Long before immigrants from other continents traveled to North America, Native Americans called it home. They were the first inhabitants (people who live somewhere) of the area we now call The United States. If you think about American history as a book, Native Americans would surely make up the first chapter.
But how were the Native Americans already in North America when everybody else had to risk long trips at Sea, through stormy waters, to reach North America? Scientists and Historians had asked themselves this very question for a long time. Finally, a theory was developed. This theory is called the Land Bridge Theory. This theory was developed in 1590 by José de Acosta, but was not accepted until the 1930's! Acosta proposed that the first people to populate North America were believed to have migrated across the Bering Land Bridge while hunting large animal herds after the Ice Age. The Bering Land Bridge connected Siberia ( the most Northern part of Russia) and Alaska in North America. According to the theory, the first Americans accidentally ended up in North America due to their lifestyle of hunting! Below are images of José de Acosta and the Bering Land Bridge (http://ows.edb.utexas.edu/site/hight-kreitman/land-bridge-theory).
But how were the Native Americans already in North America when everybody else had to risk long trips at Sea, through stormy waters, to reach North America? Scientists and Historians had asked themselves this very question for a long time. Finally, a theory was developed. This theory is called the Land Bridge Theory. This theory was developed in 1590 by José de Acosta, but was not accepted until the 1930's! Acosta proposed that the first people to populate North America were believed to have migrated across the Bering Land Bridge while hunting large animal herds after the Ice Age. The Bering Land Bridge connected Siberia ( the most Northern part of Russia) and Alaska in North America. According to the theory, the first Americans accidentally ended up in North America due to their lifestyle of hunting! Below are images of José de Acosta and the Bering Land Bridge (http://ows.edb.utexas.edu/site/hight-kreitman/land-bridge-theory).
According to the theory, once these hunters from Siberia entered North America by crossing the Bering Land Bridge, they continued to follow herds of the animals they hunted, ending up in all different parts of North America! They became the first Americans, which led to their name of Native Americans. Native Americans are sometimes called "Indians." The name "Indian" began with Christopher Columbus, who called the people he found in the lands he explored “Indians” because he thought he was in the Indies (near China).
Eventually, after thousands and thousands of years, North America was made up of many Native American tribes. In the warmer climate of North America, the Native Americans learned how to farm and no longer had to constantly follow the animals which they hunted. Of the thousands of tribes in North America, several formed in present day Virginia. These tribes spoke three particular languages; Algonquian, Siouan, and Iroquoian. These Native American language groups will be the topic of our study. Below is a picture that shows all the Native American tribes that once existed in North America.
Eventually, after thousands and thousands of years, North America was made up of many Native American tribes. In the warmer climate of North America, the Native Americans learned how to farm and no longer had to constantly follow the animals which they hunted. Of the thousands of tribes in North America, several formed in present day Virginia. These tribes spoke three particular languages; Algonquian, Siouan, and Iroquoian. These Native American language groups will be the topic of our study. Below is a picture that shows all the Native American tribes that once existed in North America.
Check out these videos which will give you an even better understanding of the Land Bridge Theory!
Activity:
Imagine you are a Siberian hunter thousands of years ago. You are one of the hunters who ends up crossing the land bridge. What do you see, hear, feel, taste? Write a story describing your journey.