Download Migration theories, geography, Native Americans, Columbian

Outline notes on migration theories, geography, Native Americans, Columbian Exchange
(Additional materials were provided in class and some items can be accessed on GoogleClassroom)
Migration theories:
Migrate: to move
Theory: an idea about something based on evidence
Major theories:
o Beringia Theory (Land Bridge Theory): during the last Ice Age when glaciers formed the sea-level dropped
exposing land between Asia and Alaska. Early nomadic hunters followed animals across land bridge and spread
out across North and South America developing distinct culture regions.
o Oceania Theory: people from Asia migrated to North America by boat across the Pacific Ocean
o Atlantic Theory: people from Europe migrated to North America by boat across the Atlantic Ocean
Geography of North America:
Many physical features (mountains, rivers, plains, deserts, lakes, oceans)
Some physical features make exploration/settlement difficult (ie: mountain ranges)
Some physical features make exploration/settlement easier (ie: rivers)
Many different climate regions in the U.S.
o Climate: weather over an extended period of time (includes temperature and precipitation)
 Major climate regions (make sure you can locate on a map, there is one posted in GoogleClassroom
that will help you)
 Continental: where we live! four seasons, some precipitation
 Sub-tropical: hot and humid
 Semi-Arid: hot, dry summers, cold, snowy, winters
 Desert: Hot and dry
 Marine Westcoast: Mild and rainy
 Highland: Cold and snowy high in mountains, more mild in summer/spring at bottom
Native Americans:
Ancestors of people who first migrated to North/South America
Many different culture regions develop because the environment (physical and climate features) of the U.S. varies so
much.
o Culture: the whole way of life of a group of people (ie: clothes, food, shelter, holidays)
o Native American groups adapted to their environment and their culture reflects the environment they lived in.
 Sioux: Nomadic hunters, who lived on arid Great Plains region, relied on buffalo to survive.
 Relied on buffalo for everything: food, clothing, tools, and shelter (teepee)
 Hopi: Hunter/Gatherer/Farmers who lived in desert region of the Southwest.
 Have to use irrigation to grow crops like corn, beans, and squash
 Built apartment-like homes out of adobe called pueblos.
o Built homes high in cliffs to be protected from enemy tribes
 Iroquois: Lived in Eastern Woodlands (New York State) region
 Created the League of Iroquois or Iroquois Confederacy to keep peace among the five tribes
o Confederacy: loose alliance of independent groups
o U.S. government has similarities to League of Iroquois
Columbian Exchange:
Named after Christopher Columbus
Worldwide exchange of goods that began after Columbus “discovered” America in 1492
Items exchanged: food, livestock, disease
o Disease will kill huge numbers of Native Americans