Lesson 1 Commentary: The Native Americans—Summary

Summary

When the Europeans arrived in the Americas, the natives lacked many things. Most had no written language, they had not developed the wheel, and their only beasts of burden were the dog, the llama, and their women. However, some groups had developed good roads, architectural forms, and impressive artwork. The Mayas even had libraries and an accurate calendar. Another noteworthy achievement was the natives' extensive trade system extending from the Great Lakes to Central America.

The governments in Central and South America were led by religious leaders who were harsh with the people. They had complete control of their lives, so when the Spanish came and enslaved the leader or killed him, the empire collapsed. The natives did not realize they should band together against the invader, but instead hoped to get Spanish help against their enemies. While stopping the Spanish in the 1400s would not have stopped the movement west from Europe, it might have delayed it.