Native American Cultures By Mr. Eichmann

Southwest Cultures - Hopi, Zuni, Navajo Environment – Dry, water scarce, desert, Economy – corns, beans, squash, baskets, dolls Settlements – built with adobe, pueblos, irrigation ditches

Great Plains Cultures – Cheyenne, Pawnee, Sioux Environment – grasslands, no trees, flatlands Economy – hunted bison; used for what they need; teepees Settlements – less settled, nomadic

Great Basin Cultures – Shoshone, Ute Environment – Dry and mountainous Economy – Gathered seeds; hunted rabbits and snakes Settlements – Nomadic

Cultures – Inuit, Eskimo Far North Cultures – Inuit, Eskimo Environment – arctic conditions Economy – Hunted seals, walruses, whales, salmon, caribou Settlements - igloos

Northwest Cultures – Kwakiutl, Nootka, Tlingit Environment – Forests, coastal waters Economy – Salmon and other fish Settlements – made of lumber, canoes, totem poles

Southeast Cultures – Choctaw, Creek, Cherokee, Chickasaw Environment – Warm, forests Economy – traders of stone ornaments & other objects Settlements – various types, “Mound Builders” (cemeteries)

Eastern Woodlands Cultures – Mohawk, Oneida, Seneca, Lenape, Delaware, Iroquois Confederation Environment – forests Economy – hunters, farmers Settlements - longhouses

Olmec Civilization 1200 B.C- 400 B.C. Location – Southern Mexico Economy – slash and burn agriculture; traded clay figures for goods Religion – sports played important role; polytheistic; jaguar a religious symbol Contributions – Earrings, beads, and necklaces

The Maya (250 B.C.-900 A.D.) Location – Central Mexico; Yucatan Peninsula to Guatemala Economy- Farming; corns, beans, and squash, cacao trees (chocolate) ; Copan- major trading city Religion – Many gods; Yum Kax (maize god); sports important

Contributions of the Maya Studied astronomy and mathematics Developed accurate calendar Written language; first in North America Architecture – pyramids and sculptures

Aztec Civilization (1325-1521 A.D.) Location – Northern Mexico Economy – Tenochtitlan – major trading city; farmed tomatoes, chili, and peppers; 2% enslaved Religion – king had god-like power; temples for many gods; sacrifices

Aztec Contributions Medicine Astronomy Art and architecture Writing (codex)

Inca Civilization (1200 A.D.-1531 A.D.) Location – South America; Andes Mountains between Peru and Chile Economy – Cuzco – largest city; farms and cities built on mountains; corn important; irrigation ditches Religion – “Children of the Sun”; polytheistic; Machu Picchu (possibly a religious site)

Contributions Road system 1. For trade 2. For moving armies from place to place Quipus – threads for recordkeeping Clothing for identification Architecture