Native American Cultures and Pre-Columbian History (1)

What was the time frame of the last major Ice Age?

About 10,000 to 25,000 years ago.

How did the first Americans migrate to North America?

By land as nomadic hunters tracking animals and by sea using small skin-covered boats to hunt seals and mammals.

What term was used to refer to the earliest Americans?

'The People', later referred to as 'Indians'.

What significant agricultural development occurred more than 5,000 years ago among Native peoples?

They discovered that food could be grown and harvested, notably maize.

What were some changes in Native American life due to agriculture?

More dependable food supply, permanent settlements, formation of villages, development of crafts, and expansion into cities.

What contrasts existed between Native American cultures and other cultures?

No livestock or draft animals, limited food supply, and no large-scale mining or advanced tool-making.

What was the estimated population of pre-Columbian North and South America?

20-50 million people.

How many languages were spoken by pre-Columbian natives?

More than 1,500 languages.

What is a culture area?

A large region inhabited by people sharing a similar way of life.

Describe the Pueblo culture in the Southwest region.

Characterized by adobe 'apartment houses' and abandoned cliff houses by the late 13th century.

What were the main characteristics of the Southeast culture area?

Extended from the Gulf of Mexico to Kentucky, known for mound builders and simple villages after European arrival.

What was the political organization of the Woodland cultures?

Democracy, exemplified by the Iroquois Confederacy which dominated for 200 years.

What common belief did all Native peoples share regarding spirituality?

They believed in a supernatural force inhabiting all living things, both human and nonhuman.

What was the lifestyle of the Plains cultures?

Nomadic, following buffalo herds, living in tepees, and not believing in individual land ownership.

What impact did horses have on the Plains cultures?

Horses acquired from Spaniards in 1700 were trained and transformed their way of life.

What characterized the Great Basin culture?

A barren region inhabited by hunter-gatherers who developed distinctive basketry.

What was the primary food source for the California culture area?

Acorns, as they were primarily hunter-gatherers.

What skills were prominent among the Northwest Coast cultures?

Hunting, fishing, and skilled woodwork.

What role did spirituality play in the Northwest Coast cultures?

Native gods were associated with the animals of the region.

What was the legacy of the Woodlands culture for European settlers?

They were the first natives European settlers met and settlers learned many native customs from them.