What were the bases of Civilization in America? (Revised 10/9/01) Migration of the European and Asian Homo sapiens across the tundra land bridge, presently the Bering Strait between Alaska and Siberia, is said to be due from “increasing population pressures”(p. 198), and the pursuit of mammoths, mastodons and other large game. Civilization in America was separate from the classical world of Asia, North Africa and southern Europe, and progressed on it’s own, without the help …showed first 75 words of 399 total…

…showed last 75 words of 399 total…a life risking “ritual ball game”. (p.209) Between 700 and 900 C.E., the Mesoamerican world declined; Teotihuacan was destroyed, and the Mayan cities mysteriously deserted. Years later Adena, Hopewell and Mississippian paralleled Mesoamerica. The parallels between cultures—Tairona, Muisca, Mayan, Peruvian—indicate a common ancient origin and interactions over the years. Civilizations flourished, creating political, social and economical organizations, yet compared to the Old World they are hardly comparable and it becomes apparent during future encounters.