People & Culture
This word names a leader who guided people and made decisions for the village
Chief
What land connected Asia and North America when sea levels were lower?
Beringia
Which is 1 commonly traded item by California Indians?
shells, baskets, or medicines
Who was the first European to explore the coast of Alta California by sea?
Juan Rodríguez Cabrillo
Finish this cause-effect: Earth warmed, and the environment changed → [blank about sea level]
Earth warmed, and the environment changed → sea levels rose (or long ago sea level was lower).
What is the role of a shaman?
Dealt with spirit world; performed ceremonies; healed people.
Mountains and deserts affected how California groups developed. Explain briefly how these features changed where people lived.
Mountains and deserts made travel difficult, causing groups to develop separately.
How did controlled fires help California Indians? Give one clear effect.
Controlled fires cleared undergrowth, made space for food plants, and helped hunting.
Which explorer claimed what is today Point Reyes?
Sir Francis Drake
Which action caused early Californians to adapt to survive: People walked from Asia to North America; Earth warmed and environment changed; or long ago sea level was lower?
Best cause: Earth warmed and the environment changed forced early Californians to adapt.
Name two ways California Indian families were different from typical families today
No formal schools; children learned from parents; grandparents taught skills; marriage customs
Give one reason why California had many different cultural groups instead of one single culture.
Because of varied landscape and resources (coast, valleys, deserts), different groups used different resources and lifestyles.
Name one food the Mojave people farmed in the desert
Mojave farmed corn, beans, and melons.
List two challenges early explorers faced when coming to California.
rough seas and storms, lack of maps, disease, limited supplies.
Explain how planting and cultivating land would change California Indian food supplies.
Cultivating land increased reliable food sources and allowed villages to form; specific example: Mojave farming corn.
Which tribe lived along the coast and is known for fishing a wide variety of seafood and building plank canoes?
Chumash
Describe two ways Californians modified their environment
Controlled fires cleared undergrowth and helped food plants grow; replanting wild plants; cultivating land.
Both hunted deer and gathered foods like acorns.
Put these Cabrillo events in order:
A. sailed north from Mexico
B. ships arrive in San Diego Bay
C. met California Indians
D. Cabrillo dies.
Correct order: 1) Cabrillo sails north from Mexico; 2) ships arrive in San Diego Bay; 3) Cabrillo meets California Indians; 4) Cabrillo dies.
Give two effects of trade between California tribes.
Effects of trade: access to resources not locally available (like shells inland); spread of goods and ideas; strengthened alliances.
Explain one cultural practice (besides hunting or gathering) that helped keep traditions alive — give a specific example from the chapter
Elders taught crafts like basket weaving, this helped pass on traditions and skills.
Complete the sequence: Long ago, the sea level was lower → [blank] → People walked from Asia to North America. (Fill the middle cause/effect.)
Long ago, the sea level was lower → Asia and North America were connected by land → People walked from Asia to North America
Explain how basket weaving or another craft shows the importance of learning from older generations. Use an example.
Basket weaving taught by elders passes down techniques and cultural stories; students should reference elder teaching.
Choose one explorer (Cabrillo, Cortés, or Vizcaíno). Explain why they traveled along California’s coast and one important thing they did.
Example: Vizcaíno (1602) traveled to map the coast and look for ports; he explored as far north as Mendocino and helped map bays and harbors.
How did California Indians live before Europeans arrived?
Supported conclusion: California Indians were well adapted, had abundant food, and no diseases