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Early America

Early America. Beginnings - 1800. The Native Americans. Europeans arrive in Western hemisphere in 1490s – land already home to hundreds of Native American peoples Some groups had complex societies (great cities, large-scale farming, elaborate record keeping)

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Early America

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  1. Early America Beginnings - 1800

  2. The Native Americans • Europeans arrive in Western hemisphere in 1490s – land already home to hundreds of Native American peoples • Some groups had complex societies (great cities, large-scale farming, elaborate record keeping) • Other groups lived in portable dwellings and passed on knowledge through oral tradition

  3. European Contact • 1400 – growth of trade between Europe and Asia and advances in shipbuilding and navigation lead to European exploration • Christopher Columbus – first of four voyages from Spain to the Americas in 1492 • Leads to exploration, conquest, and eventual settlement • Good news / bad news…?

  4. The Cycle of Life • Saw animals, plants, and forces of nature as part of a great sacred cycle of life – must be treated with deep respect • Pocahontas... • Sought contact with spirits believed to inhabit all living things

  5. Owning the Land • No one person could OWN land – belonged in common to ALL • This concept countered that of the Europeans. • What did the Europeans believe about land ownership? • What conflicts did these opposing views cause?

  6. A Legacy of Stories • Oral traditions amongst Native Americans began about 40 thousand years ago as humans crossed from Asia to Alaska • Unique cultures and languages developed as populations migrated • Led to thousands of languages and cultures, each with their own stories and mythology • Stories varied and evolved over time, and myth and reality often merged

  7. Creation Myths • A myth is an anonymous, traditional story that explains a natural phenomenon, an aspect of human behavior, or a mystery of the universe. • A creation myth tells how the world and human beings came to exist. • Origin myths tell how natural phenomena, such as the stars, moon, and mountains, came to be or why a society has certain beliefs and customs.

  8. Archetypes • An archetype is a symbol, story pattern, or character type that is found in the literature of many cultures. • Example – children born of the same parents but who have opposite qualities • Can you think of any examples of common archetypes? (Think heroes and villains, good vs. evil, etc.)

  9. Tricksters • The trickster in Native American literature is another archetype. They frequently appear as animals (coyotes, ravens, a mink, etc.) that speak and display other human traits and has two sides to its personality. • Rebels who defy authority and cause trouble • Clever and creative figures who can also reveal wisdom

  10. The Function of Myths • Emphasize a strong spiritual bond between the Creator, humanity, and the entire natural world • Many Native American cultures believed that each family group descended from a specific animal or other natural object, called the totem.

  11. Exit Slip • In your opinion, what is the most vital role of mythology in a culture? • How do Native American myths express a dual view of reality? • What archetype do the myths of many cultures throughout the entire world have in common? Choose 2 of 3…

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