The Early People of North America

How did they come to N. America?It is thought they used the Beringia Land

Bridge, AKA the Bering Straight Land Bridge.

How did they live?Through various subsistence techniques.

Subsistence techniques definition:How societies (groups of people) get food.

What do people need in order to live?FoodShelterWaterAir

Types of Subsistence Systems1. Hunting and Gathering/Hunters and

Gatherers

2. Horticulture/Horticulturalists

3. Pastoralism/Pastoralists

4. Intensive Cultivation/Intensive Agriculturalists

1. Hunters and GatherersDefinition: Hunting wild animals, and

gathering wild plants.Community Size/Population: Can only

support a small number of people.Nomadism/Permanence of Settlements:

Nomadic, meaning they travel around to follow food.

Type of Environment: Any climate or vegetation zone.

Work Specialists: None.

1. Hunters and Gatherers ~Continued~

Government: Informal.Differences in Wealth: Generally None.

2. HorticulturalistsDefinition: The beginnings of harvesting plants,

still some gathering, and relies on hunting. They are the “gardeners.”

Community Size/Population: Small to Medium. Stable food (plants) supply allows for more people.

Nomadism/Permanence of settlements: Semi-Nomadic, meaning they stay in one place, but may leave for another place later on based on animal movements.

Type of Environment: Grasslands, temperate climates.

2. Horticulturalists ~Continued~

Work Specialists: None or few.Government: Some officials – part time.Differences in wealth: Minimal.

3. PastoralistsDefinition: Gather plants and grow a few

plants, but are focused on the raising of animals.Animals: Cattle, horses, sheep, goats.

Community Size/Population: Medium, stable food (animals) supply allows for more people.

Nomadism/Permances of settlements: Semi-Nomadic, meaning they stay in one place, but may leave for another place later on based on animal movements.

Type of Environment: Dry, warm, grasslands.

3. Pastoralists ~Continued~

Work Specialists: Some.Government: Part time officials.Differences in Wealth: Minimal.

4. Intensive AgriculturalistsDefinition: The large scale production of

plants and animals through farming.Community Size/Population: Can support a

large number of people (cities, towns).Nomadism/Permanence of settlements:

Permanent communities. They no longer travel around.

Type of Environment: Grasslands, temperate climates.

Work Specialists: Many.

4. Intensive Agriculturalists ~Continued~

Government: Full-Time government.Differences in Wealth: Considerable.

In Your Own WordsPretend that you belong to one of the

subsistence groups you just learned about. On a full page, write a story about your life in the group of your choice. Where do you live?What do you do on a daily basis? What kind of skills do you have? Do you live an easy life, or a hard life?