Journal #6 Archaeology – the study of the unwritten past Migration – a movement of people from one region to another Society – a group that shares the same culture Culture – a set of common values and traditions Domestication – the process of breeding plants or animals to meet human needs

Bonus Questions Why is it usually cooler at the top of a mountain than it is at lower elevations? What type of air is associated with clear, dry weather? What is the capital of North Dakota? What ocean borders the west coast of the U.S.?

The U.S. Before Columbus 1.1 and 1.2

Native American History Native Americans use stories to tell about their past, these stories are passed down from generation to generation "One day the Great Spirit collected swirls of dust from the four directions in order to create the Commanche people. These people formed from the earth had the strength of mighty storms. Unfortunately, a shape-shifting demon was also created and began to torment the people. The Great Spirit cast the demon into a bottomless pit. To seek revenge the demon took refuge in the fangs and stingers of poisonous creatures and continues to harm people every chance it gets." http://www.indigenouspeople.net/commcrea.htm

How Historians See Native American “Myths or Stories” They used to be seen as made up stories with no real value Recently, some people have found stories that relate to actual events in history Great earthquake in 1700 and Thunderbird vs. Whale

The First Migration to the Americas Scientists believe that during the last Ice Age water levels dropped A land bridge was formed between NE Asia and Alaska – this is called Beringia People used this bridge to cross into North America between 38,000 and 10,000 B.C. This is called The Bering Strait Theory, the people are called Paleo-Indians

Paleo-Indians Paleo Indians were hunter-gatherers who eventually spread out all the way to South America They hunted mammoths and other large animals

A New Climate The Ice Age ends around 8000 B.C. and new environments form Most of the giant animals become extinct, the Paleo Indians adapt Domestication of maize (corn), beans, squash These are known as the three sisters The three sisters kept the people and the soil healthy There is evidence of new societies

New Societies in South America and Mesoamerica Olmecs – 1200 – 400 BC in Mexico, “mother culture” developed number and calendar systems and glyphs Maya – 300 – 900 AD in Mexico, built palaces and bridges, studied math and astronomy Aztec – 1200 – 1500s in Mexico, built Tenochtitlan in present Mexico City (300,000 people), conquered much of Mexico before they were conquered by the Spanish Inca – 1200 – 1500s high in the mountains of South America, they made 25,000 miles of roads, palaces decorated with gold and with huge gardens and running water

Maya Olmec Inca Aztec

Early Societies in North America These had much smaller populations Anasazi – 700 to 1300 AD in the SW-four corners area, crafts, cliff dwellings, the 3 sisters Hopewell – 300 BC to 400 AD near the Mississippi, Ohio and Missouri rivers, built burial mounds, farmers Mississippian – 700 to 1500 AD near the Ohio and Mississippi rivers, mound builders, farmers, traders, Cahokia is their largest city (near present St. Louis)

Chaco Canyon - Anasazi Serpent Mound Cahokia Anasazi Pottery

Culture Areas Location influenced the ways of life for many Native American societies The areas we will learn about are The Far North The Pacific Coast The West and Southwest The Great Plains The East

The Far North The Aleut and Inuit lived in this area near present day Alaska and Canada Fishermen who also hunted large animals Moved with dogsleds and kayaks Some lived in igloos, others in wooden or stone houses

The Pacific Coast These people lived between SW Alaska and Northern California Tribes: Tlingit, Nootka, Skokomish Salmon was their most important food, they also hunted sea otters and whales from large canoes Built houses and totems from evergreen trees These groups had potlatch ceremonies to show their wealth and gain respect

The West and Southwest Dryer than other areas, so the people had fewer resources The Flathead and Nez Perce fished for salmon, hunted, and gathered plants in the NW In the Great Basin, the Shoshone and Ute gathered seeds and roots and trapped small animals, they ate crickets, lizards, and rabbits In the Southwest, the Apache, Navajo, and Pueblo hunted, gathered and farmed (Pueblo). They had religious ceremonies in their kivas

The Great Plains The Great Plains stretch from Canada to Texas, from the Rockies to the Mississippi River Grassland with millions of buffalo, tribes hunted and some grew crops – the three sisters Mandan (North Dakota), Pawnee, Apache, Arapaho, Blackfoot, Comanche, Sioux

The East Tribes in the East had lots of resources In the Southeast the Cherokee, Creek, and Seminole lived in villages, farmed, hunted, gathered, and traded Northeastern tribes included the Iroquois and Algonquian Algonquians lived in large lodges, and in wigwams The Iroquois lived in longhouses and created the Iroquois League