"The Indigenous peoples of the Americas are the original inhabitants of the Western Hemisphere..."
Exploring the history of the land and its native peoples before colonization or the arrival of European settlers.
Archaeology: The study of human history and prehistory through the excavation and analysis of artifacts, structures, and other physical remains.
Anthropology: The study of human societies, cultures, and behavior, often including examination of prehistoric groups.
Paleontology: The study of fossils and ancient life forms.
Geology: The study of the earth's physical structure, properties, and processes, including the study of rock formations and the earth's geological history.
Climate and Environment: The study of how natural factors such as climate, geography, and ecology have impacted human history and ancient cultures.
Linguistics: The study of language and its evolution over time, often used in the study of prehistoric peoples and their cultural and social practices.
Sociology: The study of human social behavior and the evolution of societies, often applied to the study of prehistoric groups and indigenous peoples.
Ethnography: The study of cultural practices and perspectives of specific societies or cultural groups.
History and Historiography: The study of past events, including political, economic, and social conditions, often used to understand the evolution of indigenous cultures and societies.
Mythology and Folklore: The study of traditional beliefs, stories, and practices of particular groups or cultures, often used to understand prehistoric cultures and their belief systems.
Art and Architecture: The study of ancient artistic and architectural practices, often used to understand the cultural and social practices of prehistoric groups.
Religion and Spirituality: The study of religious and spiritual practices and traditions among indigenous peoples, including their beliefs and rituals.
Health and Medicine: The study of traditional healing practices and medical knowledge among indigenous groups.
Gender Studies: The study of gender identities, roles, and expressions in different cultures and societies, often used to understand prehistoric cultural practices.
Agriculture and Food Systems: The study of agricultural practices and food systems among indigenous people, including the biodiversity of crops and food systems that sustained their communities.
Paleolithic People: The earliest known humans who lived during the stone age, around 2.6 million years ago until around 10,000 BCE. They are known for their hunting and gathering lifestyle and for developing basic tools.
Mesolithic People: The transitional phase between the Paleolithic and Neolithic periods. They are best known for developing agriculture, animal domestication, and pottery.
Neolithic People: The period when humans transitioned from hunter-gatherer to a more settled lifestyle. They are known for developing farming, cities, and various forms of art.
Bronze Age People: A period marked by the use of bronze, which replaced stone as the primary material for tools and weapons. They are best known for their metallurgy, pottery, and early forms of writing.
Iron Age People: A period marked by the widespread use of iron, which allowed for more durable and efficient tools and weapons. They are best known for their advancements in agriculture, trade, and social organization.
Indigenous Peoples: Various groups of people who lived in a particular area before the arrival of external groups such as colonial powers. They are known for their distinct cultures, languages, and traditions, some of which are still practiced today.
Aboriginal Peoples: Indigenous people of Australia and its surrounding islands. They are known for their spirituality, Dreamtime stories, and unique culture.
Native Americans: Indigenous people of North, Central, and South America. They are known for their diverse cultures and languages, as well as their resilience in the face of colonization and forced relocation.
Maori: Indigenous people of New Zealand. They are known for their rich culture, including their haka dance, ta moko (traditional tattoos), and their traditional greeting, the hongi.
Inuits: Indigenous people of the Arctic regions of Canada, Greenland, and Alaska. They are known for their resilience in harsh environments, their unique language and culture, and their ability to live in complete harmony with their environment.
"...and have occupied the Americas since prior to European colonization of the Americas."
"They are a diverse group of peoples, with a wide range of cultures, languages, and ways of life."
"Some Indigenous peoples in the Americas have historically been hunter-gatherers, while others traditionally practice agriculture and aquaculture."
"In the Amazon basin in present-day South America, some Indigenous peoples still live as hunter-gatherers..."
"...while those in other regions may maintain their traditional lifestyles to a lesser extent."
"In some regions, Indigenous peoples have created pre-contact monumental architecture, large-scale organized cities, city-states, chiefdoms, states, kingdoms, republics, confederacies, and empires."
"These societies have had varying degrees of knowledge of engineering, architecture, mathematics, astronomy, writing, physics, medicine, planting and irrigation, geology, mining, metallurgy, sculpture, and goldsmithing."
"...some countries have sizable populations, especially Bolivia, Canada, Chile, Ecuador, Guatemala, Mexico, Peru, and the United States."
"At least a thousand different Indigenous languages are spoken in the Americas..."
"...where there are also 574 federally recognized tribes in the United States alone."
"Several of these languages are recognized as official by several governments such as those in Bolivia, Peru, Paraguay, and Greenland."
"Some, such as Quechua, Arawak, Aymara, Guaraní, Mayan, and Nahuatl, count their speakers in the millions."
"...many also maintain additional aspects of their cultural practices to varying degrees, including religion, social organization, and subsistence practices."
"Like most cultures, over time, cultures specific to many Indigenous peoples have also evolved, preserving traditional customs but also adjusting to meet modern needs."
"Some Indigenous peoples still live in relative isolation from Western culture..."
"...and a few are still counted as uncontacted peoples."
"...especially Bolivia, Canada, Chile, Ecuador, Guatemala, Mexico, Peru, and the United States."
"They are a diverse group of peoples, with a wide range of cultures, languages, and ways of life."
"Some Indigenous peoples in the Americas have historically been hunter-gatherers, while others traditionally practice agriculture and aquaculture."