Villages Develop

The practice of farming the land led to the development of villages. The people no longer had to travel in search of wild game and plant life. Instead, they could settle down in one place, and begin to build more permanent structures.

These permanent villages allowed for more complex societies and cultures to evolve in the region. New religions and governments began to form, and individuals began to become more specialized in their jobs.

This specialization of work tasks allowed technology to really take off, so that great advancements were made. The people became more skilled in tool making, creating special implements for farming, fishing, building and so forth.

All of this meant that the standard of living in the Americas could be greatly improved. This improved standard of living led to a population explosion. By A.D. 1500 it is estimated that more than 50 million people lived in the Western Hemisphere.