SS8H1: Early Native American Cultures and European Colonization

     Native American Cultures

     Native Americans were the first people in the land that is now Georgia. Native Americans changed over thousands of years and have developed different tools to help them survive in the changing climate. There are four notable periods of Native American cultures (before European colonization) in the state of Georgia. They are Paleo, Archaic, Woodland, and Mississippian Indians. You can remember this by PAWM: "Paleo Ate Wild Mammoth." Here is some more information on the cultures, as well as European exploration.


Paleo Indians

      The Paleo Indians were the first human civilization to arrive in Georgia. They arrived around 11,000 BC. They are believed to have come through the Bering Strait, a land mass that connected present-day Russia to present-day Alaska. From there they moved southeast and arrived in the land that is now Georgia. The Paleo Indians lived during the Ice Age, a period in which there was colder climate and much more snow. Because of this, there were larger mammals such as mammoths. Being that this is the only food source for the Paleo, they were nomadic, meaning they had to move with the mammoths. They did not have permanent settlements and did not have any agriculture.     The Archaic Indians were also a nomadic tribe that lived from 10,000 to 3,000 years ago. They were the first to specialize in pottery to hold food and other goods. They also were the first to have the atlatl, a device that threw spears. This highly advanced hunting because they could hit animals from a much farther distance. With the atlatl came the bow and arrow, meaning that they could hunt from even farther distances.

Woodland Indians

Atlatl, used by Archaic Indians

      Woodland Indians were the first civilizations in Georgia to not be nomadic. Due to the change in weather, Native Americans didn't hunt for larger game, but instead hunted for smaller animals like rabbits. This meant that they didn't have to move with their food. Along with smaller game, another reason for permanent villages was due to the introduction of farming. Farming meant that they didn't have to waste time on hunting, and time could be spent elsewhere.

Snake mound

     Mississippians were the most advanced Native civilization before the arrival of Europeans. They were the first to have social castes, meaning that each person had a certain thing to do. They also were the first to have maize, which is another word for corn. One of there most remarkable achievements however was the massive temple mounds they built, such as this snake mound to the right.
     European Exploration
     Three countries were in a race to conquer North America for the unlimited amount of goods it offered: France, England, and Spain. They had the hopes that the colonies would be able to provide resources for the country so they wouldn't have to get it from other countries; this is known as mercantilism. Spain was the first to arrive, and had little success in Georgia. France colonized land west of Georgia and made New France. Britain was the most successful in Georgia, but Spain still fought back.

Hernando de Soto

     Hernando de Soto was the first European to explore Georgia. He came from Spain to North America in the 1540's, and was given orders to spread Catholicism to the Native Americans. However, de Soto instead explored the Southeast to look for gold. He was unsuccessful, and was killed by infected swamp water.
     Spain's Catholic missions did not end with the failure of de Soto. Various missions were put on the barrier islands of Georgia so they could be used to assimilate, or change a person's culture, the Native Americans into European culture. It proved to be little success, and Spain abandoned the missions.
     France interfered with Georgia on smaller scale compared to that of Spain and Britain. They mainly focused on the fur that could be found in the area.
     France had the land of Louisiana, Spain had Florida, and Britain had Georgia and north. Britain had most success in the area of Georgia. They would later sign a treaty with Tomochichi giving land so that they could make the colony of Georgia, but that is in the next segment.
                                                             Links:
http://www.georgiaencyclopedia.org/articles/history-archaeology/paleoindian-period-overview