Native American Cultures of North America

1. Native American Cultures of North America

2. Prehistoric Native Americans • Terms and concepts • Paleo Period • Archaic Period • Woodland Period • Mississippian Period

3. Terms For Chapter 2 • Prehistoric – the period of time before written history. • Culture – a way of life shared by people with similar arts, beliefs, and customs. • Effigy- ceremonial, religious • Nomadic-travel, no permanent settlement

4. More terms… • Archaeologists – scientists who study artifacts. • Anthropologist – study the science of human beings through their physical characteristics, culture, and environment • Artifacts – objects from the past that contribute to our understanding of prehistoric cultures.

5. Where did the Native Americans come from? • A land bridge once connected Asia with North America • The land bridge is where the Bering Strait is now

6. Paleo-Indian Period • Lived approximately 10,000 years ago • Nomadic (moved a lot) hunters • Hunted big game: woolly mammoths, large bison, sloth, moose, and elk. • Animals used for food, clothing and tools • Shelter were huts-wood and animal hides • Used wooden sticks with spear points attached for spears. • Clovis Point – approximately 3 inches

7. Archaic Indian Period • Lived around 8000 B.C. to 1000 B.C. • Possible first culture of Georgia • Developed improved techniques for fishing, gathering and hunting • Hunted deer and small mammals with atlatl • Made tools from stones, including the stone axe • Less mobile, cleared some land, lived in shelters • Made shell rings on Sapelo • Lived in bands of 25-50

8. Woodland Indian Period • Lived from around 1000 B.C. to 800 A.D. • Developed agriculture/farming • Sunflowers, squash, and maize (type of corn) • Developed the bow and arrow • Built villages with protective walls • Made earth mounds (effigy mounds) like those at Rock Eagle and Kolomoki • Religious- priests • Tribes

10. Mississippian Indian Period • 900-1650 AD • Etowah Mounds, tallest and Ocmulgee • Grew 2 crops from Mexico: corn (maize) and beans • 4 staples: squash, corn and beans (3 Sisters of Agriculture), also pumpkins • Civilizations, government, chiefdoms • Had towns with buildings by rivers • European explorers met them

11. What are the features of a civilization? • Chiefdoms • Cities that are centers of trade • Specialized jobs for different people • Organized forms of government and religion • Advanced tools

12. Why Did The Mississippians Die Off? • Diseases brought by the Europeans • Measles, chicken pox, tuberculosis • Warfare with Europeans over land

13. Historic Native Americans • What does this mean??? • Prehistoric means before written history • Historic period occurs when the Native Americans have contact with Europeans • Events will be written, documentation of events

14. Modern Native Americans of Georgia and Southeast • Creeks • Cherokee • Seminole • Timucuan

15. Creek Confederacy • Largest group, southern GA, AL • Also known as the Muskogee • Lived in large family compounds • Matrilineal-power passed through female side • Chief: ruled the town/Elders: town council • Green Corn ceremony – giving thanks for the new crop • Guale –between Savannah and Altamaha • Tomochichi, Toonahowie (ever heard of them?)

16. Cherokee • Second largest group • Mountain settlements • Similar to Creeks • Believed in keeping harmony and balance in the world • No chief or elders – council meetings were run democratically (vote) • Cherokee only went to war for revenge

17. Timucuan • SE GA (Cumberland) and NE FL • Matrilineal • Tall (6ft), tattooed • Mocama-between Altamaha and St. Mary’s • Differentiated by language

18. Seminole • Most in Florida, but a small number were in Southeast GA • Seminole means “free people” • Very similar to the Creek • Created from Creek, Cherokee, Timucuan tribes