Unit 1 - 8/20
Early Migration and the Importance of Corn
The original populations of the Americas arrived via a land bridge connecting Asia (modern-day Russia) to North America (modern-day Alaska). This allowed populations to migrate across the continent, eventually reaching as far south as Chile and Argentina.
Corn, also known as maize, was the most significant crop grown across the Americas prior to European contact. It served as a primary agricultural connection between various civilizations.
Mesoamerican Civilizations: Maya and Aztec
Mesoamerica refers to Middle or Central America, encompassing territories of modern-day Mexico, Guatemala, El Salvador, Panama, Costa Rica, and Honduras.
The two primary civilizations in this region were the Maya and the Aztecs.
The Maya:
Inhabited mountainous regions.
Utilized advanced farming techniques and constructed step pyramids.
Achieved significant advancements in astronomy and used complex calendars based on the stars.
The Aztecs:
Known for monumental pillars and calendar systems.
Historically noted for the practice of sacrifices.
A popular historical misconception suggested that the world would end in the year because Mayan/Aztec calendars theoretically stopped at that point.
South American Civilizations: The Inca
The Inca Empire was located primarily in the Andes Mountains, covering areas in modern-day Peru and Chile, as well as parts of Brazil.
The geography of the Inca civilization was characterized by highly mountainous terrain.
Rather than just farming, the Inca are particularly famous for their sophisticated roads and communication systems.
Machu Picchu is the most famous Incan city, famously built atop a mountain.
Native Diversity in North America
Unlike the large empires of the south, North American indigenous groups were characterized by high levels of differentiation and diversity in culture and language.
The Southwest:
Includes modern-day Arizona, New Mexico, Nevada, Colorado, and parts of Utah.
Inhabitants included the Navajo and the Pueblo.
Housing consisted of clay, square-shaped structures, sometimes built directly into cliffs or canyons.
These groups utilized canals and irrigation systems for agriculture, likely influenced by groups further south.
Due to their location, their primary early European contact was with the Spanish.
The Northwest Coast:
Includes Washington, Oregon, Idaho, and Northern California.
The primary industry was fishing, supplemented by lumber.
Famous for totem poles, which were used for storytelling and varied in size.
The Great Plains:
A flat, treeless region including Iowa, Nebraska, Kansas, Missouri, the Dakotas, and Minnesota.
Inhabited by nomadic groups who followed herds of bison (commonly called buffalo).
Used tepees as dwellings because they were foldable and easy to transport during travel.
The Eastern Woodlands:
The region encompassing current Virginia and the surrounding Eastern United States.
Rich in forests, leading to the use of wood for construction.
The primary dwelling was the "longhouse," named for its elongated shape and featuring holes in the roof for fire smoke.
The Iroquois (Haudenosaunee) Confederation
The Iroquois, whose self-given name is Haudenosaunee (meaning "People of the Longhouse"), were a confederation of (later ) separate tribes in Upstate New York and parts of Canada.
The Five Original Tribes (West to East):
Seneca (Western "Door-keeper," warlike).
Cayuga.
Onondaga (The "Center Fire" or central meeting place).
Oneida.
Mohawk (Eastern "Door-keeper," warlike, prominent in the American Revolution).
The Iroquois social structure was matrilineal, meaning women held significant authority and called the shots for the tribe. This contrasted sharply with the patriarchal European systems where men were the exclusive leaders.
The Iroquois Origin Story
The Iroquois possess an oral tradition explaining the origin of North America and humanity:
There existed a Sky World where no one died or was born. A pregnant woman, the Sky Woman, was pushed through a hole in the Sky World by her angry husband after he uprooted the central tree.
As she fell, birds caught her and placed her on the back of a turtle.
Animals (either a toad or a muskrat) dove to the bottom of the water to retrieve mud, which was placed on the turtle's back and grew to become North America.
Sky Woman had two sons: Sapling and Flint.
Sapling was benevolent, creating good trees, rivers that flow in two directions, and boneless fish. Humans were created to help Sapling in his mission.
Flint was malevolent, with a heart of stone. He worked to destroy Sapling's creations, making rivers flow in only one direction and putting bones in fish.
After a great battle, Sapling defeated Flint and shoved him into the earth, where Flint's anger allegedly causes volcanoes.
Cultural Commonalities and European Conflict
Despite their differences, most Native American tribes shared several traits:
Strong kinship and reliance on extended family units.
Communal use of land and resources: Nature was a collective responsibility, and individual ownership of land did not exist.
Animism: The belief that everything in nature (trees, animals, grass) possesses a soul or spirit.
Land Use Conflict: This is the most significant source of conflict with Europeans. To the English, land was private property. If a tribe did not "own" the land individually, Europeans viewed it as free for the taking.
European Context and Exploration Motives
Spain: Following the Reconquista (the reconquering of Spain and Portugal from the Muslims/Moors), King Ferdinand and Queen Isabella sought to expand their power.
Religious Conflicts: Europe was divided by the Protestant Reformation.
Martin Luther famously nailed his Theses to a church door, challenging the Roman Catholic Church.
England saw the rise of the Anglican Church, while France faced internal conflict between Catholics and Protestants.
Many religious groups looked to the Americas as a refuge from persecution.
The Three G's of Exploration:
God: The desire to spread Christianity.
Gold (Wealth): Seeking precious metals (gold and silver), furs (common for the French), crops, and valuable spices for food.
Glory: National competition to prove which country was superior.
Key Navigators:
Magellan: Credited with circumnavigating the globe.
Columbus: Credited with the first European discovery of the Americas.
Prince Henry the Navigator: Funded a navigation school and numerous voyages, including those reaching the Cape of Good Hope.
Hudson: Explored areas looking for the Northwest Passage.
Questions & Discussion
Question: What is the modern name for the area of Mesoamerica?
Answer: Central America, including countries like Mexico, Guatemala, El Salvador, Panama, Costa Rica, and Honduras.
Question: What happened in the year according to the Native calendars?
Answer: Allegedly, the world was supposed to end because the Maya and Aztec calendars stopped in that year.
Question: Was the relationship between Pocahontas and John Smith accurately depicted in media?
Answer: No. Pocahontas (whose Catholic/baptized name was Rebecca) actually married John Rolfe when she was approximately years old. She later went to Europe, where she died and was buried.
Question: Who started the Protestant Reformation?
Answer: Martin Luther nailed his Theses to a church door to protest against the Catholic Church.