The Pre-Columbian Era and Early Exploration-Lecture 1-1

THE PRE-COLUMBIAN ERA

• Geographic Regions:

  • Subarctic

  • Northwest Coast

  • Plateau

  • Arctic

  • Great Basin

  • Plains

  • California

  • Southwest

  • Mesoamerica

  • Northeast

  • Southeast

  • Caribbean

NEW TERMINOLOGY AND CONCEPTS

• Amerindian, Native American, Indian: Interchangeable terms referring to the indigenous peoples of the Americas.

• Beringia: The land bridge that once connected Asia and North America.

• Columbian Exchange: The exchange of diseases, plants, animals, people, and money between the New World and the Old World.

• Importance of asking questions for clarity on any unfamiliar terms.

KNOWLEDGE OF PRE-COLUMBIAN AMERICAS

• Definition: The period of time before Columbus's arrival in 1492.

• Limitations of Knowledge:

  • Archaeological and oral histories provide limited insights.

  • European perspectives dominate the narratives of Native American history.

  • Causes for limited knowledge include:

    • European bias regarding culture superiority.

    • Lack of written records by many indigenous people.

    • Destruction of native documents post-European contact (e.g., during the Spanish Inquisition).

• Cultural Changes After Contact:

  • Native cultures experienced transformation due to European influences, trade, and impacts of disease and warfare.

THEORIES ON THE DISCOVERY AND SETTLEMENT OF AMERICAS

• Semi-Plausible Theories:

  • Theory 1: Migration from Africa when continents were connected—problems include differences in appearance and historical timelines.

  • Theory 2: Polynesian voyages to America—problems include great distances and prevailing winds.

  • Theory 3: Chinese/Japanese maritime exploration leading to settlements—issues with distance and lack of evidence.

• Most Likely Theory:

  • First Americans originated from Gobi Desert, migrated to Siberia around 15,000 years ago, crossed the Bering Strait when a land bridge existed.

  • Gradual migration into North and South America.

NEW THEORY ON ORIGINS

• Possible European origins of Native Americans, traveling along extended shorelines during the Ice Age, prior populations exterminated by later migrations from Central Asia.

EVIDENCE OF EARLY HUMAN PRESENCE

• Significant archaeological sites with dates ranging from 11,000 to 24,000 years ago indicate early settlement.

  • Examples include: Tanana, Nenana, Meadowcroft, Cactus Hill, Monte Verde.

PALEO-INDIANS

• Characteristics:

  • Small bands of 20-50 people, egalitarian society without formal leaders or social classes.

KILL SITES AND TOOLS

• Kill sites show evidence of butchering of large game, such as mastodons, revealing life and hunting practices of Paleo-Indians.

• Tools:

  • Clovis projectile points were essential for hunting, hafted onto spears for efficiency.

  • Tools used included:

    • Antler awls for clothing making.

    • Bone needles for hide sewing.

    • Hammerstones and chert knives for tool production.

    • Projectile points for hunting.

MEGAFAUNA

• Paleo-Indians primarily hunted now-extinct large mammals, following herds for sustenance while women gathered food.

EXAMPLES OF MEGAFAUNA

• Sabertooth Cat: 4ft height, existed from 1.5 million to 10,000 years ago.

• Short-faced Bear: 5.5ft height, existed from 800,000 to 10,000 years ago.

• Giant Ground Sloth: 20ft height, existed from 8 million to 10,000 years ago.

• Woolly Mammoth: 9ft height, existed from 90,000 years to 10,000 years ago.

CULTURES IN THE AMERICAS

• Hunter-gatherers adapted to various environments, leading to diverse cultural development.

• Cultivation and domestication began around 5,000 years ago as megafauna disappeared.

• Many cultures engaged in agriculture, leading to settled communities and more complex societies.

THE "THREE SISTERS"

• Corn, beans, and squash were vital crops that spread from Mesoamerica into North America.

• Potatoes emerged as the staple crop in South America, while hunting and fishing remained important due to limited domesticated animals.

OLMEC CIVILIZATION

• Emerged around 1200 BCE with major cities like San Lorenzo and La Venta, known for their engineering feats and monumental structures.

TEOTIHUACÁN

• Flourished between 200-700 AD, housed over 200,000 people with significant architectural advancements including pyramids.

MAYAN CIVILIZATION

• Active from 300-900 AD in Central America, known for advanced agriculture, mathematics, and ceremonial centers akin to cities.

COLLAPSE OF MAYAN STATES

• Occurred around 900 AD, possibly due to natural catastrophes, leaving behind impressive ruins and cultural legacies.

TOLTECS

• Succeeded the Mayans, expanding and utilizing their architectural techniques; experienced a flourishing culture followed by fragmentation.

AZTEC EMPIRE

• Originated as nomadic tribes and established Tenochtitlán as a powerful city, dominating through military strength and tribute systems.

AZTEC RELIGION

• Notable for ritual human sacrifice to appease gods, reflecting their belief in cyclical destruction and rebirth of worlds.

END OF THE AZTECS

• The civilization was destroyed by Spanish conquistadors led by Hernando Cortez in 1519, resulting in the loss of a rich culture.

INCA EMPIRE

• Extended along the Pacific coast, known for potato cultivation and astronomical knowledge without a formal writing system.

DIVERSITY AMONG NORTH AMERINDIANS

• Thousands of tribes existed, reflecting diverse cultures adapting to their unique environments.

WEAKNESSES AND VULNERABILITIES

• Internal divisions among tribes often led to conflict, making them susceptible to European exploitations.

• Lack of solidarity was a critical weakness leading to significant disadvantages during colonization.