Overview
This lecture covers the diverse societies of Native Americans before European contact, focusing on their cultural adaptations across different regions of the Americas.
Major Civilizations in Central and South America
- The Aztecs (Mexica) built the large city of Tenochtitlan and practiced human sacrifice.
- The Maya, on the Yucatan Peninsula, built stone temples, palaces, and developed irrigation systems.
- The Inca, in the Andes of South America, ruled over 16 million people and developed advanced farming and irrigation.
Key Agricultural Development: Maize
- Maize (corn) was a crucial crop, supporting population growth and economic development.
- Maize cultivation spread north, influencing societies in the American Southwest.
Native Societies in North America
- The Pueblo people (Southwest) were sedentary farmers of maize, living in adobe and cliff dwellings.
- Great Plains and Great Basin groups, like the Ute, were nomadic hunter-gatherers in small, egalitarian bands.
- Pacific Northwest societies, such as the Chinook, lived in fishing villages and built large cedar plank houses.
- The Chumash, in California, were hunters and gatherers living in permanent settlements.
- Hopewell and Cahokia, in the Mississippi River Valley, formed large, complex societies with extensive trade networks.
- The Iroquois in the Northeast lived in agricultural villages and communal longhouses.
Key Terms & Definitions
- Maize — A nutritious crop (corn) central to Native American agriculture and societal development.
- Sedentary — Settled lifestyle, as seen in Pueblo and Mississippi Valley cultures.
- Nomadic — Moving from place to place, typical for Great Plains and Basin hunter-gatherers.
- Kinship Band — Social group based on family ties, common among nomadic groups.
Action Items / Next Steps
- Review the key characteristics of major pre-contact Native American societies.
- Be prepared to compare and contrast regional adaptations of Native cultures.
- Complete assigned readings on Native American societies before European arrival.