Call them Native Americans, American Indians, indigenous peoples,
or first nations — a vast and diverse array of nations,
tribes, and cultures populated every corner of North America long
before Columbus arrived. Native American History For Dummies
reveals what is known about their pre-Columbian history and shows
how their presence, customs, and beliefs influenced everything that
was to follow.
This straightforward guide breaks down their ten-thousand-plus
year history and explores their influence on European settlement of
the continent. You’ll gain fresh insight into the major tribal
nations, their cultures and traditions, warfare and famous battles;
and the lives of such icons as Pocahontas, Sitting Bull and
Sacagawea. You’ll discover:
* How and when the Native American’s ancestors reached the
continent
* How tribes formed and where they migrated
* What North America was like before 1492
* How Native peoples maximized their environment
* Pre-Columbian farmers, fishermen, hunters, and traders
* The impact of Spain and France on the New World
* Great Warriors from Tecumseh to Geronimo
* How Native American cultures differed across the continent
* Native American religions and religious practices
* The stunning impact of disease on American Indian
populations
* Modern movements to reclaim Native identity
* Great museums, books, and films about Native Americans
Packed with fascinating facts about functional and ceremonial
clothing, homes and shelters, boatbuilding, hunting, agriculture,
mythology, intertribal relations, and more, Native American
History For Dummies provides a dazzling and informative
introduction to North America’s first inhabitants.
Jadual kandungan
Introduction 1
Part I: America Before It Was ‘America’ 7
Chapter 1: The Rich, Troubled Past of the American Indian 9
Chapter 2: The Great Migrations 27
Chapter 3: The Development of the Ancient Cultures 41
Chapter 4: Hardly a Vast Wasteland: America before 1492 57
Chapter 5: Settling Down: Tribal Settlements after the Great Migrations 67
Chapter 6: The Five Civilized Tribes 91
Chapter 7: A Tally of Important Tribes 107
Part II: Interacting with Others 125
Chapter 8: ‘Columbus Sailed the Ocean Blue’ 127
Chapter 9: The Spanish and French Stake Their Claims 137
Chapter 10: Native American Chiefs and Notable Women 159
Chapter 11: Battle Cries and Peace Pipes 179
Chapter 12: Delving into the Details of U.S.-Indian Relations 203
Part III: Working for a Living 215
Chapter 13: Mother Love 217
Chapter 14: Dressing for Purpose and Pride 229
Chapter 15: Home, Native Home 243
Chapter 16: Tools and Transportation 253
Part IV: All in the (Native American) Family 267
Chapter 17: Tribes, Clans, and Bands 269
Chapter 18: Native Languages 279
Chapter 19: The Faith of Their Fathers And How Native Americans Worship Today 287
Part V: In a Modern World Not of Their Making 297
Chapter 20: The Slow Dwindling of Native Americans 299
Chapter 21: What’s a Tribe, Who’s an Indian, and What’s the BIA Got to Do With It 309
Chapter 22: Native Americans: Today and Tomorrow 317
Part VI: The Part of Tens 333
Chapter 23: Ten Native American Museums and Cultural Centers 335
Chapter 24: Ten (Plus) Worthy Movies and Documentaries about Native Americans and Their History 339
Index 347
Mengenai Pengarang
Dorothy Lippert, Ph D, a member of the Choctaw nation, is a lecturer on Native American topics and a contributor to American Indian Quarterly.
Stephen J. Spignesi is the coauthor of George Washington’s Leadership Lessons.