Earliest People
What is oral tradition?
Passing stories, history, and knowledge by word of mouth.
What does “extinct” mean?
An animal species that no longer exists.
What marks the start of the Historic Period in Kansas?
When Europeans wrote records about Native American tribes.
Who was the explorer in 1492 that opened European interest in the Americas?
Christopher Columbus.
What does “indigenous” mean?
The original inhabitants of a region.
Name two things the earliest people relied on for survival.
Hunting wild animals (like bison and mammoths) & gathering plants, berries, roots.
Which large animal did early Kansans hunt that no longer exists?
Mammoth.
Which tribes built grass-covered homes and earth lodges?
Wichita and Pawnee.
Which Spanish explorer led an expedition into Kansas searching for Quivira?
Francisco Vázquez de Coronado.
Name one positive and one negative impact of European contact on Native Americans.
Positive: new tools, horses, trade opportunities.
Negative: disease, loss of land, disrupted cultures.
What tool helped hunters throw spears farther?
Atlatl (spear thrower).
What new technology allowed food to be stored for longer periods?
Pottery.
Which tribes built bark and hide homes and held seasonal festivals?
Kansa and Osage.
What was Coronado searching for in Kansas?
The legendary city of Quivira, believed to have gold.
What does “sovereignty” mean for Native American tribes?
The ability to govern themselves.
Why did early Kansans need to adapt their lifestyle?
Climate change at the end of the Ice Age & extinction of large animals like mammoths.
Name two smaller animals early Kansans hunted after the Ice Age.
Deer & rabbits.
Which tribes were nomadic, lived in tipis, and followed buffalo herds?
Cheyenne and Kiowa.
Which European group focused on trading rather than conquering?
The French.
Why did Native Americans become dependent on Europeans?
They relied on European goods like metal tools, guns, and cloth.
What were some benefits of settling in permanent homes?
Growth of villages, more complex societies, farming communities, long-term shelters.
What are two ways fire helped early Kansans?
Cooking food, warmth, and protection.
Why was the buffalo so important to Plains tribes?
Provided food, clothing, shelter (tipis), and tools; every part was used.
What was the name of the French fort built near present-day Kansas City in 1744?
Fort de Cavagnial.
What impact did European diseases have on Native tribes?
Devastating outbreaks killed large portions of the population.