Page 96 - Key to Social Studies 6

Agricultural Revolution The California Region

• People lived for thousands of years near present day Mexico. They developed farming to sustain the The people who lived in this region enjoyed an easier life than others who lived in North America due to a

population. They discovered new things to plant such as potatoes, corn, pumpkins, and squash. warmer climate with plenty of rainfall that helped them to develop their culture through more extensive
farming.
• These newly discovered farming techniques started to spread to the people of the southwest around
3000 B.C.E. The Great Basin Region

This region was a more di cult place to live in because it had less water. The people in this region often
• By discovering farming, people began to settle in one place and develop villages, as they no longer had
moved from place to place searching for food and water sources to sustain life and livestock.
to move each season to nd plants to eat.
The Great Plains Region
• As time went by, these villages turned into complex societies forming new governments and religions.
This vast area was sparsely populated, or few people lived here, for a long time until groups began to
Complex societies are populations with structured hierarchy and economy.
settle, beginning at some point in the ninth century when hunting and farming became more
• These changes allowed the development of early technology that led to great advancement. This
widespread in this region.
development improved the standard of living and made things easier for people at work and at home.
The Eastern Woodlands Region
• Many cultures emerged among the people of the Americas, including traditions, customs, and religions,
This region enjoyed a fertile land with plenty of rainfall. People lived as hunters and gatherers, often close
depending on the region where they were living.
to rivers that were navigated by canoes.
Di erent Regions Developed

The following regions developed in North America: the Arctic region, the Northwest region, the California

region, the Great Basin, the Great Plains, and the Eastern Woodlands. The Great Basin National Park in Nevada

The Arctic Region

The Arctic region is a frigid area, or very cold in temperature, with a permafrost, or iced land.

Farming was impossible in this region because of its frigid climate, so its inhabitants depended on

hunting animals on land and in the sea. They learned to make the best use of every part of these animals,

since their resources were so scarce.

The Northwest Region

This region exists along the northwest coast of North America. This region had a moderate climate due to
ocean currents. People who lived there depended on hunting and shing along with gathering food like

berries, nuts, seeds, and roots. The region’s thick forests provided another source of food and shelter for

the people.

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