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APUSH Unit 1, Topic 2: Native American Societies Before European Contact (1491–1607)

Big Idea: Native American societies were diverse, complex, and shaped by their environments long before Europeans arrived.

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I. Civilizations in Central & South America

These early societies were urban, religious, and technologically advanced.

1. Aztecs (Mexica) – Central Mexico

Capital: Tenochtitlán (300,000+ people)

Innovations: Irrigation, written language

Religion: Fertility cult; practiced human sacrifice

Fun fact: Human sacrifice = way to keep the gods happy and crops fertile

2. Maya – Yucatán Peninsula

Built: Large cities, temples, and palaces

Tech: Irrigation and water storage

Beliefs: Rulers descended from gods

3. Inca – Andes Mountains, Peru

Population: ~16 million

Land: 350,000 square miles

Agriculture: Terraced farming in mountain valleys; grew potatoes

Engineering: Advanced irrigation systems

Shared Trait:

All cultivated maize (corn) → enabled population growth, farming, trade

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II. Native Peoples of North America

Adapted to local environments and lived in varied ways.

1. Southwest – Pueblo Peoples

Location: New Mexico, Arizona

Lifestyle: Sedentary maize farmers

Homes: Adobe & cliff dwellings

Society: Had religious centers, administration, and artisans

2. Great Plains & Great Basin – Nomadic Tribes (e.g., Ute)

Lifestyle: Hunter-gatherers

Climate: Dry → had to travel for food

Social structure: Small, kinship-based bands

3. Pacific Northwest – Chinook & Chumash

Lifestyle: Settled fishing villages

Homes: Plankhouses from cedar wood (up to 70 people!)

Diet: Salmon, elk, wild vegetation

Chumash: Coastal California; permanent homes despite being hunters/gatherers

4. Mississippi River Valley – Hopewell & Cahokia

Farming: Fertile soil → allowed larger societies

Hopewell: Towns of 4,000–6,000; long-distance trade

Cahokia: Largest settlement (10,000–30,000 people), hierarchical gov’t, extensive trade

5. Northeast – Iroquois

Crops: Three Sisters – maize, beans, squash

Homes: Longhouses (30–50 people)

Society: Strong confederacy (Iroquois Confederacy later becomes important)

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III. Why This Matters (Thematic Summary)

Key Themes from This Topic:

Diversity: Native peoples adapted to different geographies (deserts, plains, forests)

Innovation: Advanced irrigation, farming, and architecture existed long before European arrival

Maize = Power: Corn supported large populations and cultural growth

Trade & Government: Societies were not isolated—many traded and had organized governments

Europe didn’t "bring civilization"—it already existed.

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Big-Picture Connections

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Flashcard Practice Questions (Example):

Q: What crop most influenced Native American societies across the Americas?

A: Maize (corn)

Q: What kind of housing did Pueblo people build?

A: Adobe homes and cliff dwellings

Q: Which society built the city of Tenochtitlán?

A: Aztecs (Mexica)

Q: Which Native American group was most known for longhouses and farming in the Northeast?

A: Iroquois

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