US History

U.S. History Study Guide

1.9 Tribes of the Northeast The tribes of this region at the time of European contact can be organized into two languages Iroquois and Algonquians. The Iroquois formed an alliance, the Iroquois Confederation. The Iroquois Confederation consisted of five tribes (Oneida, Onondaga, Cayuga, Mohawk, and Seneca). These five nations bore common linguistic and cultural characteristics, and they formed the alliance to protect themselves and to deliberate on mutual issues. 1.10 Explorers Before Columbus Five hundred years before Columbus, the Vikings came to North America and established a small settlement on the tip of modern day Newfoundland. The Vikings, under the leadership of Leif Eriksson, remained there for ten years. At first, the Vikings were very pleased with the discovery; they found abundant raw materials, such as grapes, and referred to this new land as Vinland or "land of wine". Their short stay was a result of conflicts with the Native Americans, due to the overwhelming Native American numbers, the Viking left for good. Some historians say the Americas were visited by explorers from China, and possibly by visitors from Africa. Another legend suggests a band of Irish monks led by Saint Brendan sailed in the 500s A.D. and reported that they had discovered a new land. Some people think this might have been the Newfoundland. Leif Erikson's settlement is a proven fact, due to the overwhelming amount of physical evidence, unlike other cases which lack credibility in most mainstream historical circles and are dismissed purely as legend.

©2018

Achieve

Page 16

of 194