Module 1 The First Americans & Early Contact Flashcards
(28 cards)
What was the estimated Native American population in the Western Hemisphere in 1492?
Approximately 75 million.
Which Native American city had a population of 20,000 before the 1490s?
Cahokia.
How did Native Americans use natural resources?
They practiced resource management, farming, fishing, and hunting.
When did Ponce de Leon first make contact with Native Americans?
In 1513.
What did early European writers often misunderstand about Native Americans?
They often wrote from a European perspective, minimizing Native American complexities.
True or False: Native Americans were passive victims during European colonization.
False.
Fill in the blank: Native Americans should be understood as _______.
active participants in the changing culture of the Americas.
What influenced the culture of Native American nations?
The geography of the region they inhabited.
What did Native American societies experience before European contact?
Rises and falls, development, growth, and innovation.
How did European-Native relations evolve in the 16th century?
Initial cooperation gave way to conflict as cultural misunderstandings grew.
What was one major impact of European goods on Native Americans?
They increased their wealth and prestige through trade.
What did Europeans seek from Native Americans upon first contact?
Food, guidance, and trade opportunities.
What was a consequence of the cultural clash between Europeans and Native Americans?
Conflict, violence, and the persecution of Native Americans.
What role did trade play in early European-Native American relations?
It created mutually dependent societies based on each side’s needs.
What did some English authors believe about Native Americans?
They could improve Native Americans’ lives and bring them the gospel.
What was the misconception about the Native American population before Columbus?
That all native tribes were the same.
What is one way archaeologists have contributed to understanding Native American history?
They have found evidence of early large population centers.
What did early Native American nations possess?
Their own languages, traditions, and economic systems.
What was one effect of European settlement on Native American culture?
Cultural changes and adaptations occurred on both sides.
True or False: All Europeans viewed Native Americans with cultural superiority.
False.
What were some early population centers of Native Americans located?
Modern Georgia, Alabama, Mississippi.
What was the largest American city north of Mexico before the 18th century?
Cahokia.
What term describes a hostile force that needed to be conquered?
Hostile force
Refers to the perception of Native Americans by European settlers.
Who were considered active participants in the changing culture of the Americas?
Native Americans
They engaged in cultural exchanges with European settlers.
