Summary Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words - 13

Summary - Assignment Example In the late medieval period, they were believed to have adopted a hunter-gatherer mode of life. It is an important revelation, for everywhere else in the world agriculture and urbanization has already become entrenched. Bison was a great stock prey during the time as the ecology of the Great Plains suited it well. In many of the cave paintings from this period, we can see how bison was an emblematic animal for the entire community. It is important to remember that, despite common features, native American culture is not one monolithic system. The breadth and width of the continent’s landscape, with its varied climates, geographies and ecologies, made adapting to local conditions an imperative. As a result, we see different set of customs and norms being practiced in the Great Basin, Pacific Coast or Eastern Woodlands. Likewise, in contrast to the widespread adoption of hunter-gatherer lifestyle, native Indian cultures of South-western and Woodland Burial Mound regions practiced agriculture. The social organization of these regions was also different, in that they were chiefdoms, with a definite hierarchy among its members. Just as Spanish Conquistadors started trickling into the continent in the late 15th century, the meso-American culture became predominant. This unique culture retained many key traits of the community’s traditions while also including new elements that they were introduced to. It is an unfortunate fact of history that despite the amicable and warm welcome of the conquistadors by native Americans, the former did not reciprocate the hospitality. After having acquainted themselves with the exotic culture of the natives, the conquistadors systematically proceeded to dominate the defenceless natives. Those who had the courage to resist domination and exploitation were ruthlessly rounded up and executed. As a