Overview
This lecture covers the history of Pre-Columbian America, focusing on the origins, cultures, and civilizations of Native Americans, especially the Cahokia civilization.
Origins and Migration of Native Americans
- Native Americans (Amerindians) arrived via the Beringia land bridge connecting Siberia to Alaska around 20,000 years ago.
- Beringia was a grassland during the Ice Age, not covered by glaciers.
- Paleo-Indians settled Beringia, then spread across North and South America by following herds of large animals.
- The Clovis culture, known for distinct stone tools, was once thought the earliest, but older sites have been found.
- Genetic and linguistic studies connect Native Americans to Siberian peoples.
Agricultural Revolution and Major Civilizations
- Maize (corn) was domesticated around 5000 BC, enabling population growth and complex societies.
- The Aztecs, Mayans, and Incas built advanced cities with writing systems, astronomy, and trade networks.
- Maize cultivation led to urban centers and social hierarchies.
Native Cultures in North America
- North America had hundreds of tribes with diverse languages and constantly shifting territories.
- The Hohokam in the Southwest built irrigation canals and temple-like structures.
- The Anasazi (Ancestral Puebloans) built cliff dwellings and extensive road networks; they abandoned their sites in the late 1200s due to drought or conflict.
- Pacific Northwest cultures were hierarchical, practiced slavery, and held potlatch feasts despite lacking agriculture, thanks to abundant natural resources.
- Plains Indians were nomadic buffalo hunters; their lifestyle changed dramatically after horses arrived with the Spanish.
- Eastern Woodlands tribes (Algonquian, Iroquoian, Muskogean) organized by village, led by chiefs, practiced patrilineal or matrilineal kinship.
Mound Builders and Cahokia
- Mound builders constructed earthen mounds for burial or ceremonial purposes across North America for 5,000 years.
- Early examples include Watson Break and Poverty Point in Louisiana.
- The largest and most complex mound-building society was Cahokia (700–1300 AD) near present-day St. Louis, IL.
- Cahokia had up to 20,000 residents, massive trade networks, and social hierarchies.
- Monk's Mound is the largest mound north of Mexico and served as a religious and political center.
- Cahokia featured Woodhenge (astronomical wooden circles), evidence of human sacrifice, and an elite "Birdman" burial.
- Decline of Cahokia may have resulted from environmental problems, warfare, or food shortages.
Preservation and Repatriation
- The Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act (NAGPRA) of 1990 requires the return of Native remains and sacred objects to descendant tribes.
- Destruction of archaeological sites (e.g., Slack Farm) led to stronger legal protections for Native heritage.
Key Terms & Definitions
- Beringia — Land bridge connecting Siberia and Alaska used by the first Americans.
- Paleo-Indian — The earliest peoples to inhabit the Americas.
- Clovis culture — Early Native American culture known for distinctive stone tools.
- Mound builders — Cultures constructing large earthen mounds for ritual or burial.
- Cahokia — The largest Pre-Columbian city north of Mexico, known for Monk's Mound.
- Woodhenge — Circular arrangement of posts used for astronomical observations.
- Potlatch — Ceremonial feast with gift-giving practiced in the Pacific Northwest.
- NAGPRA — Federal law requiring the return of Native American remains and sacred objects.
Action Items / Next Steps
- Review key differences among major Native American regional cultures.
- Read about Cahokia and other mound builder sites for further understanding.
- Prepare for discussion on the impact of European contact on native societies.