Early People of Texas Review

True or False: The Coahuiltecan lived along the Red River in East Texas.

• True

• False

Which new Native American technology was related to the cooking and storage of food?

• adobe

• atiatl

• pottery

• agave

The areas that are now West Texas and Southwest Texas were home to peoples of the Puebloan culture. The Puebloan culture was marked by settled village life with homes made of adobe, a mix of sun-dried earth and straw. Trees were scarce in the dry southwestern area where these peoples lived, making it difficult to build homes out of wood. However, since there was little rain, the homes lasted many years.

What does this excerpt explain about the Puebloan culture?

• People of the Puebloan culture lived in adobe houses because wood was scarce.

• People of the Puebloan culture lived in nomadic camps.

• People of the Puebloan culture were scattered throughout Texas.

• People of the Puebloan culture lived where there were few animals to hunt.

Many of these Native American groups had similarities. Most lived in small units called bands. . . . Most Native American groups believed that spirits caused natural events. . . . The various Native American groups had differences, too. Peoples such as the Caddo, Karankawa, and Jumano had their own cultures, or ways of life shared by people with similar beliefs and customs. Each group spoke its own language. They organized their bands differently, and they interacted with other groups differently. Some were peaceful, but some were warlike. While many lived in permanent communities, others moved frequently from one site to another.

According to this excerpt, what was one difference among the early people in Texas?

• They had very different spiritual beliefs.

• Some lived in bands and others lived in isolation.

• The Caddo and Karankawa shared the same culture, but the Jumano did not.

• Some settled in villages and others were nomadic.

True or False: The Pueblos lived in adobe houses whereas the Plains peoples lived in portable tepees made of tanned bison hides.

• True

• False

What happened to the Jumano as a result of the movement of the Apache into Texas?

• They lost their land and trade relationships.

• They moved to the Comancheria and farmed.

• They died rapidly from disease and warfare.

• Their group merged with the Apaches.

What action did the Karankawa take as the seasons changed?

• They switched between fishing and hunting.

• They grew a different variety of crops.

• They moved between the barrier islands and more inland areas.

• They joined different bands with different chiefs.

The geography of Texas helped to shape some of these differences. Texas is a large area with varied landforms and climate zones. Each of Texas’s regions has its own plant and animal resources. Native Americans used the plant and animal resources available to them in the region in which they lived. Thus, their ways of life differed.

Based on the excerpt, which of the following statements about Texas geography is accurate?

• Different parts of the state have different landforms, climate, plants, and animals.

• Climate and landforms are similar throughout the state, but plants and animals vary.

• The entire state has the same landforms, climate, plants, and animals.

• Texas geography had little impact on Native Americans’ ways of life.

Archaeologists also use artifacts to figure out where people came from and moved to. They have seen similarities between stone tools used in Asia and in the Americas in ancient times. They have also found physical similarities between some Asian peoples and Native Americans. This evidence points to Asia as the original home of the first Americans.

According to this excerpt, what do artifacts found by archaeologists suggest?

• Native Americans have physical similarities

• Native Americans moved from America to Asia.

• Native Americans initially came from Asia.

• Native Americans used only stone tools.

Most Native American groups believed that spirits caused natural events such as rain, fire, the change of seasons, and the flow of water in streams and rivers. According to Native American beliefs, these spirit beings walked Earth and interacted with human beings. Sometimes they helped people, but they were also known to cause harm.

According to the excerpt, what did Native Americans believe about the nature of spirits?

• They were not always kind.

• They were people because they walked.

• Their actions never caused bad things to happen.

• They did not communicate with people.