Chapter 1: Indigenous Societies Before European Contact

The first Americans arrived via what land bridge?

Bering Land Bridge

When did the first Americans arrive?

About 15,000–20,000 years ago

Who were the first people to arrive in the Americas?

Paleo-Indians

How did the Paleo-Indians adapt to their new environments?

They developed hunting, fishing, and agriculture.

What happened to the Bering Land Bridge after the Ice Age ended?

It disappeared, isolating the Americas.

What were the major Mesoamerican civilizations before European contact?

Aztecs and Maya

What was the capital of the Aztec Empire?

Tenochtitlán

What farming method did the Aztecs use?

Chinampa farming (floating gardens)

What was a key feature of the Aztec military?

Strong military that expanded through warfare and tribute systems

What was a major religious practice of the Aztecs?

Human sacrifice

Which civilization developed the first writing system in the Americas?

Maya

What were some major Maya cities?

Tikal and Chichen Itza

What were the Maya known for in astronomy and math?

Developed a 365-day calendar

What happened to the Maya civilization?

It mysteriously declined before European arrival.

What was the largest Andean civilization?

Inca

What was the capital of the Inca Empire?

Cuzco

What famous city did the Inca build?

Machu Picchu

What farming method did the Inca use?

Terrace farming

How did the Inca maintain communication in their empire?

Built an extensive road system (~25,000 miles)

What system did the Inca use for record-keeping?

Quipu (knotted strings)

What was the largest Mississippian city?

Cahokia

What were Mississippian mounds used for?

Religious, political, and social purposes

What type of economy did the Mississippians have?

Extensive trade networks

What was the Iroquois Confederacy?

An alliance of several Northeastern tribes

What tribes made up the original Iroquois Confederacy?

Mohawk, Oneida, Onondaga, Cayuga, Seneca (later Tuscarora)

How did the Iroquois Confederacy influence the U.S. government?

It developed an early democratic government.

What type of society did the Iroquois have?

Matrilineal (ancestry traced through the mother)

What resource did Great Plains Indigenous peoples rely on?

Bison (buffalo)

What type of housing did the Great Plains peoples use?

Teepees for mobility

What major change transformed Great Plains life after European contact?

Adoption of horses

What type of houses did the Pueblo peoples build?

Adobe houses

Which ancient civilization built cliff dwellings in the Southwest?

Ancestral Puebloans (Anasazi)

What Indigenous group lived in the Northeast and Great Lakes region?

Iroquois Confederacy and Algonquian-speaking tribes

What were key food sources for Algonquian tribes?

Farming, fishing, seasonal hunting

What was the main Mississippian city in the Southeast?

Cahokia

What were the "Three Sisters" crops?

Corn, beans, and squash

What resource was central to Pacific Northwest Indigenous societies?

Salmon fishing

What cultural symbols did Pacific Northwest peoples create?

Totem poles

What religious belief was common among Indigenous societies?

Polytheism (belief in multiple gods)

What is animism?

Belief that nature (animals, rivers, mountains) has a spirit

Who were shamans?

Spiritual leaders who performed rituals and healing

How did trade impact Indigenous societies?

Spread ideas, technology, and culture

What were some major Indigenous trade networks?

Mississippians traded shells, copper, and obsidian; Southwest tribes traded with Mesoamerica; Iroquois traded furs and tools.

Tribute System

when one group pays goods or taxes to another group in exchange for protection or benefits.

What type of society did many Indigenous groups have?

Matrilineal (ancestry traced through the mother)

How were decisions made in many Indigenous tribes?

Chiefs, councils, or egalitarian systems

What were common reasons for warfare among Indigenous groups?

Land, resources, revenge

How did the Iroquois Confederacy help prevent conflicts?

Created alliances between tribes