Life for Native Americans before and after European arrival

GPB Education

20 Dec 201901:30

Summary

TLDRBefore 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.

Outlines

00:00

🏡 Cherokee Life Before European Arrival

Before the Europeans arrived, the Cherokee people lived in villages along major rivers, with populations ranging from 100 to 600. They were primarily agricultural, cultivating corn, beans, and squash, and supplementing their diet with hunting, gathering, and fishing. Their dwellings consisted of round winter houses for cold months and rectangular summer houses with open sides for ventilation. The Cherokee society was significantly disrupted by the arrival of Europeans, who brought diseases, warfare, and slave raids, leading to an estimated two-thirds population loss within 20-25 years. Despite this, they fared better than most tribes, which faced a 90-95% population decline within a century. Such a drastic population reduction led to the loss of political leaders, elders, healers, and knowledge of plant usage, fundamentally altering their way of life.

Mindmap

Keywords

💡Cherokee

The Cherokee are a Native American people historically living in the Southeastern Woodlands of the United States, particularly in areas that are now Georgia, North Carolina, and Tennessee. In the video script, the Cherokee are described as living in villages along major rivers and being primarily agricultural, farming corns, beans, and squash. Their way of life is central to the video's theme, illustrating the pre-European contact lifestyle and how it was disrupted.

💡Agriculture

Agriculture refers to the practice of cultivating plants and animals to produce food, fiber, and other products. In the context of the video, the Cherokee's agricultural society is highlighted as the basis of their lifestyle, with farming being a key component of their culture before the arrival of Europeans. The script mentions corns, beans, and squash as staple crops, indicating the importance of agriculture in sustaining their communities.

💡Village

A village is a clustered human settlement smaller than a town and larger than a hamlet. The script describes Cherokee villages along major rivers, typically housing 100 to 600 people. These villages were the social and economic hubs of Cherokee society, where communal living and farming practices were central to their way of life.

💡Hunting

Hunting is the practice of pursuing, tracking, and capturing or killing wild animals for food, recreation, or trade. In the script, hunting deer and elk is mentioned as a way the Cherokee supplemented their agricultural diet. This activity was crucial for the survival of the tribe, providing additional protein and resources beyond what was grown in their fields.

💡Wild Foods

Wild foods are edible plants and animals that are not cultivated or raised in a controlled environment. The script notes that the Cherokee gathered wild foods as part of their subsistence strategy. This practice would have included foraging for berries, nuts, and other edible plants, which were integral to their diet and cultural practices.

💡Fishing

Fishing is the activity of catching fish from bodies of water. The script mentions fishing as another way the Cherokee supplemented their diet. Living along major rivers, they would have had access to a variety of fish species, which were an important source of protein and nutrients.

💡Winter House

A winter house refers to a type of dwelling designed to provide warmth and protection during colder months. The script describes the Cherokee's round winter houses, which were likely insulated and compact to retain heat. This architectural choice reflects the adaptation of the Cherokee to their environment and the importance of shelter in maintaining their community's health and survival.

💡Summer House

A summer house is a type of dwelling that is more open and designed to provide ventilation and comfort during warmer months. The script contrasts the round winter houses with the rectangular summer houses, which were more open-sided to allow for air circulation. This dual housing system showcases the Cherokee's adaptation to seasonal changes and their understanding of environmental needs.

💡Europeans

Europeans, in this context, refers to the people from Europe who arrived in the Americas, beginning in the late 15th century. The script discusses the profound impact of European arrival on the Cherokee and other Native American tribes, including slave raids, warfare, and the introduction of diseases that led to significant population decline.

💡Diseases

Diseases, in the context of the video, refer to the illnesses that were introduced to the Cherokee and other Native American populations by Europeans. The script estimates that diseases, along with slave raids and warfare, caused the Cherokee to lose two-thirds of their population within 20-25 years. The introduction of new diseases to which the Cherokee had no immunity had a devastating effect on their society.

💡Population Decline

Population decline refers to a reduction in the number of individuals in a population over time. The script highlights the drastic population decline among the Cherokee and other American Indian tribes due to European contact. This decline had profound social and cultural implications, as it led to the loss of political leaders, elders, healers, and knowledge holders, fundamentally altering the structure and survival strategies of these societies.

Highlights

Cherokee lived in villages along major rivers before European arrival.

Typical Cherokee village had 100 to 600 people.

Agriculture was the basis of Cherokee society.

Cherokee cultivated corns, beans, and squash.

Hunting deer and elk, gathering wild foods, and fishing supplemented farming.

Cherokee lived in round winter houses and rectangular summer houses.

Out buildings were used for storage in Cherokee villages.

European arrival brought radical changes to Cherokee way of life.

Cherokee population reduced by two thirds in 20-25 years due to slave raids, wars, and diseases.

American Indian population as a whole declined by 90-95% in 100 years.

Loss of population led to the loss of political leaders, elders, and healers.

Knowledge of plant usage for sustenance was significantly diminished.

Survival methods of Cherokee were drastically altered post-European contact.

Cherokee fared better than most tribes in terms of population loss.

The drastic reduction in population impacted Cherokee society's structure and knowledge base.

The Cherokee's way of life was not only agricultural but also included hunting and fishing.

The arrival of Europeans introduced new challenges and threats to the Cherokee.