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NATIVE AMERICAN CULTURES
- Introduction
The America that greeted the first Europeans was, thus, far
from an empty wilderness. It is now thought that as many people
lived in the Western Hemisphere as in Western Europe at that
time -- about 40 million.
Estimates of the number of Native Americans living in what is
now the United States at the onset of European colonization
range from two to 18 million, with most historians tending toward
the lower figure. What is certain is the devastating effect
that European disease had on the indigenous population practically
from the time of initial contact. Smallpox, in particular, ravaged
whole communities and is thought to have been a much more direct
cause of the precipitous decline in Indian population in the
1600s than the numerous wars and skirmishes with European settlers.
Indian customs and culture at the time were extraordinarily
diverse, as could be expected, given the expanse of the land
and the many different environments to which they had adapted.
Some generalizations, however, are possible.
Most tribes, particularly in the wooded eastern region and the
Midwest, combined aspects of hunting, gathering and the cultivation
of maize and other products for their food supplies. In many
cases, the women were responsible for farming and the distribution
of food, while the men hunted and participated in war.
By all accounts, Indian society in North America was closely
tied to the land. Identification with nature and the elements
was integral to religious beliefs. Indian life was essentially
clan-oriented and communal, with children allowed more freedom
and tolerance than was the European custom of the day.
Although some North American tribes developed a type of hieroglyphics
to preserve certain texts, Indian culture was primarily oral,
with a high value placed on the recounting of tales and dreams.
Clearly, there was a good deal of trade among various groups
and strong evidence exists that neighboring tribes maintained
extensive and formal relations -- both friendly and hostile
Islanders of Tristan da Cunha
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