Pre Columbus Era Flashcards
True or False: Native American cultures tended to have limited or minimal impact on the environment.
False
Historians refer to the period before Christopher Columbus’s arrival in the ‘New World’ as the Pre-Columbian Era. During this period, the Western Hemisphere including North America was populated by culturally diverse groups of Indigenous people. Those living on the land that would become the United States- and their descendants- are referred to collectively as Native Americans.
When did the domestication and cultivation of maize, or corn, begin?
The domestication and cultivation of maize, or corn, began thousands of years ago in Mexico.
The Indigenous people of the region depended on this staple crop for much of their livelihood and the reliance on maize soon spread to much of North America.
How many Native Americans lived in modern Canada and the United States at the time of Columbus’s arrival?
Between 1 million and 5 million Native Americans lived in modern Canada and the United States at the time of Columbus’s arrival.
Another 20 million populated Mexico.
What was the name given by Columbus to the smaller tribes of Native Americans he encountered?
Columbus, mistakenly believing he had reached the East Indies, dubbed the smaller tribes of Native Americans he encountered ‘Indians,’ and the name stuck for centuries.
This term originated from the misconception that he had reached the East Indies.
What did the Spanish and Portuguese colonists establish in the New World?
The Spanish and Portuguese colonists established a new territory in the West Indies, which brought them wealth as they exploited the resources and labor of the native populations.
They also imposed their authority over the indigenous people and engaged in activities like silver mining.
