Changes

When talking about Indian cultures, keep in mind that the Indians in what is now the United States were a diverse selection of cultures, which included [[nomads]] from the Great Plains in the Midwest, more settled colonies in the West, and quasi-governmental systems with formal treaties among the Eastern tribes.  Most tribes did not have a formal monetary systems, but the Cherokee and the Iroquois Nations did have business transactions.  None of the tribes of the North American continent had any formal writing systems. The Indians did introduce [[tobacco]] and [[corn]] to Europeans, and they became widely popular back in Europe.  Europeans also brought new things to the Indians, such as horses and guns.

When talking about Indian cultures, keep in mind that the Indians in what is now the United States were a diverse selection of cultures, which included [[nomads]] from the Great Plains in the Midwest, more settled colonies in the West, and quasi-governmental systems with formal treaties among the Eastern tribes.  Most tribes did not have a formal monetary systems, but the Cherokee and the Iroquois Nations did have business transactions.  None of the tribes of the North American continent had any formal writing systems. The Indians did introduce [[tobacco]] and [[corn]] to Europeans, and they became widely popular back in Europe.  Europeans also brought new things to the Indians, such as horses and guns.

A claim that first began in the 20th century is that a Vinland colony, established around A.D. 1000 by the Viking [[Leif Ericson]], was on the island now known as [[Newfoundland]], in the far east of Canada.  There is limited physical evidence of the colony and it is not known what eventually happened to it. The colony, if it did exist, did not last long, and there is no sign of any Viking colony in what is now the United States.<ref>"People have been looking hard for hundreds of years and there is no archaeological evidence in this part [New England]— it's certainly possible, the Vikings were incredible boat handlers — '''but there is no evidence'''," observed one university history professor.[http://farshores.org/a04viki.htm]</ref>.

Modern historians claim that the Viking [[Leif Ericson]] established a "Vinland" colony around A.D. 1000 on the island now known as [[Newfoundland]], in the far east of Canada.  There is limited physical evidence of the colony and it is not known what eventually happened to it. The colony, if it did exist, did not last long, and there is no sign of any Viking colony in what is now the United States.<ref>"People have been looking hard for hundreds of years and there is no archaeological evidence in this part [New England]— it's certainly possible, the Vikings were incredible boat handlers — '''but there is no evidence'''," observed one university history professor.[http://farshores.org/a04viki.htm]</ref>

'''Exam note''': there are no more than a few questions about the Pre-Columbian (prior to Christopher Columbus) period on any American history exam.

'''Exam note''': there are no more than a few questions about the Pre-Columbian (prior to Christopher Columbus) period on any American history exam.

'''Questions: when do you think Native Americans first settled North America?  Do you think the Vikings had a colony in Newfoundland?'''

'''Questions: when do you think Native Americans first settled North America?  Do you think the Vikings really had a colony in Newfoundland, and why might one be skeptical about this claim?'''

== Exploration (Columbian Period) ==

== Exploration (Columbian Period) ==