Native Americans: Lecture Notes Review

Flashcards covering key concepts from the lecture on Native Americans, including migration, dating methods, conquistadors, and disease impacts.

What happens to glaciers during an ice age?

More of the ocean's water is stored in glaciers.

What happens to sea levels during an ice age?

Sea levels are lower, exposing more land.

Why would an ice age allow early hunter-gatherers to cross from Siberia to Alaska?

Lower sea levels exposed the Bering land bridge, allowing passage.

Roughly how many years ago did the first human inhabitants migrate to North America?

Between 15,000 and 100,000 years ago.

How many different routes did early Native Americans take to settle in North America?

At least 3 different routes.

What is radio-carbon dating?

An isotope of carbon called C-14, present in the atmosphere, decays into nitrogen-14 at a fixed rate over time.

What is a 'half-life' in the context of radio-carbon dating?

The amount of time it takes for a radioactive substance to decay to half its original amount (e.g., 1HL = 5730 years for C-14).

Besides radio-carbon dating, what other research methods have scientists used to discover the origins of Native Americans?

Spear points, DNA research, and linguistic evidence.

According to scientists quoted in a 2021 article, when did some of the earliest humans arrive in New Mexico?

The exact timing might vary, but the articles highlight ongoing discoveries that can change our understanding of early human arrival (e.g., tens of thousands of years ago).

Who was the conquistador who attacked the Aztecs in 1519?

Cortes.

What tactics did Cortes use to defeat the Aztecs?

He forged alliances with tribes who were enemies of the Aztecs.

Who was the conquistador who attacked and defeated the Incas?

Pizarro.

According to Jared Diamond, what advantages did the Spanish have in their encounters with Native Americans?

They had horses in battle, steel weapons, and armor.

What percentage of Native Americans died from diseases introduced by Europeans?

80 to 95%.

According to Jared Diamond, why did the Spaniards have greater resistance (immunity) to diseases?

Geography and the shape of continents (East-West axis) allowed for easier spread of crops, animals, and technology, leading to denser societies, increased agriculture productivity, and more germs originating in animals mutating to infect humans.