10.1: Chronology

18,000 – 15,000 BCE First humans migrate to the Americas

c. 13,000 BCE Big game hunters inhabit the Great Plains

c. 10,000 BCE Mesoamericans begin to cultivate squash

10,000 – 3,500 BCE Paleo-Indian Period

5600 – 3000 BCE Early Plains Archaic Period

2000 BCE – 250 CE Preclassic or Formative period in Mesoamerica

c. 1900 BCE Mesoamericans begin to make pottery

1800 – 800 BCE Late Initial Period in Peru

1500 – 400 BCE Middle Formative Period in Mesoamerica. Peak of Olmec statue carving

c. 1000 BCE Maize becomes widespread in North America

400 BCE – 100 CE Late Formative Period in Mesoamerica

200 BCE The Moche begin their conquest of Peru’s north coast

200 BCE – 400 CE The Hopewell culture flourishes in North America

100 BCE – 600 CE The Nazca culture flourishes in Peru

400s CE Tiwankau founded

550 CE Teotihuacán reaches 125,000 residents

700 CE The Huari Empire reaches its height

700 – 1400 CE Cahokia

750 CE Tikal reaches 80,000 residents

800 CE The Toltec city of Tula reaches a population of 35,000

1000 CE The Chimu establish the capital city of Chan Chan

1050 CE The population of Chaco Canyon’s five great pueblos reaches 5,000 inhabitants

1325 CE Tenochtitlán founded

1471 CE Death of Inca Pachacuti