Chapter 1 Amercina history notes

Q: How did the Great Ice Age shape migration into the Americas?

A: It lowered sea levels, exposing the Bering Land Bridge, which allowed nomadic hunters from Asia to cross into North America.

Q: What was the most important technological advancement of early Native Americans?

A: The cultivation of maize (corn), which supported population growth, permanent villages, and complex civilizations.

Q: How did Native American populations differ between North America and South/Central America?

A: North America had smaller, scattered populations (Pueblo, Cahokia, Iroquois), while Central/South America had large empires (Aztec, Maya, Inca) with millions of people and advanced cities.

Q: How did the Crusades contribute to European exploration?

A: They exposed Europeans to Asian goods (spices, silk, sugar), creating demand for direct trade routes to Asia.