Unit I 1300-1607Unit I 1300-1607

Part IPart I

The Native AmericansThe Native Americans

Origins of the Native Origins of the Native AmericansAmericans

AKA AKA AmerindiansAmerindians

Most believe that the New World was Most believe that the New World was populated by immigrants who crossed populated by immigrants who crossed over over BeringiaBeringia (land mass now covered by (land mass now covered by the Bering Strait) more than 40,000 years the Bering Strait) more than 40,000 years ago.ago.

Migrated to tip of S. America by 8,000 BC Migrated to tip of S. America by 8,000 BC

World Map and the Bering World Map and the Bering StraitStrait

Beringia under water Beringia under water 10,000 years ago10,000 years ago

The early immigrants were hunters The early immigrants were hunters of large game for food, furs and had of large game for food, furs and had small fishing vesselssmall fishing vessels

By 1500 Population in the New By 1500 Population in the New World was 50-100 million (numbers World was 50-100 million (numbers are in dispute)are in dispute)

Issues with the Bering Issues with the Bering Strait notion:Strait notion:

Evidence of human habitation in Evidence of human habitation in Eastern Siberia only 12,000 years agoEastern Siberia only 12,000 years ago

A Crow site in the Yukon my be A Crow site in the Yukon my be 50,000 years old50,000 years old

A site in Brazil could be 48,000 years A site in Brazil could be 48,000 years oldold

BUTBUT

The Bering Strait theory is The Bering Strait theory is the most widely accepted.the most widely accepted.

By the Late Stone AgeBy the Late Stone Age4,000 to 1500 BC4,000 to 1500 BC

Sedentary (non-migratory) societies Sedentary (non-migratory) societies began to develop (Peru, NE and began to develop (Peru, NE and South-central Mexico and SW United South-central Mexico and SW United States States

Depended upon: Maize, Pumkins, Depended upon: Maize, Pumkins, Sweet Potatoes, Chili Peppers, Sweet Potatoes, Chili Peppers, Tapioca, and Amaranth (a cereal)Tapioca, and Amaranth (a cereal)

Hundreds of tribes with differentHundreds of tribes with different LanguagesLanguages ReligionsReligions CulturesCultures

Three Great CivilizationsThree Great Civilizationsin Central and South in Central and South

AmericaAmerica The MayansThe Mayans The AztecsThe Aztecs The Incas (Peru)The Incas (Peru)

The MayansThe Mayans In In Mesoamerica:Mesoamerica: Guatemala, Guatemala,

Honduras, Belize up to Central Mexico, Honduras, Belize up to Central Mexico, the Yucatan the Yucatan

2,000 BC to 900 AD disappearance a 2,000 BC to 900 AD disappearance a mysterymystery

Noted for itsNoted for its Written LanguageWritten Language ArchitectureArchitecture MathematicsMathematics CalendarCalendar Irrigation systemsIrrigation systems

The MayansThe Mayans

http://www.history.com/topics/maya/videos/ask-history-did-the-maya-predict-2012?m=528e394da93ae&s=undefined&f=1&free=false#

The Aztecs in MexicoThe Aztecs in Mexico

1100-15191100-1519 Tenochtitlan Tenochtitlan Gods and Human SacrificeGods and Human Sacrifice

Contrast with Christian sacrament Contrast with Christian sacrament ritualritual

Cortes and MontezumaCortes and Montezuma

The Incas in PeruThe Incas in Peru

Like MayansLike Mayans Built stone-carved citiesBuilt stone-carved cities Mathematics and astronomyMathematics and astronomy Agricultural surplus for tradeAgricultural surplus for trade

The North American The North American tribestribes

By late 15By late 15thth century semi-sedentary century semi-sedentary Less developed than in southLess developed than in south Gender roles:Gender roles:

Women primarily agricultureWomen primarily agriculture Men Hunters and warriors Men Hunters and warriors

Most matrilineal (property ownershipMost matrilineal (property ownership and matriilocal (new couple real and matriilocal (new couple real

extended family and proximity)extended family and proximity)

Property OwnershipProperty Ownership

No one “owned” the land but families No one “owned” the land but families or clans would defend their “rights” or clans would defend their “rights” to use the landto use the land

Property was NOT acquired as it had Property was NOT acquired as it had to be hauled from one place to to be hauled from one place to another on a regular basisanother on a regular basis

The most important man in the tribe The most important man in the tribe was the one giving the most awaywas the one giving the most away

Trade was important Trade was important

BUT no formal trade alliances or BUT no formal trade alliances or commercial treatiescommercial treaties

However refusal to trade was However refusal to trade was justification for warjustification for war

Noteworthy N.A. TribesNoteworthy N.A. Tribes

The Pueblo Indians: The Pueblo Indians: New Mexico, New Mexico, Arizona, Colorado. Lived in Arizona, Colorado. Lived in multistoried, terraced affairs…some multistoried, terraced affairs…some of the oldest dwellings in N. of the oldest dwellings in N. America.America.

Depended primarily on cornDepended primarily on corn Elaborate irrigation systemsElaborate irrigation systems

N.A. TribesN.A. Tribes

Mound Builders:Mound Builders: Mississippi and Ohio Mississippi and Ohio ValleysValleys

Central Mound was 100 feet high: world’s Central Mound was 100 feet high: world’s largest earthen work (near St. Louis)largest earthen work (near St. Louis)

As many as 40,000 peopleAs many as 40,000 people Iron tools, woven fabricIron tools, woven fabric Trade routes: Appalachians to Rockies, Trade routes: Appalachians to Rockies,

Great Lakes to Gulf of MexicoGreat Lakes to Gulf of Mexico

Atlantic Seaboard TribesAtlantic Seaboard Tribes

Maize, beans, squashMaize, beans, squash Creeks had a democratic style of Creeks had a democratic style of

governmentgovernment ChoctawChoctaw CherokeeCherokee Iroquois (NY state) built a strong military Iroquois (NY state) built a strong military

confederacy under Hiawatha (late 16confederacy under Hiawatha (late 16thth century)century)

The 5 Nations: Mohawks, Oneidas, The 5 Nations: Mohawks, Oneidas, Onondagas, Cayugas, SenecasOnondagas, Cayugas, Senecas

The IroquoisThe Iroquois

Lived in LonghousesLived in Longhouses 8-200 feet long8-200 feet long

The Iroquois will ally themselves The Iroquois will ally themselves with the Britishwith the British

They were the most politically They were the most politically sophisticated group met by the sophisticated group met by the EuropeansEuropeans

ReligionReligion

Most Amerindians had nature at the Most Amerindians had nature at the root of their religionsroot of their religions

Temples, Skull racks, human sacrifice, Temples, Skull racks, human sacrifice, cannibalism was seen as satanic by cannibalism was seen as satanic by Europeans Europeans

But consider Native point of view But consider Native point of view regarding monotheism, the sacrament, regarding monotheism, the sacrament, witch hunts, the inquisitionwitch hunts, the inquisition

WarWar

Native view of European warfare:Native view of European warfare: Wasteful. Prisoners could be used Wasteful. Prisoners could be used

instead as sacriciceinstead as sacricice Captured children of natives Captured children of natives

assimilatedassimilated Europeans who could not match native Europeans who could not match native

guerrilla warfare or capture Native guerrilla warfare or capture Native warriors would destroy Indian villages warriors would destroy Indian villages (non-combatants) Natives learned from (non-combatants) Natives learned from thisthis

War continuedWar continued

Natives used torture as a way for new Natives used torture as a way for new widows to get evenwidows to get even

Were called “mourning Wars” and Were called “mourning Wars” and often lasted all nightoften lasted all night

Europeans were not up to the task Europeans were not up to the task although Jesuits were admired by although Jesuits were admired by natives for their ability to withstand natives for their ability to withstand torturetorture

Natives BorrowedNatives Borrowed

European weaponsEuropean weapons Horses (were reintroduced to the Horses (were reintroduced to the

Americas by the Spanish Americas by the Spanish conquistadores. Had disappeared conquistadores. Had disappeared during the last ice age)during the last ice age)