Day 36: Native American Civilizations Before 1492

Before European contact, millions of Indigenous people thrived across North America, forming diverse and advanced civilizations. Estimates suggest 50 to 100 million people lived in the Americas, with highly developed cultures, governance systems, and innovations that shaped the land for thousands of years.

Way of Life
Native nations adapted to their environments, developing unique societies:
The Great Plains: Nomadic nations like the Lakota depended on the buffalo for food, shelter, and clothing.
The Eastern Woodlands: The Iroquois Confederacy created one of the earliest democratic systems.
The Southwest: The Ancestral Puebloans built multi-story adobe homes and engineered irrigation systems.
The Pacific Northwest: Coastal nations like the Haida and Tlingit thrived on fishing, whaling, and totemic art.

Major Innovations & Contributions
Agriculture: Indigenous farmers cultivated maize, beans, and squash ("Three Sisters"), which fed millions and influenced global diets.
Architecture: Cities like Cahokia (modern Illinois) had complex infrastructure, with massive earthwork mounds.
Governance: The Iroquois Confederacy’s democratic principles inspired aspects of the U.S. Constitution.
Medicine & Knowledge: Indigenous herbal remedies and ecological knowledge have influenced modern medicine.

What Happened When Europeans Arrived?
In 1492, European explorers arrived, marking the beginning of colonization, disease, and displacement for Native peoples. With the introduction of foreign diseases like smallpox, Native populations suffered catastrophic losses. Colonizers seized land, disrupted traditional ways of life, and attempted to erase Indigenous cultures through forced assimilation policies. Despite centuries of oppression, Native American nations remain resilient, preserving their languages, traditions, and sovereignty.