Life for Native Americans before and after European arrival

Summary

Before European contact, the Cherokee inhabited river-side villages, sustaining themselves through agriculture, primarily corn, beans, and squash, and supplemented by hunting and fishing. They lived in round winter houses and rectangular summer houses. Post-European arrival, their society was drastically altered by slave raids, warfare, and diseases, leading to a two-thirds population loss within 20-25 years. Despite this, they fared better than most tribes, which faced a 90-95% decline within a century, significantly impacting their social structure and survival.

Takeaways

• 🏡 Prior to European contact, Cherokee lived in villages along major rivers, housing 100 to 600 people each.
• 🌾 The Cherokee were primarily agricultural, cultivating corn, beans, and squash, and supplementing with hunting and fishing.
• 🏠 Their dwellings consisted of round winter houses and rectangular summer houses, with additional structures for storage.
• 🌟 The Cherokee society was profoundly impacted by the arrival of Europeans, leading to significant societal changes.
• 😷 European arrival brought diseases that caused a drastic reduction in the Cherokee population, losing two-thirds in 20-25 years.
• 📉 In comparison to other tribes, the Cherokee fared relatively better, though still experiencing severe population decline.
• 🌐 The overall American Indian population is estimated to have declined by 90-95% within a century due to European contact.
• 👥 The loss of such a significant portion of the population would have resulted in the loss of key societal roles, including leaders, elders, and healers.
• 🌿 The decline would have also impacted the knowledge of local flora and fauna, affecting the Cherokee's ability to sustain themselves.
• 🔄 The societal structure and survival strategies of the Cherokee were irrevocably altered by the drastic population loss and new challenges.

Q & A

Where did the Cherokee people live before the arrival of Europeans?

The Cherokee lived in villages along the major rivers.

What was the typical population size of a Cherokee village?

A typical village would have 100 to 600 people.

What were the main agricultural crops cultivated by the Cherokee?

The Cherokee farmed corn, beans, and squash.

Besides agriculture, what other activities did the Cherokee engage in to sustain themselves?

They supplemented their farming with hunting deer and elk, gathering wild foods, and fishing.

What was the typical housing arrangement for the Cherokee during the winter months?

The Cherokee lived in round winter houses during the cold months.

How did the Cherokee's housing arrangement differ during the summer months?

In the summer, they lived in rectangular summer houses that were more open-sided to keep the rain off.

What changes did the arrival of Europeans bring to the Cherokee's way of life?

The arrival of Europeans brought slave raids, war fighting, and especially diseases, which radically changed their way of life.

What was the estimated population loss for the Cherokee within a 20-25 year period after the Europeans' arrival?

It's estimated that the Cherokee lost two thirds of their population within 20-25 years.

How did the Cherokee's population loss compare to the overall American Indian population loss?

The Cherokee fared better than most tribes, as it's estimated that 90-95% of the overall American Indian population was wiped out in 100 years.

What are some of the societal impacts of losing two thirds of the Cherokee population?

Such a loss would likely result in the loss of political leaders, elders, healers, and knowledge about plants, significantly changing how the society functions and survives.

How did the loss of population affect the Cherokee's knowledge and survival skills?

The loss of a significant portion of their population could lead to the loss of traditional knowledge, including the understanding of which plants to eat and other survival skills.