America before Columbus: The Way We

Were

Section 2: Notes

Out of Africa

1 Homo Sapiens2 Neanderthals3 Early Hominids

OriginsPaleo— Beringia Ice Bridge

The Bering Strait—satellite image today

The First Americans

The Lithic peoples or Paleo-Indians are the earliest known humans of the Americas. The period's name derives from the appearance of "lithic flaked" stone tools

History before ContactBeringia Ice Bridge

Migration from Alaska south as ice-free corridors develop

Plains Indian Cultures Emerge

Climate stabilizes after glaciers recede

Archaic Period

Pre-Columbian/Classical Age

45,000 BCE—12,000 BCE

16,500 BCE—13,500 BCE

10,500 BCE—9,500 BCE

8,000 BCE—7,000 BCE

8,000 BCE—2,000 BCE

3,000 BCE—1492 CE

Hunters and Gathers follow herbivores into Alaska in small clan groups

Canoes and kayaks used along Pacific coast while valleys are used to follow animals on land

Bison herds hunted resulting in Folsom traditions in much of the US

Population booms and sedentary life styles emerge with lithic technology

Early cultures begin to diversify with environment into tribal identities and territories

Rise of great empires and cultures throughout the Americas

Interesting EnvironmentsSpecies of the Americas gone missing

The American camel found in Nebraska about the size of a German Shepherd dog

Bison ancestor to the buffalo found in Canada

American horses about the size of a Great Dane; modern horses are European immigrants

Also departedAmerican Mastodon –note size compared to a man

Saber-tooth cats of California weighing in at 600 pounds

Giant Beaver—Great Lakes region at 8’ and over 500 lbs.

American lion of the Great Plains about another ¼ larger than the African variety

Technology of Diversity• Domestication of

crops• Architecture• Weapons• Calendars• Glyph writing• Art forms• Language

Cultural Changes over Time• Migration from Asia and the environmental

factors pushed clans south and east while the landscape forced innovations to survive!

Sensitivity to Cultural Differences• Labels—Native Americans, First nations,

Indians, or by group names• Religions are as varied as the language

and groups• Time alone is not the factor, but

interaction among people and from the outside circumstances

• THE GOLDEN RULE: Do onto others as you have them do onto you

• Emphasis: appreciate the differences, but not try to analyze them any more that you want to be analyzed yourself

Questions & Answers• Which of the following is native to the

Americas?• Tomatoes, corn, and potatoes• Pigs, wheat, dandelions

• All peoples of the Americas before 1492 spoke the same language?• True False

• Indigenous persons moved south because of…• The environment Desire for wealth

• We know about the Americas before 1492 because of the written accounts left behind.• True False

Final WordsAn accomplished student:• Is committed to his or her own learning• Knows what material s/he will be expected

to learn and plans the best way to learn it within the confines of the course

• Is responsible for monitoring and managing his/her own learning; for example, gets makeup work online and immediately turns it in on return

• Thinks systematically about learning and learns from experience

Okay—I lied a few more• Sees self as a contributing member of a

learning community• Treat self, other class members, visitors,

and the instructor with respect and manners

• Is aware of the strengths and limitations of others

• Has pride in success and overcomes weaknesses through diligence

• Shows age-appropriate behaviors and strives for maturity as an adult learner

I promise—one more after this• Does assignments on time and to the very

best of one’s ability• All work will be done in dark blue or black

ink, unless specifically instructed otherwise

• Follow class heading, standard grammar, and formatting guidelines

• Does share in committees and learning groups

• Seek help from the instructor as soon as there is trouble with any concept we are studying or discussing

Da da…• Creates time in the schedule to get the

help needed• Controls impulses to gain attention

through negative actions• Uses positive means to become a fully

actualized person

ROSS THE BOSS