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Native American Cultures

Native American Cultures

Before the arrival of Europeans, Native American peoples in the Americas organized themselves into diverse cultures based on their location and way of life.

Aztecs

A major civilization in Central America, known for their capital city Tenochtitlan, complex political systems, and religious practices including human sacrifice.

Maya

A civilization in the Yucatan Peninsula known for large cities, irrigation systems, and belief in rulers descended from gods.

Inca

A civilization in the Andes Mountains with a massive empire, advanced agricultural practices like maize cultivation, and elaborate irrigation systems.

Maize Cultivation

The cultivation of maize, a corn-like crop, was a common practice among Native American civilizations, supporting economic development and social diversification.

Pueblo People

Native American group in the Southwest known for being sedentary farmers of maize and other crops, living in adobe and masonry homes.

Ute People

Nomadic Native American group in the Great Plains and Great Basin regions, living in small kinship-based bands and relying on hunting and gathering.

Chinook People

Native American group in the Pacific Northwest known for settling in fishing villages and utilizing elk for sustenance.

Hopewell People

Native American group in the Mississippi River Valley living in towns, engaging in extensive trade, and developing complex societies.

Cahokia People

Native American group in the Mississippi River Valley with the largest settlement in the region, led by powerful chieftains engaged in trade networks.

Iroquois

Native American group in the Northeast known for living in villages, growing crops like maize, squash, and beans, and residing in longhouses.