Chapter 1

Chapter Summary

Section 1: The Earliest Americans

Scientists have two theories about how the
earliest people came to the Americas: the land
bridge theory and the coastal route theory. Early
people, who were at first hunter-gatherers,
eventually began farming. This led to the
development of civilizations, including the Maya,
Aztec, and Inca civilizations.

Roots of the American People

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Chapter Summary (continued)

Section 2: Cultures of North America

Around 3,000 years ago, groups of Native
Americans began to emerge in North America.
Scholars classify Native Americans into several
culture areas: some hunted and gathered, others
farmed, and all traded. Their ways of life
depended on the climate and geography of the
regions in which they lived.

Roots of the American People

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Chapter Summary (continued)

Section 3: Trade Networks of Asia and Africa

By the 1500s, a global trading network linked
Europe, Asia, and Africa. The Silk Road, one of the
great trade routes of ancient times, stretched
5,000 miles from China to Persia. As merchants
traveled, they carried their cultures with them.

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Chapter Summary (continued)

Section 4: The European Heritage

European beliefs and values were influenced by
the Judeo-Christian tradition, while European
political traditions were shaped by the democracy
of ancient Greece and the republic of ancient
Rome. The Crusades, the Renaissance, the
Protestant Reformation, and the age of
exploration all had profound effects on Europe and
on the future United States.

Roots of the American People