One of the clearest distinctions among Native Americans is between the natives of North America vs. the natives of South America. In North America, though certain groups like the Hopi, Zuni, and Mound Builders formed large cities (Foner, 6), and some other groups had at least semi-permanent settlements, these were nothing to compare with the immense civilizations of South America. The largest Native American community North America was the city of Cahokia, which reached between 10,000 and 30,000 inhabitants around the year 1200 (Foner, 6). In contrast, the Aztec capital in modern-day Mexico, Tenochtitlán, reached around 250,000 citizens (Foner, 4). While natives in the South were building complex government systems, sophisticated road systems,
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In North America, Native Americans held a belief that everything - animals, plants, water, stones - contained a spirit. This belief, called animism, led Native Americans to practice many elaborate rituals and ceremonies to communicate with animals they hunted, bless their crops, or drive out illness (Foner, 8). Often, certain members of a tribe were considered to be spiritual leaders, and would guide the community in rituals and help maintain community identity (Foner, 8-9). Native Americans also had similar attitudes toward gender roles, though some particular habits differed. Generally, women were expected to have families and children. However, they freely engaged in sexual relationships before marriage, could freely divorce, and had identities independent from that of their husband. Indeed, children would often follow the family lineage of their mother. Though men generally held positions of political power, women (especially elders) had a great deal of influence on who held those positions. Men and women generally shared labor, with women often working on agriculture or gathering plants while men mostly hunted (Foner,
In North America, Native Americans held a belief that everything - animals, plants, water, stones - contained a spirit. This belief, called animism, led Native Americans to practice many elaborate rituals and ceremonies to communicate with animals they hunted, bless their crops, or drive out illness (Foner, 8). Often, certain members of a tribe were considered to be spiritual leaders, and would guide the community in rituals and help maintain community identity (Foner, 8-9). Native Americans also had similar attitudes toward gender roles, though some particular habits differed. Generally, women were expected to have families and children. However, they freely engaged in sexual relationships before marriage, could freely divorce, and had identities independent from that of their husband. Indeed, children would often follow the family lineage of their mother. Though men generally held positions of political power, women (especially elders) had a great deal of influence on who held those positions. Men and women generally shared labor, with women often working on agriculture or gathering plants while men mostly hunted (Foner,