Native Americans before “finding” the New World GUIDING QUESTIONS for LECTURE: How does the term “Indian” tell us that history is Euro-centric? How did the native people distinguish themselves? What were political, economic, and social similarities and differences?

Who were the native people? The name “Indian” from Columbus (VIDEO) Diverse groups of people 2,000 separate cultures Hundreds of languages Kinship networks Widely distributed

Where did natives come from? Bering Land Bridge theory—Ice Age exposed a land bridge between Asia and N. America Moved across in three phases, starting 15,000 years ago Bridge disappears about 5,000 years ago Originally hunter-gatherers

Development of agriculture & economy 3000 BC—people in present-day Mexico began farming Spreads unevenly The “three sisters” crops most important Maize (later, corn) Beans Squash Other crops: tomatoes, potatoes, cassava

Corn? So what? Maize (corn) became the dominant crop of the Americas With European interaction beginning in the 1480s, it would eventually spread to the “Old World” Trade networks based on maize and other staple crops supported economic development among native groups Maize farming was present in most native cultures, even in ones that were mobile Cultural myths and social diversification were also driven by maize

Maya & Aztec (Early Southern) Maya (Yucatan—Mexico) ~300 AD Highly developed Art/culture based on polytheism Writing system, math War-like culture Declined for unknown reasons… Aztecs (N. Mexico) ~1100s Highly developed with massive cities Monarchy/strict class system (clans) War-like culture, demand sacrifice SPANIARDS overthrow (Hernan Cortez)

Great Plains & West Hopewell Pueblo “Anasazi” Ohio-Miss. valley; large villages Small burial mounds Form intricate, long-distance trade network Obsidian (Rockies) Copper (Great Lakes) Mica (Appalachia) Shells (Gulf Coast) Pueblo “Anasazi” Colorado River; 4 corners 25,000 villages Create elaborate multi-room structures in stone/canyon walls (pueblos) Form agricultural and pottery networks

How did life differ on the Plains? Lack of natural resources led to largely nomadic lifestyles Hunting seasons dictated when and where groups would migrate This migration also led to greater contact and conflict with other native groups (and later, those of European origin)

Southeast Mississippian Natchez Villages along Miss. River (center-Cahokia) linked by river transport system Large, shaped earthworks/mounds Introduced bow/arrow Intricate maize farming Division of labor Natchez Floodplains of Miss. Delta Decentralized community Class society with small group of warrior-leaders War-like culture Territorial conflicts Public torture/sacrifice

Eastern Woodlands Diverse groups of people with farming and woodland culture From PA to NC Women: farmers Men: hunters/gatherers Matrilineal system based on women as “caretakers” of the land & family no great empire system Decimated by European diseases brought by de Soto expeditions in 1500s

Northeastern Algonquians Iroquois Made of 50 distinct cultures (patrilineal) Bands of people with loose ethnic ties to others Farming and permanent villages Iroquois Lived in area now part of Canada and upper NY Matrilineal culture Religion based on agricultural cycles Form confederacy to eliminate warfare: “Iroquois Nation” Iroquois, Mohawk, Oneida, Cayuga, Seneca