Native American Civilizations and Cahokia

What was Cahokia?

A large Native American city near present-day St. Louis with a population comparable to London.

Why did Cahokia decline?

Environmental degradation, deforestation, and exhausted farmland led to its collapse.

Was North America empty before Europeans arrived?

No. Millions of Native Americans lived in diverse societies across the continent.

How did Europeans misunderstand Native Americans?

They often viewed them as uncivilized despite evidence of advanced societies.

Where did Native Americans originally come from?

Ancestors migrated from Asia across a land bridge connecting Siberia and Alaska.

What evidence shows Native American civilizations were advanced?

Large cities, mound-building, astronomy, geometry, and complex political systems.

How did Native Americans manage forests?

They used controlled burns to improve hunting grounds and agriculture.

How did Native Americans view land?

Land was sacred and shared, not privately owned.

What role did religion play in Native societies?

Religion shaped daily life, relationships with nature, and community traditions.

What was the Iroquois League?

A political alliance with representative government and protections for free speech.

What was Woodhenge?

A circle of wooden poles at Cahokia used to track solstices and equinoxes.

How large was Cahokia's population at its peak?

Approximately 20,000-40,000 people.

Why did early Europeans assume Native Americans were primitive?

They ignored evidence of advanced Native societies and cities.

What was Poverty Point?

A major mound-building site in Louisiana showing advanced planning and engineering.

How did Native Americans increase game animal populations?

Through controlled burning of forests.

Why did settlers incorrectly believe someone else built the mounds?

They believed Native Americans were incapable of complex construction.

How did many Native societies view wealth?

Generosity and sharing were valued more than accumulation.

How did Native Americans view nature?

Nature was sacred and humans were part of it.

What was one major difference between European and Native views of land?

Europeans believed land could be owned while Native Americans generally believed it was shared.

Why did Columbus call Native Americans "Indians"?

He mistakenly believed he had reached Asia.