The Native

American World

Chapter 1, section1

“This section examines some patterns of early Native American life that would play an important role once Native Americans,

Europeans, and Africans……finally

made contact with one another.”

Was the Native American world flourishing?

• Late 1400’s anywhere from 700,000 to ten million people may have lived in the United States

• Groups, customs, culture varied according to regions

So who were they?Region Environment Culture(s)The North -coast of North America

-mild to cold environment-lived near water

-Inuit & Aleut , Koyukon & Ingalik-Nomadic, hunter/gatherers

The Northwest Coast

-waterways of coastal Northwest

-Coos, Coast Salish, Makah, others-fishermen

California -Southern coast of California-lived mountains and large valleys

-Chumash, Yurok, Serrano, others-fishermen, gatherers-lived in small bands-spoke many languages

continued……………………Region Environment Culture(s) The Plateau -inland, Northwest coast

-dry plains with rivers between Cascades and Rockies

-Chinook, Cayuse-fisherman-dug edible roots-villages on high riverbanks

The Great Basin -between Sierra Nevada and Rockies-dry land, scarce food

-Paiute, Ute, Shoshoni-small groups-worked together-hunter, gatherers

The Southwest -around 4” rain annually (dry environment)-south of Great Basin

-Hopi, Zuni, Pueblo-settled lives-farmers-some lived in large complexes (Pueblo) much like apartments

continued…………………… Region Environment Culture(s) The Plains -central United States -Mandan, Wichita, Pawnee

-planted corn, beans, squash-hunters of buffalo (used for clothes, shelter, and food)

The Northeast -woodlands-plentiful rainfall

-Seneca, Lenape-women responsible for house and garden-Hunter, gatherers (deer, moose, small game)-farmers, fishermen

The Southeast -mountains and swamps-coastal areas- mostly wooded

-Natchez, Creek, Cherokee-large and varied environment and cultures-large towns and individual homes-large temples and mounds-Cherokee (educated)

Social Life

• family important• fulfilled social, medical,

educational needs of the people• Family units:– Kinship networks (beyond

parent/child)– Clans (common ancestor)

• Division of labor between men and women

Religion

• Frequent ceremonial celebrations– Very spiritual–Must recognize “power of spiritual

forces”

• Misfortunes like disease, military defeat, bad harvests if rituals ignored

• Strictly followed traditional rituals:–Marriage, harvests & planting,

death, etc.

• Oral traditions passed through generations

Trade

• All Native Americans practiced trading– Trade for needs– Trade for hospitality and

friendliness– Sharing meant respect

• Economic trade considered social• Trading all across continent

among all regions