From Prehistory to the 1500’s Native Cultures From Prehistory to the 1500’s

Pre-historic Period Early Americans The first Americans may have traveled to the Americas across a land bridge from Europe. The land bridge could have formed during the Ice Age and been a pathway across the Bering Strait. These people may have crossed the land bridge because of the search for food. Their search for food would have been chasing herds of wild animals such as giant buffalo . The time was known as prehistory because it was before written history. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E_k9uE6vrb8

Vocabulary Culture- the beliefs, knowledge, ideas, and ways of life that define a certain group of people

Vocabulary Civilization- culture with structure to their society and innovations such as cities, government, commerce, art, and writing.

Prehistoric Periods- 3 periods Paleo- Indian Period Began about 10,000 B.C. and went until 6,000 B.C. First scientific evidence of people being in Texas. These Natives used flint tipped spears to hunt giant buffalo, mammoths, and mast0dons. These huge animals started to die off around 8,000 The most famous Texas Paleo-Indian is known as Midland Minnie whose bones were found in Midland.

Paleo Indian Period

Archaic Period Lasted from about 6,000 B.C. to 700 A.D. Humans had to find a new way of living after their old food source died off The humans started to hunt smaller animals including deer, buffalo, and antelope. The also developed a new hunting weapon called an atlatl. The atlatl hurled dart points. The men continued to hunt and women gathered plants

Archaic Period: Atlatl

Late Prehistoric Period Lasted from about 700 A.D. to about 1500 A.D. Native Texans began to live in villages and grow their own plants. This was a change from the hunting and gathering that the Natives were used to doing The Native Texans also started to use the bow and arrow as an effective tool for hunting small and large animals.

Maya and Aztecs The Maya were one of the first great civilizations in North America. The Maya made great innovations in city structure, social classes, and astronomy They also built great cities and pyramids The Aztecs were a great civilization who built their cities around modern day Mexico City. Tenochtitlan was a city of 100,000 which was bigger than most European cities at the time.

Maya

Aztecs

Native American of the Gulf Coast The Coahuiltecans Lived on the Gulf Coast past the Rio Grande towards modern day San Antonio. This area was hot and was not a good place for growing many crops or finding food sources. Some of the food that was available was beans, nuts, lizards, snakes, worms, and roots. The Coahuiltecans were nomads because they were always looking for food.

Coahuiltecans

Native Americans of the Gulf Coast The Karankawas Lived on the Gulf shore between modern day Galveston and Corpus Christi. Because they lived on the coast they became very good fishermen The would spear fish and had traps for shellfish. They used shark and alligator grease to fight of mosquitos They wore outfits made from deer skin and also tattooed and pierced their bodies

The Karankawas

Native Americans of East Texas The Caddoes The Caddoes lived in Northeast Texas This was very rich farm land and had many trees and rich soil Because of the rich farmland and heavy wooded areas, the Caddoes were able to build more permanent dwellings. Their houses were sturdy and built from grass and wood These houses were all a part of large villages They had big villages led by a chief called a Caddi Also, women played important roles in Caddo society.

Caddoes

Native Texans of the Plains Apaches The Apaches lived in the grasslands of Central Texas . This location made their lives dependent on the wild animals that they hunted for food. The animals were also used for shelter and tools They were nomads during the hunting seasons They farmed in villages during the growing seasons

Apaches

Natives Texans of the Plains Comanches Moved into Texas from the far north Once they gained the use of horses, they were very skilled on horseback. Known as “lords of the plains” Were very skilled hunters and were deadly with a bow and arrow. Used Buffalo for food, tools, clothing, and housing. Raided other groups

Comanches

Native Groups of North Central Texas The Tonkawas The Tonkawas were hunters and fishermen Ate deer, buffalo, fish, and crawfish They also lived in grass houses and did not migrate Later helped Europeans fight the Comanches The Wichitas From Kansas and were very good farmers Lived in large grass lodges Skilled artists Elected chiefs to rule and held women in high regard

Native Texans of the West The Jumanos Lived along the Rio Grande Used the river water to help them farm Lived in Adobe homes Sun dried clay and straw used to make brick The adobe kept them warm in the winter and cool in the summer.

Jumanos

Later Natives Cherokees Moved to Texas much later around the 1800’s More advanced than other tribes Lived in log cabins Later intermarried with Europeans Integrated to European culture Owned slaves and plantations.