Shatavia’s Blog: August 2019

Native Americans were greatly affected by the European colonization of the americas. Their population declined due to war, diseases, slavery, and territorial issues. Yaqui and Pimas struggled to get water and fertile land, while the Southwest had scarce resources. In the southeast European colonization was delayed until the 17th century because of the lack of minerals. The eastern Woodlands major groups are the Algonquian, the Iroquois, and the Muskogean. They lived in small bands from one to three hundred members and would move around several times a year. They lived in wigwams made of bent saplings covered with birchmark with one to two families. They would break into small bands and go hunting and fishing, Algonquians would plant crops as well.Native Americans have cultivated plants for food,dyes,medicines, and textiles; domesticated animals; established extensive patterns of trade; and built cities. The Mayans of Mexico have been the first to use the zero in mathematics. They also learned to grow many of the foods we eat today. Potatoes,beans,corn,peanuts,pumpkins,tomatoes,squash,peppers,nuts,melons, and sunflower seeds. Many activities that we play today come from native Americans. Example, canoeing,lacrosse,relay racing, and tug of wars. Native Americans also communicated with sign language. Hand signals were used to facilitate trade between different tribal groups.