Early Civilization_Madison Goodwin By madiclaire2007 30,000 BCE Natural land bridges formed when water levels dropped during the Ice Age. 10,000 BCE Earths temperature had begun to raise and the Ice Age was ending. 7000 BCE People started planting seeds to grow food in South America and central Mexico. Period: 1300 BCE to 4000 The Olmec people lived along the Gulf Coast of what is now now southern Mexico. Period: 800 BCE to 100 BCE The Adena people, one of the first Mound Builders, lived along the Ohio River. Period: 300 BCE to 909 The Mayan culture existed in what is now southern Mexico and Guatemala. Period: 100 BCE to 500 The Hopewell Mound Builders lodged in the same area. Period: 200 to 1300 The Anasazi culture emerged in the Southwest in the Four Corners area. Period: 700 to 1600 The Mississippian civilization existed. 900 Mayan civilization disappeared for reasons unknown. 1000 The Cahokia lived along the Mississippi River. 1100 Aztecs settled in the Valley of Mexico. 1300 Anasazi began leaving the pueblos and cliff dwellings to live in smaller communities. 1325 The Aztecs moved to an area around Lake Texoco, called Tenochtitlan. Period: 1400 to 1572 Incas established their empire in southern Peru. 1492 Christopher Columbus landed in the Americas. 1519 Hernan Cortes, a Spanish conquistador, first led his soldiers to the Aztec civilization. 1521 Spaniards had defeated the Aztecs and ended their empire. 1532 Inca Empire was weakened by civil war. 1572 Inca Empire ended.