HUMAN EVOLUTION

By Ian_Martinezhk2
  • Period: 15,000 BCE to 10,000 BCE

    First Humans in the Americas

    The earliest humans arrived in the Americas, likely via the Bering Land Bridge from Asia during the last Ice Age.
  • Period: 10,000 BCE to 8000 BCE

    Paleo-Indian Period

    Early humans in the Americas engaged in hunter-gatherer lifestyles. Evidence of large mammal hunting, such as mammoths and mastodons, in regions of Mesoamerica.
  • 7000 BCE

    Early Agriculture

    The domestication of maize (corn) begins in central Mexico. Over time, agriculture expanded to include beans, squash, and chili peppers.
  • 5000 BCE

    Semi-Sedentary Villages

    Early sedentary agricultural villages begin to form as people rely increasingly on farming.
  • Period: 3500 BCE to 2000 BCE

    Development of Pottery

    The use of pottery emerges, reflecting a shift toward more complex sedentary societies.
  • Period: 2000 BCE to 1200 BCE

    First Permanent Settlements

    Larger villages and early ceremonial centers begin to form. Agriculture becomes the primary subsistence strategy, and society begins to stratify.
  • Period: 1500 BCE to 1200 BCE

    Rise of the Olmec Civilization

    The Olmec, often called the “mother culture” of Mesoamerica, build large ceremonial centers like San Lorenzo and La Venta. They introduce monumental stone sculptures (e.g., colossal heads) and influence later civilizations.
  • Period: 1200 BCE to 400 BCE

    Olmec Cultural Influence

    Olmec influence spreads throughout Mesoamerica, introducing art, religion, and political organization that would impact later cultures, including the Maya and Zapotec.
  • Period: 900 BCE to 400 BCE

    Early Zapotec Civilization

    The Zapotec begin to develop in Oaxaca, founding their capital at Monte Albán.
  • 800 BCE

    Early Maya Settlements

    Early Maya communities begin to emerge in the Yucatán Peninsula and parts of Guatemala, laying the foundation for future city-states.
  • Period: 300 to 900

    The Maya Classic Period

    The Maya civilization reaches its peak, building large city-states such as Tikal, Palenque, and Copán. The Maya excel in mathematics, astronomy, and writing (Maya hieroglyphs), and construct impressive pyramids and temples.
  • Period: 400 to 700

    Zapotec Civilization at Monte Albán

    Monte Albán continues to grow as a major center for the Zapotec culture. The city includes pryamids, temples, and a unique writing system.
  • Period: 900 to 1200

    Toltec Empire

    The Toltec civilization emerges, centered at Tula in central Mexico. The Toltecs are known for their military prowess and influence on later cultures, including the Aztec.
  • Period: 900 to 1521

    Late Maya Period

    Maya civilization continues in some areas, but many of the major city-states decline. However, cities like Chichen Itza and Mayapan in the northern Yucatán flourish during this period.
  • Period: 1200 to 1521

    Aztec Civilization

    The Aztecs (Mexica) establish their capital at Tenochtitlán in 1325 CE. They create a powerful empire through conquest and tribute, controlling much of central Mexico by the early 16th century.
  • Period: 1519 to 1521

    Spanish Conquest

    Hernán Cortés leads Spanish forces to defeat the Aztec Empire, marking the end of indigenous rule in Mesoamerica and the beginning of Spanish colonization.