1. Maize: Maize is a domesticated grass plant bred to produce large grains, first domesticated by the native people of Mexico almost 10,000 years ago.
2. American southwest: Natives that dwelled in stationary villages that used agriculture as a source of food. Included tribes such as the Apache, Hopi, Navajo, Pueblo, and Zuni.
3. Irrigation, settlement, and diversification among societies: Societies throughout the Americas lived distinct lifestyles. Those in the southwest utilized irrigation to supplement agriculture which allowed for large cities and settlements to develop, while those in the Great Plains developed migrant lifestyles, following herds of buffalo for food and survival.
4. Great Basin and Great Plains: Arid and open grasslands, in which dwelling tribes developed mobile lifestyles in order to survive.
5. Mississippi River Valley: The location of Native American empires that relied on the cultivation of crops, such as squash and maize, as well as trade for the sustainment of their societies. Technological advancements varied among societies, but were all relatively sophisticated. …show more content…
Prior to the arrival of Columbus, the indigenous peoples of the Americas lived in relatively small societies based on hunter gathering, agriculture or both. Domesticated work animals such as horses were not present, which did not allow for great advancements to society. Upon the arrival of Columbus, the prominent civilizations of the continent were no longer those of the indigenous people, but instead those of the technologically advanced settlers, who utilized domesticated animals, advanced agriculture and technologies to transform life on the continent to one of large cities that we see today. The arrival of Columbus was a turning point in American history because it allowed for the events that lead to the creation of contemporary America to take