Native American History For Dummies

Call them Native Americans, American Indians, indigenous peoples, or first nations — a vast and diverse array of nations, tribes, and cultures populated every corner of North America long before Columbus arrived. Native American History For Dummies reveals what is known about their pre-Columbian history and shows how their presence, customs, and beliefs influenced everything that was to follow. This straightforward guide breaks down their ten-thousand-plus year history and explores their influence on European settlement of the continent. You'll gain fresh insight into the major tribal nations, their cultures and traditions, warfare and famous battles; and the lives of such icons as Pocahontas, Sitting Bull and Sacagawea. You'll discover: How and when the Native American's ancestors reached the continent How tribes formed and where they migrated What North America was like before 1492 How Native peoples maximized their environment Pre-Columbian farmers, fishermen, hunters, and traders The impact of Spain and France on the New World Great Warriors from Tecumseh to Geronimo How Native American cultures differed across the continent Native American religions and religious practices The stunning impact of disease on American Indian populations Modern movements to reclaim Native identity Great museums, books, and films about Native Americans Packed with fascinating facts about functional and ceremonial clothing, homes and shelters, boatbuilding, hunting, agriculture, mythology, intertribal relations, and more, Native American History For Dummies provides a dazzling and informative introduction to North America's first inhabitants.

Table of Contents:
Introduction 1 Part I: America Before It Was “America” 7 Chapter 1: The Rich, Troubled Past of the American Indian 9 Chapter 2: The Great Migrations 27 Chapter 3: The Development of the Ancient Cultures 41 Chapter 4: Hardly a Vast Wasteland: America before 1492 57 Chapter 5: Settling Down: Tribal Settlements after the Great Migrations 67 Chapter 6: The Five Civilized Tribes 91 Chapter 7: A Tally of Important Tribes 107 Part II: Interacting with Others 125 Chapter 8: “Columbus Sailed the Ocean Blue” 127 Chapter 9: The Spanish and French Stake Their Claims 137 Chapter 10: Native American Chiefs and Notable Women 159 Chapter 11: Battle Cries and Peace Pipes 179 Chapter 12: Delving into the Details of U.S.-Indian Relations 203 Part III: Working for a Living 215 Chapter 13: Mother Love 217 Chapter 14: Dressing for Purpose and Pride 229 Chapter 15: Home, Native Home 243 Chapter 16: Tools and Transportation 253 Part IV: All in the (Native American) Family 267 Chapter 17: Tribes, Clans, and Bands 269 Chapter 18: Native Languages 279 Chapter 19: The Faith of Their Fathers And How Native Americans Worship Today 287 Part V: In a Modern World Not of Their Making 297 Chapter 20: The Slow Dwindling of Native Americans 299 Chapter 21: What’s a Tribe, Who’s an Indian, and What’s the BIA Got to Do With It 309 Chapter 22: Native Americans: Today and Tomorrow 317 Part VI: The Part of Tens 333 Chapter 23: Ten Native American Museums and Cultural Centers 335 Chapter 24: Ten (Plus) Worthy Movies and Documentaries about Native Americans and Their History 339 Index 347

About the Author :
Dorothy Lippert, PhD, a member of the Choctaw nation, is a lecturer on Native American topics and a contributor to American Indian Quarterly. Stephen J. Spignesi is the coauthor of George Washington's Leadership Lessons.