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