1. Pre-Columbian America

2. Pre-Columbian America
How many people inhabited the Americas by the time of Columbus’s voyages in the late 15th century?

3. Pre-Columbian America
15th century brought dramatic shift in commercial structures.
A new avenue of trade
A profound change began
Columbian Exchange altered…
Atlantic World brought huge benefits, but a tremendous cost…

4. Pre-Columbian time period. First Americans came from Asia
Crossed the Bering Strait during the Ice Age
Following a food source
Gradual migration

5. Early Human Migrations
1st Migration, 38, BCE
2nd Migration, c. 10,000-4,000 BCE
3rd Migration, c. 8,000-3,000 BCE

6. CULTURE AREAS OF NATIVE AMERICANS

8. Early Native American Societies
Not a single group, but quite diverse
50-90 million people lived in Americas
Spread throughout the hemisphere
Began farming cir. 9,000 years ago
Main crops…
Absence of livestock…

9. Early Native American Societies
Geography
Great geographical diversity…
Made farming impossible in some areas
Long distance between arable areas made contact between groups difficult

10. Early Native American Societies
Two main areas of agriculture
Mesoamerica- Mexico and Central America
Andean Mountain region – along the west coast of S. America
Economics
Primarily agricultural or hunter gather (depending on region)

11. Early Native American Societies
Society/Culture
Largely hierarchical
Kinship groups important
Animistic religions
Some had cities

12. Natives of Central/South America
Most populace areas were in Central and South America
Incas and Aztecs
Economy still largely
Though some…
Religiously

13. Aztecs

14. Inca

15. Natives of North America
Unlike Aztecs and Inca to the south
But…
Also had cities such as…
Cahokia
Hopi and Zuni
Pacific Coast…
Great Plains…
But some

17. Natives of North America
Eastern North America
Hundreds of tribes
Subsisted on
Trade
Diversity in region
Not a single unified people

18. Natives Societies Land use: Social relations: Communally shared, right
to work/use land
No landownership in
European sense (not eco commodity)
Also, unlike Europeans
Social relations:
Some distinctions in rank (with some more than others)
Generosity…inequality

19. Discussion Question
Given what we have discussed about Native Americans, what do you think Women’s status in these societies was like? Back up your answer!

20. Natives Societies Social relations (cont)
Role of women: (think Hunter Gatherer societies)
Most matrilineal
Divorce possible
Had positions of political/religious significance
Even owned land and resources (tools etc)

21. Conclusion
Natives had impressive societies that in many ways rivaled civilizations of Old World
Shift to Atlantic World brought tremendous change, often quite disruptive
Many changes and events still effect today.