Native American Notes

Basic tenets:


500- 1,000 nations before the European onslaught and invasion.

And at least 100 million- 350 million.


Over 50 language groups

-80% matriarchal- ruled by and for women

-Mesoamerican larger nations, including the Aztec ( Mexica). Maya, Zapotec, and Tlaxcalans were patriarchal and more militaristic.


Imperialism- the act of subjugating another people, nation, or group to extract its resources, exploit its labor, and control its government system


The Spanish and Portuguese believed that Native Americans did not possess a soul and that they weren’t human.

Eurocentrism- The practice of revering, focusing on, and immersing people/students in European- derived histories, cultures, practices, heroes, languages, etc.


America Before Columbus

-Europe

Growing population of over 100 million people

  • Most people are peasants and serfs that are working on land that is not theirs and don’t get paid wages



-Amerca

-Corn is genetically modified by indigenous people and man’s first feat.

  • Lama is the biggest domestic animal in the Americas.



Notes Day 2


  1. Women came first in the Acoma story


  1. Are these women bad in the story? No, they are not, but she is also portrayed as bad because she ate the forbidden fruit and tried to give it to Adam.


European and Native cultures PRIOR to invasion/contact- circa 15th century


Goals of the chart:

For information: what were Europeans and Natives like on their own

  1. To determine whether the claim made by Europeans that their civilization was “Greater” than Natives was an accurate claim.


Europeans stated that natives were “Uncivilized, savage, heathens.”


Cultural practices: Laws/ Government




Euros-

Monarchies- highly exclusive government systems, no electoral system; patriarchal- the government system is sexist. It is built by and for the favor and privilege of MEN




Natives-

At least 60 percent of Native nations had democracy



Food/ Agriculture








Farms and domesticated

Hunting was only for the elite





Across the Americas, about half of



Language-

Various languages, but literacy in the early 1400s was at an overwhelming 80%



Definition

Genocide. The systematic attempt to annihilate a national, racial, religious, or ethic group, culturally, physically, or both. Usually run by the government


The systematic destruction of culture is genocide.

Primary sources are documents, journals, letters, and recorded memos.


Encomienda- Any 15-year-old or older was forced to provide cotton or gold every three months to the Spanish. If they did not provide the right amount, their hand was chopped off.


The attack dogs are starved on purpose and are meant to get rid of the babies because they can’t work until they are older.

The dogs would eat babies and the elderly; they would stay in the cage and go out after 5 days and go on a rampage.



The Spaniards were raping women, and it was gender conquest.


Mestizo- A mixed-blood person, half Spanish and half indian.