Unit 1 Early Illinois
Vocab *nomad: a person who moves from place to place in search of food *archaeologist: a person who studies artifacts and remains of ancient cultures *metropolitan: relating to a city *epidemic: an outbreak of contagious disease that spreads widely and rapidly *confederacy: loose alliance
Early Inhabitants First humans crossed to North America on Land Bridge across Bering Strait as early as 40,000 years ago ( or earlier?) First people arrived in Illinois 10-12,000 years ago Early inhabitants were hunter-gatherers Around 1000 B.C, people began growing squash, sunflowers, and maize
Woodland Culture Developed agriculture Trade with Gulf of Mexico and Southwest Obsidian, sea shells, copper Hopewell Culture 300 BC to 500 AD Mound building
Mississippian Culture 800 to 1500 AD Based around Mississippi and its tributaries Large towns Mounds Pyramids and plazas at town center Maize, squash, beans, and tobacco
Cahokia- reconstructed view
Cahokia Inhabited from 700 to 1500 AD reached its peak between 1050 and 1200 Highly organized community of 25,000 plus Surrounded by vast agricultural fields Temple built on Monks Mound where leader lived Surrounded by wooden palisade
Woodhenge Used as a calendar Various poles mark the solstices Up to 5 had been made over the years
Cahokia City declined around 1500 Causes of decline are not completely known Possible explanations resources being used up diseases became epidemic inter-tribal or class warfare
Cahokia Mounds today
Kincaid
Illiniwek Spoke Algonquin Illiniwek – literally means “He speaks in the ordinary way” Miami-Illinois language family Called themselves inoka 12 tribes as a part of the confederacy Kaskaskia, Tamaroa, Cahokia, Peoria, Michigamea, and several other minor tribes Farmed beans, squash, tomatoes, pumpkins and corn Hunted game and gathered fruit, berries and nuts
Illiniwek Society Division of Labor Men hunt and go to war Women work in the fields and around the village Dream seeking Polygamy
Illiniwek planting cycle Spring: planting June: summer hunt July: harvest corn October: winter hunt Jan: return to village Feb: attacks on neighboring tribes Early spring: women made sap collections while men fished
Calumet Pipe- stone bowl w/ 2 ft. stem decorated with bird heads, necks and feathers Calumets were used as religious pieces, peace offerings and for declarations of war
Illiniwek decline Iroquois pushing tribes west Iroquois were early trading partners with Dutch Traded furs for steel weapons and guns Men were extensively trained in war Illiniwek lacked strong organization Weakness of the confederacy By 1667, most moved west of the Mississippi