The First Americans

Introduction Origins Regional Diversity

Mesoamerica Western

Southwest Pacific Northwest

Mississippian Eastern Woodlands

Iroquois New England

Conclusion

Key Terms: Bering Land Bridge Teotihuacan Aztec Anasazi Cahokia Iroquois Hiawatha

Themes Origins of Native

Americans in Western Hemisphere

Diversity of lifestyle Changing nature of

Indian societies before European contact

Introduction Origins Regional Diversity

Mesoamerica Southwest Eastern Woodlands

Mississippian Iroquois New England

Conclusion

Key Terms: Bering Land Bridge Teotihuacan Aztec Anasazi Cahokia Iroquois Hiawatha

Southwest Mesoamerica Pacific Northwest

Mississippian

Iroquois

Location

Food Source

Dwellings

Interesting Facts

Native Americans and Origins Many

anthropologists and historians agree humans lived in North American about 35,000 BC

How did they arrive…? Bering Land Bridge

Map of Bering Land Bridge

Locations of Selected Native American Peoples, 1500 AD

Farming Access to food = key Agricultural Origins

8000 B.C. Middle East 5000 B.C. Western Hemisphere

Introduction Origins Regional Diversity

Mesoamerica Western

Southwest Pacific Northwest

Mississippian Eastern Woodlands

Iroquois New England

Conclusion

Key Terms: Bering Land Bridge Teotihuacan Aztec Anasazi Cahokia Iroquois Hiawatha

Major Mesoamerican Cultures

AztecsMayansIncas

Major Mesoamerican Cultures (Aztecs)

Became dominant power by 1400s

Capitals = Tenochtitlan Pop: 300,000

(bigger than a city in Europe)

Religion Polytheistic (The

worship of many gods)

Aztec honored over 200 deities

Aztecs Became dominant

power by 1400s Capitals =

Tenochtitlan Pop: 300,000

(bigger than an city in Europe)

Still expanding their empire in early 1500s

Aztec Agriculture Farming -

Irrigation network created fertile cropland and access to fresh water

Introduction Origins Regional Diversity

Mesoamerica Western

Southwest Pacific Northwest

Mississippian Eastern Woodlands

Iroquois New England

Conclusion

Key Terms: Bering Land Bridge Teotihuacan Aztec Anasazi Cahokia Iroquois Hiawatha

Major SouthwestCulturesAnasazi

HohokamMogollon

Southwest Civilization Know for its dry

climate but farming was important

Chaco Canyon was a center for trade

Constructed mud block structure and cities

Southwest Cultures Anasazi culture

declined by 12th and 13th centuries as rain levels dropped. Large communities

most likely dissolved into smaller tribes and bands

Hohokam and Mogollon cultures persist to this day

Introduction Origins Regional Diversity

Mesoamerica Western

Southwest Pacific Northwest

Mississippian Eastern Woodlands

Iroquois New England

Conclusion

Key Terms: Bering Land Bridge Teotihuacan Aztec Anasazi Cahokia Iroquois Hiawatha

Pacific Northwest

Pacific Northwest 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

Pacific Northwest - Seafood/Salmon Hunter/gatherers Seafood was the foundation of their diet Fish could be caught in many way Fish were preserved by drying and

smoking Key = Abundance

Clams, crabs, and other shellfish were eaten

Whales were hunted in some areas

Introduction Origins Regional Diversity

Mesoamerica Western

Southwest Pacific Northwest

Mississippian Eastern Woodlands

Iroquois New England

Conclusion

Key Terms: Bering Land Bridge Teotihuacan Aztec Anasazi Cahokia Iroquois Hiawatha

Mississippian

Mississippian Mississippian

culture emerged about 700 AD

Cahokia was located near present-day St. Louis

Cahokia Mounds

Covered about 125 sq miles

20,000 residents Built platform

mounds Served as temples

and homes for chiefs

Mississippian Mississippian

culture emerged about 700 AD

Cahokia was located near present-day St. Louis

After 1200 it entered a period of decline

Introduction Origins Regional Diversity

Mesoamerica Western

Southwest Pacific Northwest

Mississippian Eastern Woodlands

Iroquois New England

Conclusion

Key Terms: Bering Land Bridge Teotihuacan Aztec Anasazi Cahokia Iroquois Hiawatha

Iroquois

Iroquois: A Confederation of Five Separate Tribes Confederation of

tribes that number around 10,000 total Mohawks Oneidas Onondagas Cayugas Senecas

Political Structure Council Government

Each tribe in confederacy sent delegates/representatives to council meetings

Iroquois Society Homes = Longhouses

25 ft wide Up to 200 ft in length Several families would live in

each longhouse Property was owned

communally Division of labor between

men/women: Men: hunted/fished; warriors Women: farmed and gathered

A significant portion of their diet came from farmed products

Iroquois Society Homes = Longhouses

25 ft wide Up to 200 ft in length Several families would live in

each longhouse Property was owned

communally Division of labor between

men/women: Men: hunted/fished; warriors Women: farmed and gathered

A significant portion of their diet came from farmed products

Women in Iroquois Society Descent was

matrilineal; Husband moved into

home of wife’s family houses were headed by

women Women could divorce

their husbands Women selected all

delegates to the Iroquois Council and influenced policy

New England

New England Northern New

England Hunter-gathers: Very

Mobile Spring and summer

lived near coasts; moved inland for fall and winter to hunt game animals

15,000-20,000 population in 1600

Southern New England Hunted and

Farmed (at times up to 2/3 of diet)

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

Corn drew Nitrogen Beans added Nitrogen

Farming had a major impact on the environment

Introduction Origins Regional Diversity

Mesoamerica Western

Southwest Pacific Northwest

Mississippian Eastern Woodlands

Iroquois New England

Conclusion

Key Terms: Bering Land Bridge Teotihuacan Aztec Anasazi Cahokia Iroquois Hiawatha

Review Origins of Native

Americans Tremendous

differences among Indian Peoples

Compare and contrast life; what ere some important traits of people living in different regions?

Source http://

college.cengage.com/history/lecturepoints/part01_lecture01/part01_lecture01.html

• SouthwestPresent day

Mexico Longhouses Farmed

• Mesoamerica

Longhouses

Confederacy of Five Tribes in

New YorkFarmed

• Pacific Northwest

Built Mound Platforms

Near present day St. Louis Farmed

• Mississippian

Matrilineal Society Tenochtitlan Farmed

• Iroquois Built Mud Brick Homes

Built mud block homes

Hunter/Gather - Seafood