The New Curriculum Key Concept 1.1 “Before the arrival of Europeans, native populations in North America developed a wide variety of social, political, and economic structures based in part on interactions with the environment and each other.” Big idea: How did natives adapt to their environment?

Peopling the Americas Bering Straight Land Bridge

America’s First Inhabitants Totaled million by 1492 Developed countless tribes, 2,000 languages, and diverse religions and cultures= DIVERSE

Maize (Corn) Around A.D. 1000, maize agriculture began to spread from Central America through North America Maize was especially popular in the southwest Societies developed vast irrigation systems (Pueblos in Rio Grande) Maize cultivation transformed societies Less emphasis on hunting and gathering Led to an increase in population Villages were built around maize fields

CULTURE GROUPS Public Domain Map by Nikater Nikater Cultural areas of North America at time of European contact

AMERICAN INDIAN Culture Groups Arctic (Eskimos, Inuits) Hunting, Gathering, and Fishing; Nomadic Dwellings: igloos to moss huts Plains Indians (Sioux, Comanche, Witchita) Northeast / Great Lakes (Iroquois, Algonquins) Southwest (Hopi, Pueblo) Southeast (Cherokee, Creek)

AMERICAN INDIAN Culture Groups Arctic (Eskimos, Inuits) Hunting, Gathering, and Fishing Plains Indians (Sioux, Comanche, Witchita) Bison Hunters - Migratory (Teepees) Horses (introduced by Spain drastically altered their culture) Northeast / Great Lakes (Iroquois, Algonquins) Southwest (Hopi, Pueblo) Southeast (Cherokee, Creek)

AMERICAN INDIAN Culture Groups Arctic (Eskimos, Inuits) Hunting, Gathering, and Fishing Plains Indians (Sioux, Comanche, Witchita) Bison Hunters - Migratory (Teepees) Horses (introduced from Europe) Northeast / Great Lakes (Iroquois, Algonquins) Hunting and Gathering Slash and Burn Agriculture “Three Sisters” (Corn, Squash, Beans) Longhouses (Iroquois) Southwest (Hopi, Pueblo) Southeast (Cherokee, Creek)

Northeast and Atlantic Seaboard Many societies were a mix of hunting and gathering Iroquois (Present day NY and PA): Adapted to their environment: Burned forests to hunt and grow crops Villages were built around maize Iroquois were a matriarchal society: Power was based on female authority Women were instrumental in councils and decision-making Women would tend to crops and oversaw community affairs while men hunted

Iroquois Confederacy 5-Tribe Confederacy developed political and organizational skills for military alliance

AMERICAN INDIAN Culture Groups Arctic (Eskimos, Inuits) Hunting, Gathering, and Fishing Plains Indians (Sioux, Comanche, Witchita) Bison Hunters - Migratory (Teepees) Horses (introduced from Europe) Northeast / Great Lakes (Iroquois, Algonquins) Hunting and Gathering Slash and Burn Agriculture “Three Sisters” (Corn, Squash, Beans) Longhouses (Iroquois) Southwest (Hopi, Pueblo) Clay Houses / Cliff Dwellings Maize (Corn) Agriculture Southeast (Cherokee, Creek)

AMERICAN INDIAN Culture Groups Arctic (Eskimos, Inuits) Hunting, Gathering, and Fishing Plains Indians (Sioux, Comanche, Witchita) Bison Hunters - Migratory (Teepees) Horses (introduced from Europe) Northeast / Great Lakes (Iroquois, Algonquins) Hunting and Gathering Slash and Burn Agriculture “Three Sisters” (Corn, Squash, Beans) Longhouses (Iroquois) Southwest (Hopi, Pueblo) Clay Houses / Cliff Dwellings Maize (Corn) Agriculture Southeast (Cherokee, Creek) Agriculture / Settled Communities Mississippian Culture (Cahokia, Mounds)

Mound Builders of Ohio River Valley Cahokia housed 25,000 people Full time agricultural society; used “slash and burn” Highly organized Elite Rulers Extensive trade networks

Indian Settlement Before European Contact Some Nomadic Hunters Established long distance trade networks Permanent agricultural centered on MAIZE No wheel, no written language Work divided by gender Some developed matrilineal societies

Indian Trade Networks

A. The traditional view of the population of Native American societies is probably wrong by quite a bit. TRADITIONAL VIEWPOINTS THAT NEED TO CHANGE…..

How many people lived in the Americas? 1910, Mooney – 1.15 million est. 1966, Dobyns – 90 to 112 million est. (based on calculation of # dead from disease). POPULATION OF THE AMERICAS

Scholars still debate this. The reality is probably much closer to Dobyn’s 100 million. In any case, it sets the population as comparable to Europe. Spain and Portugal (Iberia) together had about 7 million at that time. POPULATION OF THE AMERICAS

B. The traditional view of Natives just living in total harmony with nature (never modifying it) needs to be adjusted. TRADITIONAL VIEWPOINTS THAT NEED TO CHANGE

INTERACTION WITH NATURE The Pocahontas “one with nature” idea is a false one. Natives modified and exploited their environment, just like people everywhere. Usually, though they did so in a way that didn’t cause long term damage.

Test Tips Multiple-Choice Questions: Map of different areas of North America: How did natives adapt to their environment? Short Answer: Map of different areas of North America: How did natives adapt to their environment? Essay Questions: Not likely since it is from period 1