MINSTRY OF NATIONAL EDUCATION

VASILE ALECSANDRI COLLEGIATE

HIGHSCHOOL

PREZENTARE LUCRARE DE
ATESTAT
INDIGENOUS PEOPLES OF THE
AMERICAS
AUTHOR: ALECSANDRU
ANCA-GIORGIANA
COORDINATING
TEACHER: Prof. MANEA
ANCA

The content of the project is structured into 4 chapters focusing on

the evolution of indigenous peoples in Americas. Chapter I presents
their history, from the asiatic migrations, european colonisation and
the extensive colonisation of the North America.

Although signs of human

settlements have been
dated to 30.000 years
ago, according to the
New World migration
model, large groups of
peoples moved into
various geographic
areas of North, Central
and South America.

With the
discovery of
Christopher
Columbus begins
o period of
exploration and
colonisation.

Chapter III presents the indigenous way

of life. Some groups of Pre-Columbian
Americans were hunting-and-gathering
cultures while others were agricultural
peoples.

After the European conquest the indigenous

population was decimated by the effect of
epidemic desease, military conquest and
enslavement.

CHAPTER IV
presents the
indigenous
culture. The
european
exploreres
encountered
the Empires of
Aztecs, Incas
and Mayans,
but these were
the late cultural
heirs of the
Mesoamerican
religion and
culture
appeared as
early as 1000
BC at La Venta
in Mexico.

From La Venta, situated on the Isthmus of

Tehuantepec in Mexico were excavated colossal
heads, stone altars, jewelry, ceremonials objects
of jade and other materials along with the
evidence of Mesoamerican ball game and

In their late manifestation they were

occupied with an enourmous rage of
mythical creatures, deities and other
cosmic forces portrayted through a
variety of artistic representations.

By 1900 only a quarter of million from ten million

indigenous peoples managed to survive. This rapid decline
made native Americans almost invisible in the American
society.