Unit 1
1491-1607 (Pre-Columbus - Founding of Jamestown)
Indigenous Peoples of the Americas
Land Bridge
● Ice Age → sea levels drop → land bridge between Siberia and Alaska
● First humans migrate into the Americas
○ Adapt to super diff. environments → Native societies are diverse
Agricultural Development
● Corn (Maize)
○ Domesticated in Mesoamerica, led to population growth, permanent settlements,
specialization, and a social hierarchy
○ Became a staple for many tribes that Europeans encounter, Europeans rely on
Native crops
Southwest Civilizations (arid land)
● Hohokam
○ Complex irrigation canals, advanced engineering + environmental adaption
● Anasazi
○ Cliff dwellings, eventually migrate due to drought/resource stress
● Pueblos
○ Multi-story adobe structures, communal living, farming, trade
○ Spanish later interact with Pueblo → Pueblo Revolt (Unit 2)
Eastern Woodland & Mississippian Cultures
● Adena-Hopewell
○ Ohio River Valley
○ Long-distance trade networks, rituals, burial mounds
● Woodland Mound Builders
○ Groups building ceremonial mounds
○ Shows organized labor + religious systems
● Cahokia
○ Largest city pre-Columbus
○ Mississippian culture, platform mounds, agriculture-based economy
○ Declines before European arrival
○ Shows how complex societies existed before Europeans
Mesoamerican & Andean Empires
● Advanced civilizations existed, contradicting European idea that land was empty
● Mayas
, ○ City-states
○ Advanced math, calendars, writing
○ Agriculture-based (maize)
● Aztecs
○ Militaristic empire, tribute system, human sacrifice
○ Overthrown by Cortés + Native allies
○ Maize provided food supply
● Incas
○ Road systems, terraces, mita labor system
○ Overthrown by Pizarro
North American Cultural Regions (Tribes)
● Algonquian
○ New England, Great Lakes
○ Farming + hunting
○ Early contact with English (Jamestown, Plymouth)
○ Later: alliances & conflicts with English settlers
● Siouxan
○ Great Plains, Mississippi Valley
○ Nomadic, buffalo-based economies
● Cherokee
○ Southeast
○ Farming villages
○ Later: Indian Removal Act + Trail of Tears
Social & Political Organization
● Iroquois Confederation (Haudenosaunee)
○ Alliance of nations
○ Shared governance + autonomy
○ Influences later colonial ideas of federalism
○ Strong political unity → powerful regional force
European Exploration
Pre-Exploration
● Nation-States
○ Kings can tax, fund armies, and sponsor exploration
○ Competition between states → motivation to expand
● Printing Press
○ Spread knowledge quickly, increased literacy, helped spread new ideas and
religion
○ Later: spreads Protestant Reformation ideas
● Gunpowder
1491-1607 (Pre-Columbus - Founding of Jamestown)
Indigenous Peoples of the Americas
Land Bridge
● Ice Age → sea levels drop → land bridge between Siberia and Alaska
● First humans migrate into the Americas
○ Adapt to super diff. environments → Native societies are diverse
Agricultural Development
● Corn (Maize)
○ Domesticated in Mesoamerica, led to population growth, permanent settlements,
specialization, and a social hierarchy
○ Became a staple for many tribes that Europeans encounter, Europeans rely on
Native crops
Southwest Civilizations (arid land)
● Hohokam
○ Complex irrigation canals, advanced engineering + environmental adaption
● Anasazi
○ Cliff dwellings, eventually migrate due to drought/resource stress
● Pueblos
○ Multi-story adobe structures, communal living, farming, trade
○ Spanish later interact with Pueblo → Pueblo Revolt (Unit 2)
Eastern Woodland & Mississippian Cultures
● Adena-Hopewell
○ Ohio River Valley
○ Long-distance trade networks, rituals, burial mounds
● Woodland Mound Builders
○ Groups building ceremonial mounds
○ Shows organized labor + religious systems
● Cahokia
○ Largest city pre-Columbus
○ Mississippian culture, platform mounds, agriculture-based economy
○ Declines before European arrival
○ Shows how complex societies existed before Europeans
Mesoamerican & Andean Empires
● Advanced civilizations existed, contradicting European idea that land was empty
● Mayas
, ○ City-states
○ Advanced math, calendars, writing
○ Agriculture-based (maize)
● Aztecs
○ Militaristic empire, tribute system, human sacrifice
○ Overthrown by Cortés + Native allies
○ Maize provided food supply
● Incas
○ Road systems, terraces, mita labor system
○ Overthrown by Pizarro
North American Cultural Regions (Tribes)
● Algonquian
○ New England, Great Lakes
○ Farming + hunting
○ Early contact with English (Jamestown, Plymouth)
○ Later: alliances & conflicts with English settlers
● Siouxan
○ Great Plains, Mississippi Valley
○ Nomadic, buffalo-based economies
● Cherokee
○ Southeast
○ Farming villages
○ Later: Indian Removal Act + Trail of Tears
Social & Political Organization
● Iroquois Confederation (Haudenosaunee)
○ Alliance of nations
○ Shared governance + autonomy
○ Influences later colonial ideas of federalism
○ Strong political unity → powerful regional force
European Exploration
Pre-Exploration
● Nation-States
○ Kings can tax, fund armies, and sponsor exploration
○ Competition between states → motivation to expand
● Printing Press
○ Spread knowledge quickly, increased literacy, helped spread new ideas and
religion
○ Later: spreads Protestant Reformation ideas
● Gunpowder
