APUSH Unit 1 (1491–1607): Indigenous North America Before Contact—Societies and Regional Diversity (copy)

Human-environment interaction

The way people adjust to their surroundings and change those surroundings through activities like farming, trade, and settlement.

Three Sisters

The agricultural trio of corn, beans, and squash, which are complementary crops widely cultivated in North America.

Indigenous nations

Political entities that range from small bands to large confederacies and city-based societies, emphasizing their sovereignty and identity.

Social stratification

A system where a society is organized into unequal social levels, such as elites, commoners, and enslaved people.

Kinship

Social relationships based on family ties that organize inheritance, marriage, and obligations within a community.

Chiefdoms

Societies with centralized leadership under a chief, often supported by the tribute or redistribution of resources.

Land tenure

The method of ownership or control of land, which can be communal, seasonal, or usage-based rather than private-property-based.

Cahokia

A major center near the Mississippi River associated with the Mississippian culture, known for large urban-like settlements and regional political organization.

Iroquois Confederacy

A powerful alliance of multiple nations in the Northeast that coordinated diplomacy and managed conflict among its members.

Trade networks

Extensive connections established by Indigenous peoples for exchanging food, raw materials, and crafted goods, as well as ideas and technologies.

Environmental management

The use of techniques and systems by Indigenous peoples to adapt to and shape their environments for agriculture, hunting, and settlement.

Diversity

The cultural and political variety among Indigenous societies in North America before European contact.

Seasonal mobility

Planned movement of communities to access resources, which demonstrates deep ecological knowledge and social coordination.

Mound-building

A significant cultural practice among the Mississippian tradition, indicating complex regional networks and large-scale agricultural practices.

Pueblos

Multi-story, multi-room structures built by Indigenous peoples in the Southwest, reflecting their agricultural practices and social organization.

Aboriginal innovation

The adaptation and integration of various technologies and practices suited to different environmental challenges faced by Indigenous peoples.