People of Mountains and Plains

1. People of Mountains and Plains Comanche

2. Comanches • The Comanches were fierce warriors who lived on the Southern Plains. • The Comanches controlled the Great Plains and Central Plains of Texas.

3. Shelter • Comanches were nomads. • They lived in tepees. • Tepees- large tents made of long poles covered with buffalo hides.

4. Buffalo • Comanche got nearly everything they needed from the buffalo: *Clothing *Food *Blankets *Shelter

5. Horses • The Spanish brought horses to North America. • Comanches became experts at them • The tribe quickly became known as the Lords of the Southern Plains, and they by far were the most powerful of all the Indian Tribes in the state.

6. Trade • During times of peace, Comanches traded horses and buffalo goods with the Caddo and the Wichita.

7. Trade • The Comanche were good traders and often went to trade fairs. • The Comanche leaders often wore fine European clothes, with many silver conchos and fine leather boots. • The group always had a leader who was very skilled as a trader and diplomat.

8. Trading Problems • The problem was most of what they had to sell or trade was stuff they had stolen. • They sold the stolen horses and women and children they had kidnapped. • This kidnapping for ransom would later get the Comanche in big trouble with the American settlers.

9. Leadership • Comanche traveled in bands and each band had a leader. • During wars and raids, bands united and chose a war chief to lead them.

10. Where are they today? • By 1875 Comanches no longer controlled the plains. • Most Comanches were moved to a reservation in Oklahoma. • Today about 10,000 Comanche live in the United States.