Native Americans
Essay by emilybarbs • September 7, 2011 • Study Guide • 256 Words (2 Pages) • 1,749 Views
* Native Americans had no knowledge of light skinned Europeans or dark skinned Africans.
* About 40 million Native Americans lived in Mesoamerica.
* About 15 million lived in present day U.S. or Canada.
* Lifestyles consisted of either hunter gatherers, agriculture or under rule by warrior-kings and priests.
* Land bridge between Siberia and Alaska (During Ice Age).
* In 3000 BC Native Americans planted beans, squash, corn and etc.
* The agricultural surplus laid a foundation for permanent societies in Mexico, Peru and Mississippi River Valley.
* Mayas- Built large religious centers, urban communities with water irrigation systems.
* "City of Tikal" had religious and artistic traditions related to the Olmec Civilization from 7000 BC.
* Created calendar recording historical events and predicted eclipses.
* Developed Hieroglyphic writing.
* Maya civilization declined in 800 AD.
* Lasted until 1520s invasion.
* Aztecs- Took over Teotihvcan Empire and expanded it.
* Established a hierachal social order.
* Priests and warrior nobels ruled over Aztec land.
* Merchants creating trading routes and imported furs, gold and textiles.
* Incas- set up an empire along the western coast of South America.
* Indians of the North- Composed of small clans or groups of related families that had a common identity,
* Advanced farming technology of Mesoamerica spread into the Mississippi River Valley.
* created ceremonial and urban sites.
* Chaco Canyon became center of trade.
* Women adapted to horticulturists.
* Natchez (Mississippian Area) uprising against French invaders failed because the Europeans were too well positioned to overcome.
* In new societies, race became a prime factor to determine people's status and lives.
Traditional European Society-
* After the fall of the Roman Empire, a vicious epidemic, Black Death killed one third of its people.
* Areas of the world were expanding their seaborne trade.
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