Module 1 Flashcards
(47 cards)
What is the Bering Strait Hypothesis?
A theory that suggests First Peoples migrated to North America via a land bridge (Beringia) that appeared during the Ice Age when ocean levels dropped.
This migration occurred around 32,000 years ago.
What does the Ice-Free Corridor Hypothesis propose?
It proposes that people entered North America 12,000 years ago through a passage created by melting glaciers east of the Rockies.
This corridor allowed easier movement into the continent.
What is the Coastal Migration Hypothesis?
The theory that some people traveled to North America by boats along the Pacific Coast, although this is less widely accepted due to rough ocean currents.
Canoes were believed to be used for this migration.
Name the three language families in Quebec around 1500.
- Iroquoian: St. Lawrence Valley
- Algonquian: Canadian Shield
- Inuit (Eskimo-Aleut): Northern Quebec
Which group inhabited Northern Quebec?
Inuit
They were nomadic and lived in tundra environments.
What types of shelters did Inuit people use?
- Igloos in winter
- Tents made from caribou skins in summer
What were the primary roles of men and women in Inuit culture?
- Men: hunted, built boats/tools
- Women: cooked, raised kids, made clothing
Describe the Algonquians’ lifestyle.
They were nomadic hunters and gatherers who lived in wigwams and followed a patriarchal social structure.
They relied on canoes, snowshoes, and sleds for transportation.
What type of society did the Iroquois have?
Sedentary farming society, matriarchal, living in longhouses within palisaded villages.
They grew the ‘Three Sisters’: corn, beans, and squash.
What is animism in the context of Indigenous spiritual beliefs?
The belief that everything has a spirit and that humans are equal to nature.
What role did shamans play in Indigenous cultures?
Shamans were spiritual leaders who interpreted dreams, healed, and predicted the future.
How was knowledge passed down in Indigenous cultures?
Through oral tradition, as there was no writing.
What was the significance of sharing and gift-giving in Indigenous cultures?
Land and resources were shared by the whole nation, and wealth was not personal. Gifts were crucial for diplomacy and relationships.
How were chiefs chosen in Indigenous communities?
Chiefs were chosen based on bravery, generosity, hunting skills, and speaking abilities.
What was the decision-making process among Indigenous chiefs?
Decisions were made through councils, with chiefs lacking the power to enforce them; elders had significant influence due to their experience.
What was the primary method of trade among Indigenous peoples in the 16th century?
Bartering goods without the use of money.
Give an example of trade items exchanged by the Iroquois and Algonquians.
Iroquois traded corn, beans, and squash for meat and fur from Algonquians.
What materials did Indigenous peoples use for tools?
Copper, which came from the Great Lakes.
What were the primary means of travel for Indigenous peoples?
- Canoes
- Rivers
- Forest trails and portages
What characterized alliances among Indigenous groups?
Alliances were flexible – made and broken based on needs
This flexibility allowed for strategic advantages in conflicts and trade.
What were the main causes of rivalries among Indigenous groups?
- Hunting grounds
- Control of trade goods
- Charging tolls
These factors often led to conflicts over resources.
What was a common practice regarding prisoners during wars?
- Killed
- Tortured
- Sometimes adopted to replace lost family
Adoption was a way to integrate individuals into the community after losses.
What significant event occurred in 1453 that affected European trade?
Ottomans took Constantinople, blocking trade to Asia
This event prompted European nations to seek new trade routes.
Which countries were involved in exploration after the fall of Constantinople?
- Spain
- Portugal
- France
- England
These nations sought new routes to Asia and the Americas.
