1. Regions of north america
I can analyze the impact of geography on life in the different regions.
Regions of north america

2. Regions
Eastern Woodlands
Cirum-Caribben
Mesoamerica

3. Early Americans When they arrived is a mystery
They were hunter/gatherers
Followed food: buffalo, bison, mammoth
Artifacts date back 20,000 years
Settled down into regions, as their food supply became reliable
Beringia/Bering: Land bridge they crossed to reach the Americas

4. The Northwest Indians houses were log cabins and Animal skin huts.
They lived off an abundance of animals, fish, and plants.
Used canoes to hunt whales, seals, fish
Europeans make money in trading fur, seafood, whale meat and oil, lumber, and want a water route across America.
Make shell buttons, totem poles, stone tools, baskets out of bark

5. Plains Indians
lived in homes that could be taken down quickly. These houses were called teepees or wigwams.
Were nomadic (move around to follow food) followed the buffalo/bison across the grasslands
Diet mainly of meat, buffalo
Used all parts of it for: cloth, teepees, tools, fuel
Europeans wanted buffalo meat and skins

6. Eastern Woodlands Indians
Lived in houses made of logs and bark.
The forests of Eastern North America were rich in trees, animals, plants, and rainfall. Men hunted, and women gathered.
Women also burned away areas to farm corn, squash
Europeans want the ports on the coast, wood, and furs

7. Plateau Indians Known for their weaving skills
Mountainous with dense forests, with the central part flat and dry
Built villages around rivers with plentiful food, esp salmon.
Homes were built with a pit to keep cool/warm
Known for their weaving skills
Europeans want the fish, furs, and woven items.

8. Great Basin Indians
Very dry with extreme temperatures, could sustain little life, so people lived and moved in small groups.
Europeans wanted the area for control of land, but little else

9. Southwest Indians
Many environments (mesas, rivers, mountains, desserts), but little rain
Mesa Peoples
Pueblo peoples built multistoried houses out of adobe (mud and straw bricks). Housing 1,000s
Used cotton to weave cloth, and plants to dye it
Grew corn, beans, squash near streams and irrigation ditches bc little rain
Make cornmeal
Europeans make money from controlling more of the Americas and for the cloth and corn.

10. California Indians
Coastal villages on the side of the mountain ranges. The most diverse region with the most groups existing in it.
Ate mainly salmon, seafood, deer and rabbits further from the coast
Were fine weavers.
Europeans want the fish, and coast for trade.

11. Southeast Indians
Fertile land, that they grew crops in easily along the coast.
Grew corn, squash, sunflower, beans.
Built mounds: some are funeral, other temples, some in designs, but always important to the tribe and their culture.
Europeans wanted the coast to trade, lumber, crops, and furs.

12. Cirum-Caribbean Indians
Taino tribes are one first to meet Europeans.
Live on the Islands, where they fish, hunt, and farm.
Use Palm trees as a primary material
Europeans like because of the growing season, they make them slaves and grow tobacco and sugarcane

13. Mesoamerican Indians Some of the first to meet Europeans
Inca: In South America along the Andes Mountains
Largest empire and was extremely organized
Terraced the steep hills, added irrigation to farm corn, beans, cotton, squash, potatoes, and raise llama/alpaca.
Had a road system with rope bridges

14. Mesoamerican Indians Mayans: In modern day Mexico
Skilled farmers, built terraces and carried rich soil from rivers to grow food. Traded their extra food with other tribes
Built massive stone cities, with step pyramid temples.
Developed a 365 day calendar, skilled mathematicians, scientists,
Pretty weak when Europeans show up, trade crops with them. Europeans want gold though.

15. Mesoamerican Indians Aztec: Present day Mexico
Built Tenochtitlan, upon a swamp! With causeways, aquaducts (for water), bridges
Fierce, and known for human sacrifice
Traded far distances with other tribes
Europeans want gold, but settle for slaves and crops
Montezuma welcomes Cortez into the city and the Europeans loot it! They kill Monte then.

16. Native American Religion
Native Americans believed that everything in God’s creation had a spirit.
They lived in a way that respected the Spirit of everything.
Holy Men, or Shamans, were important to the tribe.

17. Natives did not understand the concept of property ownership.
They believed that a man could not own the land.
This belief would not serve them well in their dealings with the European settlers.
Also, the Native Americans did not join together for political purposes.
This would make them weaker when trying to make “deals” or wage war with governments.