Lecture Notes: Native American Societies Before Contact

Introduction

• Common Misconceptions: American history often considered to begin in 1776 (Declaration of Independence) or 1492 (Columbus).
• True Beginning: History of America begins about 15,000 years ago with the arrival of people in the Americas.

Arrival of People in the Americas

• Scholarly Debate: On how people first arrived.
  • Ice Age Theory: 12,000 years ago, lower sea levels exposed a land bridge between Asia and the Americas.
  • Boat Theory: Recent evidence suggests earlier arrival by boat.
• Population Spread: By European arrival in the late 1400s, approximately 50 million people in the Americas; 4-6 million in North America.

Development of Societies

• Domestication of Maize: Around 5,000 BCE in Mexico.
  • Shift from nomadic hunting and gathering to settled agriculture.
  • Development of villages and complex societies.

Regional Adaptations and Societies

• Southwest Plains & Great Basin
  • Environment: Dry, desert-like.
  • Adaptations: Continued hunting and gathering, following bison herds using tipis.
• Southwest (Ancestral Puebloans)
  • Developed irrigation projects for maize agriculture.
  • Lived in large cave complexes.
• Northwest
  • Environment: Pacific Ocean provided abundant fish.
• Mississippian Peoples
  • Large settlements, e.g., Cahokia (population 25,000-40,000).
  • Relied on three-sister farming: corn, beans, squash.
    • Mutual benefits: Corn as trellis, squash protecting roots.
  • Supported high population density.

Conclusion

• Pre-European Contact: Developments over 14,000 years.
• Impact of European Arrival: Introduction of new people, pathogens, plants, and animals brought significant changes.