Ice Age
The Bering Strait land bridge disappears as the sea level rises again, but humans have already spread across North, Central, and South America. Settlements become more established, leading to the development of diverse Native American cultures. -
2000 BCE
Preclassic (2000 BCE – 250 CE)
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250 BCE
Classic (250 CE – 900 CE)
• Maya civilization (250 CE – 900 CE): During this time, the Maya built monumental cities like Tikal and Palenque, developed advanced mathematics, astronomy, and writing, and engaged in intricate political and religious ceremonies. -
200 BCE
Teotihuacan
• Teotihuacan civilization (200 CE – 600 CE): Located near present-day Mexico City, Teotihuacan became one of the largest cities in the world at its peak. Known for its pyramids, such as the Pyramid of the Sun and the Moon, the city was a significant cultural and economic center. -
900
Postclassic (900 CE – 1521 CE)
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900
Toltec
• Toltec civilization (900 CE – 1150 CE): The Toltecs, centered in Tula, influenced later civilizations like the Aztecs. They are known for their military prowess and monumental architecture. -
1201
Mexicas/aztecs
Mexicas entered to the valley of Mexico -
1204
Cultures
They were composed from different cultures, such as teotihuacans. -
1276
Settlement
Mexicas settled in Chapultepec that eventually became the city of Tenochtitlan. -
1325
Aztec
• Aztec civilization (1325 CE – 1521 CE): The Aztecs established their capital at Tenochtitlán, built impressive temples and engaged in vast trade networks. Their empire extended across much of central Mexico until the Spanish conquest. -
1376
Olmecs
Olmecs had a real monarchy. Moctezuma was the emperor after the Olmecs monarchy. -
1376
Moctezuma
Moctezuma had military talents, victorious campaigns, great conqueror, organizer, builder and patron of the arts. -
1438
Inca
• Inca civilization (1438 CE – 1533 CE): As the largest empire in the pre-Columbian Americas, the Inca controlled a vast territory in the Andes. They are known for their advanced agricultural techniques, extensive road systems, and cities like Machu Picchu. -
1492
Arrival of Columbus to America
Christopher Columbus reaches the Americas, marking the beginning of European exploration. -
1494
Treaty of Tordesillas
Treaty of Tordesillas, dividing the Americas between Spain and Portugal. -
1500
Olmec
• Olmec civilization (1500 BCE – 400 BCE): Often considered the “mother culture” of Mesoamerica, the Olmec created large stone heads and developed early forms of writing and calendar systems. They inhabited modern-day southern Mexico. -
1500
Zapotec
• Zapotec civilization (1500 BCE – 250 CE): Located in the Oaxaca Valley, the Zapotecs began building cities, including Monte Albán, and used early forms of hieroglyphic writing. -
1500
Toltecs
Toltecs successors created an empire that lasted 3 centuries -
1519
Arrival of Hernán Cortés
Hernán Cortés arrives in Mexico and allies with Indigenous groups opposed to the Aztecs. -
1520
The great temple
The Massacre in the Great Temple; Moctezuma II dies. -
1521
Fall of the Aztecs
The Aztec capital, Tenochtitlán, falls after months of siege, marking the collapse of the Aztec Empire. -
1528
Expeditions to Inca territory
Francisco Pizarro conducts the first expeditions to Inca territory. -
1532
Fall of the Inca empire
Francisco Pizarro captures Inca Emperor Atahualpa during the Battle of Cajamarca. -
1542
New laws
Spanish establish the New Laws, aimed at limiting the abuse of Indigenous people under the encomienda system. -
End of indigenous dominance
Widespread population decline among Indigenous peoples due to European diseases (e.g., smallpox, measles) and harsh labor systems. -
Independence movements
Independence movements in the Americas continue to marginalize Indigenous societies.