The first Americans

 

The first Americans arrived between 25,000 and 35,000 years ago. They came from Asia across the "Bering Strait Land Bridge". Experts think that after an ice age the sea levels rose, but the land rose more quickly. This meant that a "bridge" appeared across the 72 km Bering Straits. Some people were able to cross to America before it was eventually covered by sea. This is why native Americans look Asian (Mongoloid).

 

The geography of America

 

These people spread over America during thousands of years. They made their lifestyle fit the conditions they lived in. America is a place of extremes: from Arctic conditions to desert; from jungles to excellent crop fields; from huge canyons to massive mountains. Before you begin your study of Ancient Americans, you need to know about the geography of America. This will help you to judge how well these native peoples adapted (fitted in) to their environments.

 

James Green: Native peoples of the Americas, Oxford University Press, 1993, page 4 f.