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