Introduction to the Cultures of North American Aboriginal Peoples Eastern Woodlands

Regional Characteristics Eastern third dominated by Appalachian Mountains Eastern third dominated by Appalachian Mountains Characterized by steep-sided valleys, with relatively small valley floors and high-energy streams Characterized by steep-sided valleys, with relatively small valley floors and high-energy streams Flat broad plain reaching the Atlantic Flat broad plain reaching the Atlantic Mississippi-Ohio-Tennessee Basins and rivers flowing directly into the Gulf of Mexico Mississippi-Ohio-Tennessee Basins and rivers flowing directly into the Gulf of Mexico Broad, low-energy streams Broad, low-energy streams Broad floodplain Broad floodplain Mississippi River Valley is very broad in its southern reaches (dozens of miles wide) Mississippi River Valley is very broad in its southern reaches (dozens of miles wide)

Flora Eastern Woodlands Eastern Woodlands Hardwood Mixed-oak forest Hardwood Mixed-oak forest Southern and western regions dominated by broad, low energy rivers and wide flood plains Southern and western regions dominated by broad, low energy rivers and wide flood plains Northern and central regions (Appalachia) dominated by steep-sided valleys Northern and central regions (Appalachia) dominated by steep-sided valleys

Fauna Deer, rabbits Deer, rabbits Raccoons, opossums Raccoons, opossums Wolf, mountain lion Wolf, mountain lion Reptiles Reptiles Turtles, tortoises, snakes Turtles, tortoises, snakes Birds Birds

Northeastern Woodlands Horticulturalists Horticulturalists Lived in settled villages made up of a number of longhouses Lived in settled villages made up of a number of longhouses Each longhouse was occupied by members of a matrilineage: Each longhouse was occupied by members of a matrilineage: Female relatives, their husbands, daughters, daughters’ husbands, unmarried sons Female relatives, their husbands, daughters, daughters’ husbands, unmarried sons The status of women was quite high The status of women was quite high Well-known tribes include the Iroquois, Huron, Mohicans and, Delaware Well-known tribes include the Iroquois, Huron, Mohicans and, Delaware

Iroquois Village

Division of Labor Men Men Hunting Hunting Warfare Warfare Ceremonies and Games Ceremonies and Games Lacrosse (NE), Chunkey (SE) Lacrosse (NE), Chunkey (SE) Clearing land Clearing land Women Women Processing food Processing food Collecting wood and water Collecting wood and water Planting and harvesting Planting and harvesting

Southeastern Woodlands Horticulturalists Horticulturalists Lived in political units made up of a central large town (Cahokia-40,000 people) surrounded by a network of smaller towns and villages Lived in political units made up of a central large town (Cahokia-40,000 people) surrounded by a network of smaller towns and villages Central towns are marked by large, flat-topped mounds Central towns are marked by large, flat-topped mounds On top of these mounds were the homes of chiefs and religious leaders On top of these mounds were the homes of chiefs and religious leaders These peoples are the direct ancestors of the modern “Five Civilized Tribes”: Cherokee, Creek, Chickasaw, Choctaw and Seminole These peoples are the direct ancestors of the modern “Five Civilized Tribes”: Cherokee, Creek, Chickasaw, Choctaw and Seminole

Moundville (AL)

Cahokia (IL)