People Farm and Build Civilizations
People Farm and Build Civilizations is a Grade 5 history skill from California myWorld Interactive, Chapter 1: The First Americans. Students learn how agriculture developed about 7,000 years ago in the Americas, allowing early peoples to settle permanently and eventually build great civilizations in Mesoamerica, including the Maya and Aztec, who constructed impressive cities and developed complex governments and societies.
Key Concepts
Around 7,000 years ago, some early peoples in the Americas discovered how to plant and raise their own food. This practice of agriculture meant they no longer had to move around to hunt and gather. They could stay in one place.
With a steady food supply from farming, groups could build permanent villages. Over time, some of these villages grew into large, organized cities.
Common Questions
How did agriculture lead to civilizations in the Americas?
When people learned to farm about 7,000 years ago, they could stay in one place instead of hunting and gathering. This led to permanent villages, which grew into cities and eventually complex civilizations like the Maya and Aztec.
What civilizations grew in Mesoamerica?
The Maya and the Aztec built impressive cities in Mesoamerica starting around 3,000 years ago. They developed complex societies with governments, religions, and systems of learning.
Why is farming important in early American history?
Farming provided a steady food supply that allowed groups to build permanent settlements. Without needing to move to find food, communities could grow larger and more organized over time.
What textbook covers early civilizations for Grade 5?
This topic is covered in California myWorld Interactive, Grade 5, Chapter 1: The First Americans.