Hohokam: a people who lived near the Salt and Gila rivers of Arizona during the first millennium B.C. Developed the first irrigation system north of Mexico using 500 miles of canals to channel water to cultivate beans, maize, tobacco, and cotton. Very similar to Mexican civilizations: ritual mounds, ball game
Mississippians: people of a primarily agricultural society who lived in permanent settlements in the Mississippi River Valley. These people formed dozens of population centers which were linked by a river transportation of the Mississippi: these centers became the first city-states north of Mexico. These city-states were hierarchical and ruled by chiefs, and they competed for space and use of the river. The chiefs utilized tribute labor for the city’s public works.
Kachinas: ancestral spirits of the Pueblo people who are impersonated in the Pueblo’s seasonal ceremonies
Iroquois Confederacy: After the Iroquois split into 5 nations, there was prolonged warfare, most likely over territory. The Iroquois Confederacy outlawed violence between the nations, where the exchange of gifts replaced violent revenge. The founder of the confederacy was Chief Deganawida.
Pleistocene Overkill: caused in part by the stress of the climatic shift 15,000 years ago in which glaciers melted and created flooding throughout American landscape, the Pleistocene Overkill was the extinction of 32 classes of large mammals (i.e. mammoth and mastodon). Due to decreased population of these animals, Indians redoubled their efforts and hunted these animals into extinction.
Anasazis: farming people who lived on the border of Arizona, New Mexico, Utah, and Colorado around the year 750. Lived in pueblos (multistoried apartment complexes) and utilized underground kivas (pits) for crops. Grew maize in terraced fields with irrigation and hunted using the bow and arrow. Massive drought and famine combined with the invasion of Athapascan warriors led to the dispersion of the Anasazis.
Potlatch: ceremony of the people of the Northwest coast where the people who could give away the most goods gained social prestige and rank.
Matrilineal: tracing descent through the female line. Clans in the Pueblo tribe were organized in this way. The Cherokee and Iroquois people recognized descent through the matrilineal line.
Clovis Tradition: a sophisticated style of technology used by the American Indians roughly 11,000 years ago. A technique called “fluting” was used on the tips of weapons: this strategy was more advanced than European or Asian techniques at the time. The Clovis people were migratory foragers. A refinement in Clovis Tradition produced a weapon called a Folsom, which consisted of deadly spear points and was ideal for hunting bison.
Hiawatha: Powerful orator who convinced the leaders of the 5 Iroquois nations to join the Iroquois Confederacy.
Woodland peoples: Woodland culture began about 3,000 years ago in what is today the eastern U.S. These peoples survived on a combination of hunting, gathering, and harvesting crops that grew locally in the area, including tobacco. Woodland peoples are also known for their mound building: the mounds were constructed to honor the dead that were buried there. Woodland peoples also participated in an elaborate trade network. Collapsed in 400 C.E.
Rancherias: thus named by the Spanish, rancherias were dispersed settlements located in the southwest where desert farmers (known as individualists) cultivated crops. Rancherias were governed by councils of adult men.
Athapascan: also known as Na-Dene people, the Athapascans migrated across Beringia (grassland connecting Asia and North America) to settle in the northwest area of what would become America. These people are the ancestors of the Navajos and Apaches.
Clans: began with the rise of agriculture. Communities became more permanent and greater social organization was possible. Clans became crucial for maintaining alliances between the people and helped different people to perform different roles in American society. As a result of this increased social complexity, a division of labor was formed as well as social and economic classes.
Mississippians: people of a primarily agricultural society who lived in permanent settlements in the Mississippi River Valley. These people formed dozens of population centers which were linked by a river transportation of the Mississippi: these centers became the first city-states north of Mexico. These city-states were hierarchical and ruled by chiefs, and they competed for space and use of the river. The chiefs utilized tribute labor for the city’s public works.
Kachinas: ancestral spirits of the Pueblo people who are impersonated in the Pueblo’s seasonal ceremonies
Iroquois Confederacy: After the Iroquois split into 5 nations, there was prolonged warfare, most likely over territory. The Iroquois Confederacy outlawed violence between the nations, where the exchange of gifts replaced violent revenge. The founder of the confederacy was Chief Deganawida.
Pleistocene Overkill: caused in part by the stress of the climatic shift 15,000 years ago in which glaciers melted and created flooding throughout American landscape, the Pleistocene Overkill was the extinction of 32 classes of large mammals (i.e. mammoth and mastodon). Due to decreased population of these animals, Indians redoubled their efforts and hunted these animals into extinction.
Anasazis: farming people who lived on the border of Arizona, New Mexico, Utah, and Colorado around the year 750. Lived in pueblos (multistoried apartment complexes) and utilized underground kivas (pits) for crops. Grew maize in terraced fields with irrigation and hunted using the bow and arrow. Massive drought and famine combined with the invasion of Athapascan warriors led to the dispersion of the Anasazis.
Potlatch: ceremony of the people of the Northwest coast where the people who could give away the most goods gained social prestige and rank.
Matrilineal: tracing descent through the female line. Clans in the Pueblo tribe were organized in this way. The Cherokee and Iroquois people recognized descent through the matrilineal line.
Clovis Tradition: a sophisticated style of technology used by the American Indians roughly 11,000 years ago. A technique called “fluting” was used on the tips of weapons: this strategy was more advanced than European or Asian techniques at the time. The Clovis people were migratory foragers. A refinement in Clovis Tradition produced a weapon called a Folsom, which consisted of deadly spear points and was ideal for hunting bison.
Hiawatha: Powerful orator who convinced the leaders of the 5 Iroquois nations to join the Iroquois Confederacy.
Woodland peoples: Woodland culture began about 3,000 years ago in what is today the eastern U.S. These peoples survived on a combination of hunting, gathering, and harvesting crops that grew locally in the area, including tobacco. Woodland peoples are also known for their mound building: the mounds were constructed to honor the dead that were buried there. Woodland peoples also participated in an elaborate trade network. Collapsed in 400 C.E.
Rancherias: thus named by the Spanish, rancherias were dispersed settlements located in the southwest where desert farmers (known as individualists) cultivated crops. Rancherias were governed by councils of adult men.
Athapascan: also known as Na-Dene people, the Athapascans migrated across Beringia (grassland connecting Asia and North America) to settle in the northwest area of what would become America. These people are the ancestors of the Navajos and Apaches.
Clans: began with the rise of agriculture. Communities became more permanent and greater social organization was possible. Clans became crucial for maintaining alliances between the people and helped different people to perform different roles in American society. As a result of this increased social complexity, a division of labor was formed as well as social and economic classes.