How long have the Native people been here?
Archaeologists say Native People were here 25 000 years ago. Chipped bones were used as their tools.
How did the Native People get here?
The Ice Age caused water levels to drop, so people could walk across the Bering Strait “land bridge”.
Native People branch out over the Americas
As ice melted 12 000 years ago, Native People move south, and filled the Americas. It took 1 000 years for them to travel to the most southern part of South America, Argentina. Evidence for this are the spear points that archaeologists have found.
New World Video 2
How were the Americas divided up?
There were no borders or countries as there are today. People were grouped according to geographic region.
Did people continue to come after the land bridge closed?
The Inuit came last from Asia and spread over the Arctic. The Arctic was the last region to be inhabited.
How did the Native and Inuits live?
Large ice age mammoths became extinct and later horses and camels. Every group adapted to its environment and made use of every animal part.
Native People and nature
Native people believe:
1. All living things have souls
2. All things are related to each other
3. Man is not above nature, but part of it. This is very different from the western (biblical) view
Native People and language
Many different languages developed in the New World since the Native People around (over 1 000 languages). The major language groups: Algonkian, Inuktitut, Alhabarkan, Siquan and Iroquoian. Sign language developed to allow communication between them.
New World Video 3
Native political confederations (alliances)
Tribes join together for protection, e.g., democracies with constitutions.
Effects of Agriculture
Natives used to hunt and gather their food. This was replaced with agriculture (corn, beans)
Great civilization of the Americas
Great cities and empires develop in Central America: Mayer (700 A.D), Aztecs (1400 A.D). Incase (1 400 A.D) in South America. These civilizations are known as the Greeks and Romans of the Americas.
Trade and Agriculture
Trade travelled all over the North America through waterways (rivers and lakes). Along with trade, knowledge of agriculture travelled north to Canada. Around 500 A.D. corn comes to the Iroguois.
Disease in the New World
The Natives were shielded from disease by crossing the arctic, but also, they had no immunities. In the 1500’s the Americas had more people than Europe. By the 1600’s 90% of the Native People had died. The natives never really recovered.