1. Amerind History and Culture A Brief Overview of Pre-Columbian America

2. I. Native American Land Wisdom Myth or reality? Is this history?

3. A. Why consider them? 1. European survival 2. Confluence of environment and culture

4. B. Who were they? 1. Early guesses (Jose de Acosta) 2. Pleistocene Epoch migration (30,000-15,000 BC)

5. C. Clovis Technology 1. 12,000-8,000 BC 2. Global technology

6. II. Development of Regional Cultures Climate change over-hunting “Pleistocene Overkill”

7. A. Climatic diversification

8. 1. Folsom technology cooperative hunting 2. Desert culture limited nomadism 3. Forest efficiency hunt, gather, burn

9. B. Agriculture 1. 7,000-5,000 BC (late but independent) disadvantages of nomadism 2. Agriculture breeds complexity pop. Growth tribal organization urbanization gender roles: production & reproduction

10. 3. 1200 AD, Anasazi culture (sw)

11. 4. Mississippian culture (mound builders) Cahokia (1200 AD, 30,000 people) ecological instability

12. III. The Americas on the eve of colonization

13. In 1492 … - 2000 distinct cultures in the West. Hem. - 60m people? Aztecs dominate Mexico Incas dominate South America

14. North America Southwest - Pueblos, Pimas Southeast - Creek, Choctaw, Cherokee Northeast - Iroquois Confederacy (Oneida, Mohawk, Cayuga, Seneca) combined farming w/ hunting? Easy targets?