Indigenous America Overview

Indigenous America

• Population: Small percentage with no clear identity today.

Migration Theories

• Bering Land Bridge: Primary migration route for Native Americans.

  • Clovis, NM (13,500 years ago)

  • Monte Verde, Chile (14,500 years ago)

Significant Settlements

• Cahokia: Important settlement with a population of 25,000.

• Geographic Importance: Northeast, Northwest, Southwest, Great Plains

Iroquois Confederacy

• Formed around 1142.

• Noted for food surplus (fishing) and permanent housing structures.

Historical Insights

• Cultural Perceptions: Stereotypes of Native Americans often differ from reality.

  • Misconceptions include being mystical or primitive, while many had advanced societies.

• Domestic Practices: Includes agriculture (irrigation), pottery, and environmental adaptation.

European Exploration

• Treaty of Tordesillas (1494): Divided territories for Spain and Portugal, impacting future colonization and religion.

• Religious Influence: Spread of Catholicism vs. Protestantism, changing dynamics of control in the Americas.