Early Peoples and Indian Civilizations

Who were the first people of Illinois? How did they get here? How did they live? Most anthropologists believe the original inhabitants of the United States arrived approximately 15,000 years ago by crossing what was once a land bridge from Siberia to Alaska. (Today the landmasses do not touch because of geologic changes. The Bering Sea separates the two areas.)

These prehistoric Indians, known as the Paleo culture, traveled south and eventually settled in Illinois and other areas. They were nomadic and led a simple existence that revolved around a great respect for nature. They hunted large animals, such as woolly mammoths and mastodons, for food and clothing. Around 7,000 B.C., these animals became extinct, possibly because of a change in climate, or because of hunting by the prehistoric Indians.

With the extinction of these large mammals, a new culture of Indians evolved. This culture, known as the Archaic Indians, hunted smaller animals such as antelope and buffalo. They also gathered seeds, berries and other fruit to eat. The Mound Builders culture, or Woodland Indians, developed in Illinois around 500 B.C. They lived together in groups and began farming the land. They began making pottery and using bows and arrows for hunting. These Indians built burial mounds for their dead.

Prior to the arrival of Europeans in North America, Native Americans had developed intricate civilizations of their own. Many Indian nations coexisted in North America, although disputes sometimes arose over territory and hunting grounds. During the 1500's, a loose confederation of Indians called the Illiniwek were the dominant tribes in Illinois. Illiniwek meant "the men" or "the people" in the Indians' native tongue. The Illiniwek included the Cahokia, Michigamea, Moingwena, Peoria, Tamaroa and Kaskaskia tribes. The Illiniwek hunted the plentiful herds of buffalo that lived on the Great Plains.

Their large villages were meeting places for trade and social activities among the different tribes. These villages were located mainly in river valleys because of the rich soil conducive to agriculture. The Illiniwek grew maize, pumpkins and squash. After planting their crops in the spring, the Illiniwek usually left for hunting villages and returned in the fall for the harvest.

Additional Resources

Study Guide Questions

1. What was the first prehistoric culture to develop in Illinois? What happened to this culture?
2. Describe the cultures of the Mississippian Indians. How did they live? What did they eat? What type of social structure did they have?
3. Name two sites from the Mississippian Culture that can be found in Illinois today.
4. What was the relationship among the tribes of the Illiniwek confederation?
5. Describe the culture of the Illiniwek Indians.

Vocabulary

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