The Hopewell: Michigan History’s First Topic of Study

Karen R. Todorov

Michigan Department of Education

Six BIG Ideas That Will Help You Teach the Hopewell

1. Our state and her people have changed over time.

2. Artifacts are important to learning about a culture.

3. Diversity has always existed in our state.4. Trade has always been important.5. The geography of our state has had a big

influence on the people.6. Cultures influence one another.

Michigan and Her People Change Over Time

The geography of Michigan has changed since the time of the glaciers.

Since the earliest times people have used the animals and natural foods of Michigan to survive.

Each era brought changes and improvements to tools and ways of doing things.

Flints Are Important Cultural Artifacts

Flints were used for hunting and tools.Flints and other artifacts are a way to

identify when and how people lived.

Hopewell Mounds Shelter Artifacts Archaeologists Use To Learn About Hopewell Culture

Two characteristics were shared by all Hopewell.– They buried their dead in mounds.– They included exotic materials in the mounds.

Diversity Existed at the Time of the Hopewell

All people living at the time of the Hopewell were not Hopewell.

All people who buried people in mounts were not Hopewell.

Trade Was Important to the Hopewell

The exotic burial goods of the Hopewell have allowed archaeologists to see how the Hopewell traded with each other and other people living at the same time.

The Geography of Michigan Was Important to the Hopewell

Burial mounts were built on gravel deposits, important in mound building.

Upper Peninsula Copper was used as an item of trade for needed exotic burial goods.

The climate and natural resources of Michigan provided a good place for the Hopewell to live.

Native American Cultures Become a Blend of Many Cultures

The development of uniquely native American cultures end with the introduction of Europeans. The diversity of native American cultures continue to grow and develop as their cultures incorporate traditional and European ways.

Six BIG Ideas Will Span Michigan History

1. Our state and her people have changed over time.

2. Artifacts are important to learning about a culture.

3. Diversity has always existed in our state.4. Trade has always been important.5. The geography of our state has had a big

influence on the people of Michigan.6. Cultures influence one another.

Nota Bene:

There are limits to what you can learn from a grave, make sure students think about this. There is always the temptation to over generalize. Help students by posing the question, “what can’t you learn about us from our graves?”

Want to Learn More?

You can learn more about the Hopewell by connecting to:

Michiganepic.org/historythemes