Once in the Americas, these early people spread out and eventually reached South America as well. They developed different cultures and ways of life depending on the environments in which they settled. In the Arctic regions, they lived in small, fur-clad communities and relied on hunting seals, whales, and other marine mammals. In the Great Plains, they were nomadic hunters who followed the herds of bison and other large animals. In the fertile river valleys of Mesoamerica and the Andes, they settled in agricultural communities and grew crops such as maize, beans, and squash.
Over time, these early peoples developed complex societies with advanced cultures. They built cities, developed systems of writing, and created beautiful works of art and architecture. They also established complex political and economic systems and engaged in long-distance trade. By the time Europeans arrived in the Americas in the late 15th century, there were many thriving civilizations in the Americas, including the Aztec Empire in Mexico, the Inca Empire in Peru, and the Maya civilization in Central America.