American Indian History

Where did humans first evolve and how long ago

Africa, 4-5 million years ago

when did modern humans begin to migrate out of Africa?

120,000 - 100,000 years ago

When did we suspect People reach North America? How were they able to accomplish this?

Roughly 12,000 years ago. An land bridge made of ice appeared

Where did the land bridge appear? What is it called?

Between east Russia and West Alaska - Berengia

What lifestyle did the Paleo-Indians live? How did they use the things they got from their lifestyle?

Nomadic lifestyle, they hunted large animals along the way using their pelts to keep them warm.

What are the four periods of American Indian settlement?

• Paleo-Indian

• Archaic

• Formative

• European Colonization (Ends the formative period)

What do the American Indians’ creation stories say about how long they’ve been in America?

They have been in America since the beginning of time?

How long was the Paleo-Indian period?

Around 13,000 years ago (when people first came to America) to about 10,000 years ago

What characterizes the Archaic period?

It was the time in which the Paleo-Indians spread out across the Americas. By the end of the period, a large number of settlements and cities had emerged, along with their own cultures and traditions.

How long was the Archaic period?

From 10,000 to about 4,000 or 5,000 years ago (We cannot pin point when it ended, but can differentiate when the next period starts)

What characterizes the Formative Period?

Sociopolitical systems started, and a shift from a nomadic lifestyle to permanent settlement and agriculture began

How long was the Formative Period?

It Occurred around 3,000 to 5,000 years ago and lasted until contact was made with Europe (15th-16th century)

What was Cahokia?

A large city that was characterized by the earth mounds in which religious buildings, burial grounds, and homes were built inside of.

It was the center of at least 50 communities and became a major trading network between what is now Oklahoma to the Atlantic, from the Great Lakes to the Gulf Coast.

What are the 6 main Indian tribes of Tennessee?

Quapaw, Chickasaw, Shawnee, Cherokee, Yushi, Kusatoo

What are the three sisters?

Three foods that characterize farming in the formative period.

• Corn - originally much smaller than the corn that we know of now

• Beans - Good source of protein

• Squash

How did the Pueblo Indians (Anasazi culture) make their homes?

They built their villages into canyon walls, making apartment complexes into them.

What led to the demise of the Pueblos?

disease, warfare, and drought

Are the Pueblos still around?

Yes, they still farm, make pottery, and weave baskets

Describe Mississippi Culture.

• The culture made distinctive pottery

• The natural environment played a large part of the spiritual life of the Mississipians

  • Big idea that everything was related to one another

  • Prayed to spirits of the game they killed for having to kill it for nourishment

• Tradition of the culture reached its peak during 1200 to 1500 CE

What are two of the largest cultures within the Mississippi Culture?

The Cherokee and the Iroquois

When did the Cherokee begin becoming distinct from other cultures?

First in 1500 BCE when their language became distinct, and in 1000 BCE when they started living a woodland lifestyle (cultivating the three sisters)

What was the philosophy of the Cherokee’s world?

Harmony and balance of the natural world.

Family played a large role in their lives, and women had a large importance, as property was passed from mother to daughter

What was the Cherokee government like?

Gov. was done through democratic consensus. However, it did rely on large leaders in the community, such as priests and chiefs.

What is the Iroquois Confederacy?

An alliance between 5 groups - The Seneca, Cayuga, Oninaga, Oneida, and Tuscarora. It was a powerful military force that would go on to play parts in some of the European conflicts on the continent

What was the farm life like for the Iroquois?

They were agricultural, cultivating the three sisters along with sunflowers and other crops. They also would shift their fields every 10 - 12 years (crop rotation)

What was the role of women in the Iroquois?

Women controlled property, the election of leaders, and the decision to enter war to an extent.

They also were responsible for housework and agricultural work.

Women also played a part in trading and warfare.

What was the role of men in the Iroquois?

They hunted, fished, traded, and fought.

How important was trade to the Iroquois?

Very important - we have found items belongs to them getting as far as the eastern coast .