1491

Use this activity to engage all types of learners, while requiring that they refer to and incorporate details from the text over the course of the activity.

“Pre-Columbian Summit”

In this activity, students will choose one pre-Columbian civilization to research, then present that society’s strengths and cultural achievements to the class.

Charles Mann describes the complexities of pre-Columbian Indigenous civilizations, portraying the many cultures as distinct entities. Your task is to research and present the unique aspects of one of these civilizations, focusing on their societal structure, culture, technology, and interactions with the environment. We will hold a “Pre-Columbian Summit” in which you will learn more about the civilizations and have an opportunity to ask questions and make comparisons.

• Choose one civilization described in 1491. Use a variety of scholarly resources along with the text to research that civilization’s characteristics. Some topic categories for your research include government, agriculture, art, and responses to external challenges.
• Prepare a presentation that creatively showcases your civilization’s attributes. Include visual images and brief, bulleted information on your slides or other visual aids.
• On the day of our Pre-Columbian Summit, present your findings.
• After each presentation, we will have a Q&A session. This is your chance to ask other civilizations about their ways of life or make comparisons to your own. Be prepared to answer questions about your own civilization.

After the presentations and discussion, reflect on how this activity affected your understanding of cultural diversity and historical narratives.

Teaching Suggestion: If students are in larger groups, consider including sessions such as “Agricultural Innovations,” “Responses to European Contact,” “Cultural and Religious Practices,” allowing each group to showcase their civilization’s uniqueness in these areas. Each student could be responsible for creating a presentation for their particular session.

Differentiation Suggestion: English learners, students with dyslexia, and those with executive functioning learning differences may benefit from a graphic organizer to help them find information about their assigned civilization. Consider using the research ideas from above as headings in the organizer.

Use these essay questions as writing and critical thinking exercises for all levels of writers, and to build their literary analysis skills by requiring textual references throughout the essay.

Differentiation Suggestion: For English learners or struggling writers, strategies that work well include graphic organizers, sentence frames or starters, group work, or oral responses.

Scaffolded Essay Questions

Student Prompt: Write a short (1-3 paragraph) response using one of the bulleted outlines below. Cite details from the text over the course of your response that serve as examples and support.

1. Indigenous societies in the Americas reshaped their environments long before European contact.

• What methods did indigenous civilizations use to create large-scale environmental changes? (topic sentence)
• Select and analyze 3 specific methods of environmental modification, including agricultural practices, ecological management, and infrastructural development. Discuss both successful and less successful outcomes of these methods, providing examples from different regions or civilizations.
• In your concluding sentences, evaluate the long-term impacts of these practices on both the environment and the civilizations themselves.

2. A common misconception of pre-Columbian civilizations deals with of the perception of the “noble savage.”

• What is the Myth of the “Noble Savage,” and how does it inaccurately represent Indigenous peoples in the Americas? (topic sentence)
• What characteristics does Mann assign to the “noble savage” and how does he disprove them? In your discussion, use 3 examples of specific individuals or groups that Mann uses to contradict this stereotype.
• In your conclusion, reflect on the significance of using factual historical evidence to challenge and change longstanding myths.

Full Essay Assignments

Student Prompt: Write a structured and well-developed essay. Include a thesis statement, at least three main points supported by textual details, and a conclusion.

1. Consider the extent and nature of interactions between pre-Columbian societies in the Americas. In a 3- to 5-paragraph essay, examine both direct and indirect evidence of trade, cultural exchange, and influence. Explore how geographic, technological, and political factors influenced these interactions and assess their impact on the development of distinct cultural identities and societal structures. In your essay, reflect on how this understanding reshapes our perspective of pre-Columbian American history and challenges traditional historical narratives.

2. Charles Mann challenges the traditional narrative of a sparsely populated pre-Columbian North America using archaeological evidence. In a 3- or 5-paragraph essay, analyze how Mann uses this evidence to dispute the long-standing view of population density and its implications. Focus on his interpretation of archaeological findings related to settlements, agricultural developments, and land use. Consider the impact of these revised estimates on our understanding of Indigenous societies, their environmental impact, and the effects of European contact.

Multiple Choice and Long Answer Questions create ideal opportunities for whole-text review, exams, or summative assessments.

Multiple Choice

1. What is the best description of the Inca Empire’s administration?

A) Decentralized and informal

B) Ruled by a council of elders

C) Highly centralized and bureaucratic

D) Lacking a formal government structure

2. What does evidence suggest about the population size of pre-Columbian Americas?

A) It was smaller than previously thought.

B) It was much larger than early historians believed.

C) It remained constant until European contact.

D) It is impossible to estimate accurately.

3. Why is terra preta significant in the study of pre-Columbian societies in the Amazon?

A) It suggests sophisticated agricultural practices and soil management.

B) It is evidence of extensive trade networks.

C) It indicates advanced knowledge of astronomy.

D) It shows the use of advanced construction techniques.

4. What did the spread of maize cultivation lead to?

A) Widespread environmental degradation

B) The collapse of local economies

C) Decreased biodiversity

D) Population growth and urban development

5. What can be inferred about Mann’s perspective on the historical portrayal of Indigenous societies in North America?

A) He views it as largely accurate but incomplete.

B) He agrees with the traditional view of these societies as isolated and primitive.

C) He suggests that these societies were more influenced by European contact than previously thought.

D) He believes it underestimates the complexity and achievements of these societies.

6. Which of the following best paraphrases Mann’s view on pre-Columbian environmental management?

A) Indigenous peoples had little understanding of sustainable practices.

B) Indigenous peoples actively managed the environment, often in sustainable ways.

C) Environmental changes were largely unintended consequences of human actions.

D) The impact of Indigenous peoples on the environment was primarily negative.

7. How does Mann evaluate the strength of the Clovis-first theory in light of new archaeological discoveries?

A) He fully supports it as the only plausible explanation.

B) He acknowledges its validity but suggests it is one of many possibilities.

C) He considers it increasingly untenable due to recent evidence.

D) He strongly refutes it, proposing an entirely different theory.

8. Cahokia is described as a significant example of urban development in pre-Columbian North America. What feature of Cahokia best illustrates this urban character?

A) The construction of Monks Mound

B) The surrounding defensive walls

C) The extensive road network

D) The large central plaza

9. What does archaeological evidence suggest concerning the wheel in pre-Columbian America?

A) There is extensive evidence of wheeled vehicles.

B) No evidence of the wheel has been found in ancient American sites.

C) Evidence is limited to toy models and ceremonial objects.

D) The wheel was prevalent in religious artifacts.

10. What does Mann suggest about the way diseases spread among Indigenous peoples in the Americas?

A) Primarily through direct contact with Europeans

B) Rapidly among communities, even before many saw Europeans

C) Through contact with diseased animals brought by Europeans

D) Slowly due to the isolated nature of many Indigenous communities

11. How was Tisquantum’s role as a mediator shaped by his experience of being a man without a tribe?

A) It made him a neutral party in conflicts between Indigenous peoples and Pilgrims.

B) It caused him to be biased against the Pilgrims.

C) It led him to prioritize the interests of Indigenous groups.

D) It made his role as a mediator less effective.

12. What was the effect of controlled burns on the ecosystems managed by Indigenous peoples?

A) It contributed to the creation of diverse and sustainable ecosystems.

B) It led to the destruction of local flora and fauna.

C) It had little to no impact on the environment.

D) It inadvertently introduced invasive species.

13. How does Mann’s portrayal of various Indigenous civilizations challenge the monolithic view of pre-Columbian American cultures?

A) By showing that all civilizations shared a common language and religion

B) By arguing that differences among these cultures were minimal

C) Through illustrating the vast diversity in social structures, technologies, and beliefs

D) By indicating that all Indigenous societies were at the same stage of development

14. How does the book contrast the technological and cultural advancements of pre-Columbian societies with those of contemporary European societies?

A) It portrays pre-Columbian societies as technologically and culturally superior.

B) It highlights the different but equally sophisticated developments in both regions.

C) It implies that comparisons between the two are not meaningful.

D) It suggests that European societies were far more advanced in every aspect.

15. How does Mann compare Aztec human sacrifice to certain practices in Europe?

A) He suggests they are fundamentally different with no similarities.

B) He equates the religious nature of Aztec sacrifices with European witch hunts.

C) He claims that European practices were more humane and less frequent.

D) He draws parallels between Aztec sacrifices and European public executions.

Long Answer

Compose a response of 2-3 sentences, incorporating textual details to support your response.

1. What is the “vertical archipelago” model used by the Andean civilizations, and why was it significant?

2. What is “Holmberg’s Mistake,” and how does it relate to The Myth of the “Noble Savage”?