Period 1 Native Peoples of America

The First Americans

Peopling New worlds Pueblos and Navajos- Journey from other worlds Iroquois- Pregnant woman fell from the sky world Paleo- Indians- Nomadic, Hunter- Gatherers, followed principal of reciprocity, stone age type tools

Pueblos Navajos Iroquois Mythology

Results of Global Warming Extinction of Mammals End of Ice Age 2500 BC Societies- permanent settlements, agricultural revolution changing diets and medicine, mainly Mesoamerica, Maize 1500AD- food surpluses, trade networks, religious and political systems, confederations Nomadic groups still persisted in areas where food was scarce

Mesoamerica and South America Maize, Beans and Squash Olmecs- Mesoamerica and Chavin de Huantar- Andes –Urban Centers –Wealthy Elites –Hereditary Rulers –Theocracies –Temples, Palaces and Pyramids –Chiefdoms- Some Matrilineal

Olmec Chavin de Huantar

Mesoamerica Monte Alban and Teotihuacan –Wars of conquest –Bureaucracies –Tax Collection –Public Works Projects –Religious Ceremonies and Hierarchies –Sun Pyramid of Teotihuacan

Monte Alban Teotihuacan

Maya Influenced by Teotihuacan 600AD- 1400AD Calendar, numerical system, hieroglyphic writing, paper

Aztecs 1420’s Human sacrifice Temple of Tenochtitlan Calendar based upon the Mayan calendar Drained swamp lands for farming, collected taxes from surrounding tribes Pochteca- armed traders for the Aztecs- salt, jewelry, feathers, pelts, cotton, precious stones, gold, turquoise

Incas 1480’s Cuzco Conquered territories throughout the Andes Maize, beans potatoes, meats Terraced Irrigation, roads, bridges, storehouses, freeze-dried foodstuffs

Southwest Maize by 2500BC 400BC full time farming begins Hohokam Culture in Arizona –Irrigation canals, permanent towns, coordinated workforce –Confederations for trade, religion, politics –Ball courts, mounds, rubber balls –Clay, stone, turquoise and shell artwork

Southwest cont’ Anasazi- 700AD –Harvesting crops –Permanent settlements –Pottery –Complex apartments –Kivas- underground areas for religious ceremonies –Chaco Canyon- 15,000 people, road network, dams and terraces controlled rain water –Culture came to a close because of drought

Eastern Woodlands Poverty Point –Two large mounds- solar observations contribute religious beliefs and calendar –Quartz, copper, crystal and minerals –Olmec influence Adena –400BC –Mound builders –Hopewell –Mainly hunter-gatherers, women grew small amounts of Maize and Squash

Eastern Woodlands cont’ Mississippians- 700AD –Farmers –Sun worship, wives and servants accompanied the chief into the afterlife –Trade –Chahokia- declines after 1200AD because of warfare and scarce resources –Maize, beans, tools, controlled burn techniques

Non Farmers California tribes- fish and acorns Plains Indians- deer, elk, bear, buffalo, sheep for food clothing, shelter, tools Blackfeet and Pawnee built permanent lodges, farmed and hunted

On the Eve of European Contact 75 million people by 1500AD 7-10 Million North of Mesoamerica Nomadic in the Plains and Arctic regions Fishing and gathering in Pacific region Agricultural based civilizations in East and along river valleys Many languages and dialects Bound by trade, reciprocity, resources, technology, ideas, art, religion

On the Eve of European Contact cont’ Nuclear families- Man, wife, children Extended families- nuclear family plus relatives Some Matrilineal, some Patrilineal Family feuds and justice, warfare Women were the farmers Spirit in Nature- Manitou- source of unexplained Spirit –Dreams, Visions, Ordeals, Dances and Rituals