Pre-Columbian Americas: Native Civilizations and Agriculture

A set of Q&A flashcards covering migration to the Americas, major civilizations, agriculture, trade, social structures, and geographic notes from the lecture.

What event is cited as causing the decline of some ancient civilizations by around 1300 BCE?

A mysterious drought.

What structures did many ancient native civilizations build before 1100–1300 CE?

Temples, town squares, and large settlements.

What natural connection allowed the earliest humans to migrate from Asia to North America during the Ice Age?

The Bering land bridge (Beringia).

According to the notes, which two major civilizations are identified in Mexico and Peru?

Aztecs in Mexico and Incas in Peru.

Which crop is emphasized as central to advanced agricultural practices in the Americas?

Corn (maize).

What activities indicate advanced mathematical and astronomical knowledge among these peoples?

Mathematicians and astronomical observations.

What term describes the era of significant human impact on the planet and the agricultural revolution?

Anthropocene.

What diverse groups of Native Americans are described in the notes?

Urban dwellers, nomads, and farming villagers.

Which regions relied on large-scale corn agriculture that laid the foundation for the Inca and Aztec civilizations?

Mexico and South America.

What irrigation-related architectural feature is associated with the Rio Grande valley (Pueblo peoples)?

Terraced buildings (terrace farming).

How did Europeans perceive Native American nomadic movements?

They couldn't grasp the nomadic movements of the natives.

What challenge do early maps show regarding geography and distances?

Discrepancies in early maps about geography and distances (e.g., misperceived distance between America and Japan).

When did initial contact between Europeans and Native Americans occur according to the notes?

In the 15th and 19th centuries.

What kinds of goods spread through intergroup trade across the continent?

Shells, shark and alligator teeth, copper, silver, furs, obsidian, mica, and pottery.

What environmental impact accompanied trade and exchange—specifically relating to forests?

Deforestation and burning of large tracts of woodland.

Why did the Mayans abandon some of their sites?

Deforestation and drought.

By what year had corn spread into the Southeastern part of North America?

Around 1000 CE.

What farming method uses corn, beans, and squash growing together to keep soil moist?

Three-sister farming.

Which Southeastern tribes are noted for high population densities due to their agriculture?

Creek, Choctaw, and Cherokee.

What are the Iroquois Confederacy known for?

Great political and organizational skills; resisted Europeans.

How did Cahokia's population compare to London around 1150 CE?

Cahokia's population was about 20,000 higher than London's at the time.

Where were sedentary settlements noted in the notes located?

Canada and the Great Plains.

What social system involves power and inheritance passing through the female line?

Matrilineal (women-lineage) systems.

Which crops are included in the 'three sisters' alongside corn?

Beans and squash.

What role did trade goods have in Native American cultures beyond goods exchange?

They carried strong importance for nature through religions.