Tuesday, May 21, 2013
FROM NOMAD TO FARMER
Many historians and scientists believe that the earliest people inNorth America may have traveled here from the continent of Asia many thousands of years ago. At that time, Earth was experiencing an Ice Age. Much of the water that separates the northern parts of Asia and North America would have been frozen at the time. It may have formed an ice bridge that people were able to walk across. Perhaps they were hunters following their food. Perhaps they were adventurous and wanted to explore. We do not know for sure. Their migration to North America, however, may make them the ancestors of the people we call Native Americans.
We do know that the earliest North Americans were nomads. They traveled from place to place instead of settling in one place. Eventually, these nomads began to establish permanent settlements. They had already learned to gather plants growing in the wild. After a time, theybegan to learn about agriculture. Agriculture is raising plants and animals for human use. With more reliable sources for food, they didn’t need to move around so much.
As they began to look for more permanent homes, they paid attention to the resources of specifi c locations. They wanted to live near water sources, such as streams or rivers. This helped ensure that they could water their crops and take care of the water needs of humans and animals. It’s not surprising, then, to discover that most early villages were located very close to water sources.
People moved around less often than before. However, they were still slowly migrating to other areas. Every time a group or tribe moved into a different natural environment they had to adapt to the climate and resources of that area. The clothing they wore, the kind of houses they built and even the kind of food that they ate depended upon the region in which they lived. Over time, four major cultural regions developed in North America: the Eastern Woodlands, the Great Plains, the Pacific Northwest, and the Desert Southwest.
We do know that the earliest North Americans were nomads. They traveled from place to place instead of settling in one place. Eventually, these nomads began to establish permanent settlements. They had already learned to gather plants growing in the wild. After a time, theybegan to learn about agriculture. Agriculture is raising plants and animals for human use. With more reliable sources for food, they didn’t need to move around so much.
As they began to look for more permanent homes, they paid attention to the resources of specifi c locations. They wanted to live near water sources, such as streams or rivers. This helped ensure that they could water their crops and take care of the water needs of humans and animals. It’s not surprising, then, to discover that most early villages were located very close to water sources.
People moved around less often than before. However, they were still slowly migrating to other areas. Every time a group or tribe moved into a different natural environment they had to adapt to the climate and resources of that area. The clothing they wore, the kind of houses they built and even the kind of food that they ate depended upon the region in which they lived. Over time, four major cultural regions developed in North America: the Eastern Woodlands, the Great Plains, the Pacific Northwest, and the Desert Southwest.
