1. Peopling of the Americas Development of Native American Culture

2. Populating the Americas ● Land bridge (Beringa) existed that connected Eurasia to North America (25,000 – 10,000 years ago) ● For 15,000 years the Americas are populated. ● When the glaciers melt, the Americas become isolated from the rest of the world.

3. Early Life for Native Americans ● Native Americans were mainly nomads ● Individuals who moved around to find food. ● Lived off the land by hunting, fishing, and gathering ● Consequences of nomadic life: ● Small population growth ● No formal gov’t, writing system, or complex religion ● Everyone is focused on survival needs

4. Agricultural Revolution ● Native Americans learn to grow crops– move away from nomadic lifestyle ● Three sisters farming: squash, corn (maize), beans ● Consequences of this Lifestyle: ● Population boom due to steady/increasing food supply ● Specialization of labor ● As a result  formal gov’t, writing system, and religion begin to form ● Civilizations begin to form ● By 1492 it is estimated that 54 million people lived in the Americas, comprising hundreds of tribes ● Powerful empires like the Maya, Aztecs, and Inca developed

5. A Brief Overview of Tribal Cultures- Pueblo Located along Rio Grande Farming (“Three Sisters” and cotton) along with hunting and gathering Lived in villages—pueblo is Spanish for “village” Houses with multiple stories Homes made of bricks, utilizing the clay soil. Warm, humid climate with minimal rainfall– relied heavily on agriculture.

6. A Brief Overview of Tribal Cultures- Plains Indians ▪ Farmed along river valleys—“Three Sisters” plus sunflowers and tobacco ▪ Lived in teepees, which could be collapsed for transport to a new location. ▪ Hunted buffalo—but there were no horses in the Americas before the Spanish arrived ▪ Utilized every part of the buffalo– not just for food. ▪ Settled around pueblos to trade during the winter ▪ Moderate temperatures  good for crops.

7. A Brief Overview of Tribal Cultures-Southeastern Indians ▪ Movement of Mississippians from large settlements to smaller villages along river valleys ● City of Cahokia had 25,000 people living in it ● Built a great mound in the middle of the city ▪ Hunted animals like deer in the winter ▪ Very skilled farmers ▪ Warm, temperate climate

8. A Brief Overview of Tribal Cultures- Eastern Woodlands ▪ Groups such as Algonquin and Iroquois ▪ Algonquins lived in wigwams (round, covered in bark) ▪ Iroquois lived in longhouses (about 10 families in each) ▪ Mixture of farming and hunting ▪ Slash-and-burn agriculture ▪ Relied heavily on access to water, forests and small animals.