Indigenous Peoples of North America Flashcards
(15 cards)
What was North America like pre-columbia?
-Native populations est. 2-10 million
-Diversity among people and cultures
-No classical-style civilizations with monumental architecture
-Complex Social and political structures were present
What technology did indigenous people use?
Stone, wood, travel by foot/no wheels, no written language, farming and extensive trade networks
What are some examples of the technology Europeans used?
Steel, gunpowder, horse and wheels, written languages, farming, extensive trade networks
What was the social organization like?
-Most as tribes
-Lifestyles shaped by available natural resources
-Formed confederacies or leagues
What were some of the religious beliefs of indigenous tribes
-Vibrant spiritual world
-Ceremonies tied to tribal lifestyle
-Believed in a creator god and other deities
Land ownership
-Land seen as common resource not owned
-Village leaders assigned land
Social Structure in the Indigenous tribes
-Class distinctions existed but wealth more evenly distributed
-Many tribes were matrilineal (women were head of lineage)
-women often important religious leaders
-Women owned dwellings and tools
Early Spanish Exploration
Juan Ponce de Leon arrived in Florida in 1513
-Searching for gold and the “Fountain of Youth”
-Alvar Nunez Cabeza de Vaca explored the American Southwest
What were the Spanish’s Colonization Efforts?
-Attempted to take Florida for military bases
-Missionaries tried to convert Natives
-Established Santa Fe, New Mexico in 1610
The Pueblo Revolt of 1680
-First large uprising against Europeans
-Led by Pope, a religious leader
-2,000 warriors drove Spanish out of Santa Fe
Consequences for the Pueblo Revolt
-Spanish became more tolerant of the indigenous religion
-Abandoned forced labor practice
The Black Legend
-Tale of Spanish cruelty towards Native Americans were used by other Europeans to justify their own colonization
Bartolome de las Casas
-Spanish friar who criticized treatment of Native Americans
-Wrote about harsh conditions and suffering of indigenous people
What are some challenges in studying Native American History?
-Lack of written records from Native perspective
-Most from European sources
-Biases in historical narratives
Impact of European Contact
-Population decline due to diseases
-Disruption of traditional ways of life
-Cultural exchange and conflict
