Overview
This lecture covers the diverse cultures of Native American societies in the Americas before European contact, focusing on their geographic locations, economies, and social structures.
Major Pre-Columbian Civilizations in Central and South America
- The Aztecs (Mexica) built Tenochtitlan, a city of 300,000, had a written language, and practiced human sacrifice for religious purposes.
- The Maya flourished on the Yucatan Peninsula, building large cities, temples, and believing rulers descended from gods.
- The Inca ruled 16 million people across 350,000 square miles in the Andes, relied on mountain valley agriculture, and had sophisticated irrigation.
Importance of Maize Cultivation
- Maize (corn) was a crucial, highly nutritious crop grown by all major civilizations.
- The spread of maize northward supported economic development, population growth, and greater social diversity among Native societies.
Native Societies of North America: Regional Diversity
- The Pueblo people in the Southwest (New Mexico, Arizona) were sedentary farmers, lived in adobe or cliff-side homes, and had complex societies.
- The Great Plains and Great Basin were inhabited by nomadic hunter-gatherers like the Ute, living in small egalitarian groups due to dry land.
- Pacific Northwest tribes such as the Chinook settled in fishing villages, built large plank houses, and relied on cedar, salmon, and elk.
- The Chumash in California lived in permanent hunting-gathering settlements supported by rich local resources.
Complex Societies in the Mississippi Valley and Northeast
- The Hopewell (Mississippi Valley) lived in towns of 4,000–6,000 and engaged in long-distance trade.
- The Cahokia established large settlements (10,000–30,000 people), ruled by centralized chieftains, with trade extending from the Great Lakes to the Gulf of Mexico.
- The Iroquois (Northeast) lived in longhouses, practiced agriculture (maize, beans, squash), and had villages of several hundred.
Key Terms & Definitions
- Maize — A staple crop (corn) crucial to the development and sustenance of many Native American societies.
- Sedentary — Populations who settled in one place, often practicing agriculture.
- Nomadic — Groups who move regularly in search of food, typically hunter-gatherers.
- Egalitarian — Social structure in which all members are considered equal.
- Chieftain — A powerful leader who led centralized governments in some societies.
Action Items / Next Steps
- Review the characteristics of each Native American society and their adaptations to regional environments.
- Prepare for questions about the diversity and complexity of pre-Columbian civilizations.