The Americas Before Europeans
Learning Objective
I can analyze the diverse cultures and societies of the Americas before European contact.
Key Concepts
The history of America begins about 15,000 years ago when people first arrived in the Americas, but a major turning point was around 5000 BCE when people in Mexico domesticated corn/maize.
Native American societies in the Southwest adapted to the dry climate by creating complex irrigation projects, while those on the Great Plains continued hunting and gathering.
The Mississippian peoples relied on three sister farming, planting corn, beans, and squash together, which allowed for a relatively high population density on the East Coast.
Practice Questions
This lesson includes 12 practice questions to reinforce learning.
View questions preview
1. Approximately how many people lived in the Americas before European contact, according to the video?
2. Describe one theory presented in the video about how the first people arrived in the Americas.
3. What was the significance of the domestication of maize (corn) in the development of Native American societies?
...and 9 more questions
Educational Video
Native American societies before contact | Period 1: 1491-1607 | AP US History | Khan Academy
Khan Academy