Indigenous Agricultural Practices Quiz

Questions and Answers

What are the 'Three Sisters' crops?

Corn, squash, and beans (correct)

Potatoes, tomatoes, and peppers

Wheat, rice, and barley

Oats, rye, and millet

What region did the Mesoamericans inhabit?

Modern-day Mexico and Central America

What does 'shifting cultivation' entail?

Cutting forest, burning undergrowth, and planting seeds in nutrient rich ashes

What group is described as the 'Eastern Woodlands'?

Forest dwelling Native American group Signup and view all the answers

What impact did agriculture have on society?

Enabled social change and population growth Signup and view all the answers

How were kinship relations formed among Native Americans?

Mostly matrilineal Signup and view all the answers

What is the significance of Chaco Canyon?

An important ancient Anasazi Indian center in New Mexico Signup and view all the answers

What was Cahokia known for?

A Mississippian settlement near present-day East St. Louis Signup and view all the answers

What does the term 'sachem' refer to?

Native American leader Signup and view all the answers

What was the role of the Pacific Northwest Indians?

Relied heavily on salmon Signup and view all the answers

What is a potlatch?

A gift-giving ceremony accompanied by an elaborate feast Signup and view all the answers

Who was Lief Ericson?

The first person to reach North America, 500 years before Columbus Signup and view all the answers

What was the Hundred Years War?

A series of battles fought between France and England from 1337 to 1453 Signup and view all the answers

Who was Prince Henry the Navigator?

Prince of Portugal who established an observatory and directed voyages Signup and view all the answers

What is an astrolabe?

An instrument used to determine latitude by measuring the position of the stars Signup and view all the answers

What is a caravel?

A small, highly maneuverable three-masted ship Signup and view all the answers

What impact did the sugar crop have?

Brought about the establishment of the first great Atlantic plantations Signup and view all the answers

Who was Christopher Columbus?

An Italian navigator who discovered the New World Signup and view all the answers

What diseases impacted Native Americans?

Smallpox, typhus, influenza, measles Signup and view all the answers

Who were the Arawaks?

The first Native Americans Columbus saw on the Bahama Islands Signup and view all the answers

What is ecomienda?

A Spanish system that allowed colonists to demand labor from Native Americans Signup and view all the answers

What civilization is known for having advanced from 1500 B.C. to 900 A.D.?

Mayans Signup and view all the answers

Who were the Aztecs?

Also known as Mexica, they created a powerful empire in central Mexico Signup and view all the answers

What are chinampas?

Floating farming islands made by the Aztecs Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

Indigenous Agricultural Practices

Three Sisters: Refers to the triad of crops—corn, squash, and beans—cultivated by Eastern Woodlands tribes, forming a sustainable agricultural practice.
Shifting Cultivation: Agricultural method involving cutting forests, burning undergrowth, and planting seeds in nutrient-dense ashes, particularly effective in hard-to-farm areas.

Native American Societies

Eastern Woodlands: Tribes that established permanent agricultural practices, developed hand tools, cultivated medicinal plants, and lived in small settlements with kin-based organization.
Shared Traits Among Native Americans: Strong kinship systems, typically matrilineal descent, a holistic view of nature, and non-permanent land use rights.

Notable Civilizations

Mesoamericans: Inhabited regions of present-day Mexico and Central America, with maize as a staple crop.
Chaco Canyon: An ancient Anasazi center with advanced agriculture and extensive trade, supporting up to 15,000 inhabitants but eventually collapsing due to ecological challenges.
Cahokia: A Mississippian settlement that grew rapidly to 25,000 people, known for a clan-based system and eventual decline from warfare and internal strife.

Historical Figures and Events

Lief Ericson: Recognized as the first European to reach North America, predating Columbus by five centuries.
Prince Henry the Navigator: Portuguese prince who significantly advanced navigation and exploration in the 15th century, enhancing Portugal's colonial ventures.
Christopher Columbus: Italian navigator who, seeking a route to Asia, stumbled upon the New World in 1492, leading to significant interactions with Indigenous peoples.

Technological Innovations

Astrolabe: A navigational instrument for determining latitude by measuring star positions.
Caravel: A three-masted ship, known for its maneuverability and capacity, favored by explorers like the Portuguese and Spanish during the Age of Exploration.

Economic Developments

Sugar Plantations: Required a tropical climate and led to the establishment of large Atlantic plantations, prompting the importation of African slaves.
Ecomienda System: A Spanish system permitting colonists to compel Native Americans into labor, reflecting exploitative colonial practices.

Impacts of European Contact

Diseases: Smallpox, typhus, influenza, and measles devastated Native American populations after European arrival.
Arawaks: The initial Indigenous group Columbus encountered in the Bahamas, who suffered severe declines due to violence, enslavement, and disease.

Great Civilizations of the Americas

Mayans: Flourished from 1500 B.C. to 900 A.D., known for architecture, mathematics, written language, and complex socio-political structures.
Aztecs (Mexica): Established a vast empire in central Mexico between 1325-1521 C.E., utilizing forced labor and tribute from conquered groups.
Chinampas: Ingenious floating farming islands devised by the Aztecs to enhance agricultural output and maintain sustenance.

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Description

Explore the agricultural methods and societal structures of Indigenous cultures, focusing on techniques like the Three Sisters and shifting cultivation. This quiz covers aspects of Eastern Woodlands tribes, Mesoamerican civilizations, and the shared traits among Native American societies.