The First Americans Themes Origins of Native Americans

The First Americans

Themes • Origins of Native Americans in Western Hemisphere • Diversity of lifestyle • Changing nature of Indian societies before European contact

Theories of Native Americans & Origins • Numerous theories and beliefs: • Many Anthropologists and Historians agree humans lived in North America since 35, 000 BC • As the Earth began to cool, it is believed that these nomadic people began to migrate. • How did they arrive? ?

Continental Drift • The origin of man can be traced back to places of Africa and Mesopotamia • This nomadic people lacked a way to travel to the Western Hemisphere due to the Continental drift of landmass • Before the drift, scientists believe that all continents were connected, Pangae.

The First Humans • The first human beings appeared in Africa called Homo erectus about million years ago. • More than 1. 5 million years after Homo erectus, modern humans Homo sapiens evolved in Africa • ALL humans are descendants of these ancient Africans.

The First Humans (Migration) • Over a million years, Homo sapiens began to migrate out of Africa and into Europe and Asia • Many of these tribes used rivers and lakes to navigate through the land • They also followed herds and other animals; their food source • Once the Ice Age took place, a land bridge by the name of Beringia made it possible for Homo sapiens to cross over to North America

• Bering Land Bridge • As sea levels dropped because of the earth cooling a land bridge made of ice was formed. • The tribes who migrated followed food and settled in all regions of north and South America.

Siberian Hunters • Siberian hunters roamed Beringia for centuries in search of game animals, grasses and small shrubs. • They hunted mammoths, bison, and numerous smaller animals • As these Siberian hunters migrated more east they became the pioneers of human life in the Western Hemisphere

Paleo-Indians • Archaeologists refer to these Siberian hunters and their decedents as Paleo-Indians. • They arrived in what is now the United States sometime around 15, 000 BP • Paleo-Indians used a distinctively shaped spearhead known as a Clovis point. • Archaeologists have found these artifacts in places surrounding present day New Mexico • These Clovis spears have been dated back to 13, 500 – 13, 000 BP

Paleo-Indians • Around 11, 000 BP, Paleo-Indians encountered a major food shortage due to the extinction of mammoths and other large mammals • Paleo-Indians adapted by hunting smaller animals and devoted more energy to foragingcollecting wild plant foods such as roots, seeds, nuts, berries, and fruits

Archaic Indians • Once the Paleo-Indians changed their ways of survival they began to be called Archaic Hunters and Gatherers • They hunted with spears, but also killed smaller game with traps, nets, and hooks • Used grinding stones to eat seeds • They did not establish permanent villages • Different types of Archaic Indians: Great Plains hunters, Great Basin Indians

Pacific Coast • California peoples remained hunters and gatherers for even hundreds of years after 1492 • The Archaic settlements in California included about 500 separate tribes speaking 90 different languages • Gatherers of berries, fishing

Eastern Woodland Cultures • East of the Mississippi River, Archaic tribes adapted to a forest environment that included river valleys of the Mississippi, Ohio, Tennessee, and Cumberland; the Great Lakes region • Hunted deer for hides and bones • Gathered edible plants, seeds, nuts, pecans, walnuts, and acorns

Southwest Archaic Indians • Present day Arizona, New Mexico, Utah and Colorado developed cultures that were centered around agriculture and dwellings called pueblos • The area was known for having a dry climate and unpredictable floods • Around 3500 BP southwestern hunters and gatherers began to grow corn • They became experts at irrigation by conserving water from streams, springs and rainfall

Different Regions of North America • • Mesoamerica Southwest Eastern Woodlands Pacific Northwest

Regions of Native American Tribes, 1500 A. D. (Mesoamerica)

Farming • One of the important traits influencing the difference between Indian nations was FOOD. • Agricultural Origins - 8000 B. C. Middle East - 5000 B. C. Western Hemisphere - Mesoamerica first in the Americas to establish a farming system.

Major Mesoamerican Cultures ( 1000 B. C. – 1519 A. D. )

Mesoamerican Cultures (Aztecs) • Aztecs (Mexica) migrated from the northwest in the late 13 th Century • Became dominant power by 1325 when small bands settled on an island in Lake Texcoco, future site of Tenochtitlan the capital of the Aztec Empire • By 1430 Forced the people they conquered to pay large tributes. • 300, 000 people lived in the capital city of Tenochtitlan by the 1520 s. More than any other city in Europe at that time.

Mesoamerican Cultures (Aztecs) • The Aztecs worshipped the war god Huitzilopochtli. • Warriors held the most exalted positions in the social hierarchy • Warriors moved up in rank by how many prisoners they captured • Prisoners were then taken to priests who sacrificed them by cutting out their hearts • They believed that blood kept the sun shining

Mesoamerican Cultures (Teotihuacan) • Sun Pyramid, Teotihuacan • An important capital; founded about 300 B. C. • Center for trade and religion • Sun Pyramid was largest construction till the Europeans arrived.

The Great Temple at Tenochtitlan (c. 1519 A. D. )

Aztecs • They honored over 200 deities. • Irrigation network created fertile cropland access to fresh water. • At the time of the Spaniards, the Aztecs were still expanding their Empire into what is now present-day Mexico in the early 1500 s.

Locations of Selected Native American Peoples, 1500 A. D. (Southwest)

Southwest • Known for its dry climate but farming was important • Drought resistant crops were introduced. • Picture are markings made by Anasazi Indians who were once the most powerful tribe in the Southwest.

Anasazi Indians • Between 900 -1150 the Anasazi reached its height. • One community was located near Chaco Canyon which included several towns • The region specialized in processing turquoise. It also became the center for trade since it was located near several roads.

Pueblo Bonito, Chaco Canyon ( Pop. 1200)

Anasazi Indians • Chaco Canyon was an important center for trade. • Anasazi culture declines by 12 th and 13 th centuries as rain levels dropped and tribe succumbed to drought. • Due to no rain the large tribes were forced to dissolve into smaller clans.

Locations of Selected Native American Peoples, 1500 A. D. (Eastern Woodlands)

Eastern Woodlands (Mississippian) • Many tribes lived in this area up until 700 A. D. when Mississippian culture emerged. • Full time farmers and lived in large communities numbering in the thousands. • Largest Mississippian center was Cahokia which was located near present-day St. Louis.

Cahokia Mounds

Cahokia Mounds • Cahokia was located on rich farmland included a very large area. • 124 sq. miles and about 20, 000 residents • Famous for their large platform mounds surrounded by other religious temples and homes for chiefs.

Eastern Woodlands (Mississippian) • After 1200 A. D. Cahokia entered a state of decline. • A change of climate and over taxed environment led to a shortage of food and other resources.

Locations of Selected Native American Peoples, 1500 A. D. (Northeast)

Iroquois: A Confederation of Five Separate Tribes • Located Northeast near present-day Western New York and Pennsylvania • Mohawks • Oneidas • Onondagas • Cayugas • Senecas • In 1600 A. D. they numbered around 10, 000

Who Started the Confederation? • Confederation began before European contact. • Began with the actions of Hiawatha a Mohawk sage in about 1450. • Hiawatha had lost many family members during the constant warfare in the area. • After several days of fasting in the woods Hiawatha received a vision and worked to end internal tribal warfare. • Developed a plan of cooperation among members of confederacy. • This made the Iroquois one of the strongest tribes in America around the time of European contact.

Political Structure • Council Government – Each tribe in the confederacy sent delegates/representatives to council meetings

Iroquois Society • Homes = Longhouses (not very mobile) • 25 ft in width; could range up to 200 ft in length • Several families would live under the roof of one longhouse. • Strong weather resistance living places which included 2 -3 fireplaces to keep families warm during the wintertime. • Food was also stored inside the longhouse.

Iroquois Society • Property was owned communally • No poor families because if one family was struggling the community would help them survive. • Division of labor between men/women: • Men – hunted/fished; warriors • Women – farmed and gathered

Women in Iroquois Society • Descent was matrilineal; longhouses were headed by women. • Children traced their ancestry through their mothers not their fathers. . • Women could divorce their husbands • Women selected all delegates to the Iroquois Council and influenced policy.

Locations of Selected Native American Peoples, 1500 A. D. (New England)

New England Indians Northern New England • Vermont, New Hampshire, Maine • Hunter-gathers: VERY mobile • Did not farm • Spring and summer lived near coast; moved in for fall and winter to hunt game animals. • 15, 000 -20, 000 population in 1600. Southern New England • Massachusetts, Connecticut, Rhode Island • Hunted AND farmed (at times up to 2/3 of diet ) • Allowed them to store foods to avoid starving time like their neighbors to the north. • 55, 000 -80, 000 population in 1600.

Farming Methods • Fields were cleared by girdling and with fire • “Three Sisters” of agriculture - Corn, beans, and squash were planted together • Farming had a major impact on the environment.

Locations of Selected Native American Peoples, 1500 A. D. (Pacific Northwest)

Pacific Northwest Indians • Southern Alaska spreading along the west coast of British Colombia in both Washington and Oregon up until Northern California. • Lived as hunter/gathers, but also incredibly wealthy. • Most Indian tribes that were hunter/gathers usually had food shortages. However, pacific northwest Indians had an abundance of food supply in the area.

Pacific Northwest Indians (Cedar) • Cedar trees could reach 250 feet height and 18 feet in diameter. • Bark: used for clothing, baskets, etc. - when softened it could be fashioned into diapers for babies. • Lumber: canoes, homes (longhouses), etc. - Longhouses were very large: 100 x 40 ft.

Indians of the Pacific Northwest (Seafood/Salmon) • Seafood was the foundation of their diet; particularly salmon. • Fish could be caught many ways • Fish were preserved by drying and smoking. • Key – Abundance - Clams, crabs, and other shellfish were eaten. - Whales were hunted in some areas.

Pacific Northwest Indians (Society) • Society was VERY highly stratified • Two Classes of people: 1. Slaves 2. Free - Their rank was determined primarily by wealth. In some cases, occupation influenced rank.

Rank in Society • Free men and women – Top Most Wealth • Bottom – Least Wealth • Slaves – no rank

Review • Origins of Native Americans • Tremendous differences among Indian people • Compare and contrast life; what were some important traits of people living in different regions?