South America is home to Indians.

American Indians

Native Americans. "Indian" was founded by Italian navigator C. Columbus at the end of 15. He mistook America for India, so he mistook Native Americans for "Indians". Translators translate them into "Indians" in order to distinguish them from real Indians. Indians, including many nationalities and tribes, are distributed in North and South America. It belongs to the American branch of Mongolian race. The skin is yellowish brown, the hair is thick and straight, the face is flat, and the eyes range from yellowish to brown. The use of Indian languages, including more than a dozen language families, has not been recognized as a language classification so far. Some Indian languages are written, while others become one of the official languages of the host country (such as Quechua, Aymara and Guarani). Initially believed in animism (see primitive religion), shamanism, totem worship, patron saint worship, sun worship and star worship prevailed. At present, it is generally accepted that the religious beliefs in the host country are mostly Christian (mainly Catholicism in Central and South America and Christianity in North America).

General researchers believe that the ancestors of Indians migrated from Asia to America 20,000 to 30,000 years ago, and most of them entered North America from Northeast Asia through the Bering Strait, and then gradually spread to the south. A small part may reach the west coast of South America from the South Pacific Islands in a relatively recent period. When Columbus arrived, India had a population of 20 million. /kloc-Since the 6th century, it has been invaded and massacred by European colonists, and its population has dropped sharply. It rebounded in the 20th century, and now there are about 30 million people (1978), including all kinds of mixed-race, most of whom are distributed in Central and South America.

Before colonial rule, Indians were generally in different stages of clan commune system. Some tribes are dominated by matriarchal clans (see matriarchal clan system) (such as Iroquois, Hopi and Amazon tribes), some tribes form paternal clans (tribes in northwest and southwest North America and many tribes in South America), while Aztecs, Mayans and Incas transformed from clan society to class society and established early countries.

In terms of geographical distribution and cultural development, Indians around16th century can be divided into 10 regions: ① fishing and hunting areas on the northwest coast of North America (including Wachter, Haida, Vacash, salehi, etc. ) .② Gathering, hunting and fishing areas in California. (3) Deer hunting and fishing areas in Alaska and present-day northern Canada (some tribes in Arjuna and Atapascal). (4) settled agricultural areas in the eastern United States (Iroquois, Musco, East Algonquin). (5) Grassland buffalo hunting areas (Sioux, Dakota, Mandan, Arapaho, Cheyenne, Kadoorie, Wichita, Boni, etc.). ) .⑥ Irrigated agricultural areas in the southwestern United States (Pueblo people, Pima people, etc. The farming systems in Central America and the Andes are divided into slash-and-burn (Maya), irrigated agriculture (Aztecs) and terrace agriculture (ancient Peruvians). The region has developed agriculture since ancient times, including animal husbandry and metallurgical industry, and highly developed Mayan culture and Inca culture. It has had a far-reaching impact in Central and South America. (8) Hunting and gathering areas in Amazon River Basin, Orinoco River Basin and Brazilian Plateau (Arawak, Caribbean, Tupiguarani and Tez) in South America. Pet-name ruby camel hunting areas in pampas and Patagonia Plateau. Attend Tierra del Fuego parties, fishing and hunting areas (including Ona people, Yamana people, and Mrs. Alakalu).

Indians have made outstanding contributions to world culture. They first grow corn, potatoes, sunflowers, cassava, cocoa, tobacco, cotton and other crops. Secondly, the creation of art, especially the art of Andes Indians, embodies their inherent myths and rich oral legends, and shows their rich imagination and meticulous observation of life. Its handicrafts include wood carving, weaving, weaving, feather decoration, embroidery and pottery making. The unique Indian art is still the foundation of the development of modern American art. There are many kinds of traditional houses: open sheds, bunkers, shacks, conical tents, wooden houses, houses built of stones or adobe, wooden "longhouses" and so on.

/kloc-Since the 6th century, with the invasion of European colonists, the natural development of Indians has been changed. Most Indians in North America were wiped out by colonists, and the survivors were forced to live on reservations. Most Indians in Central and South America became serfs and were in a semi-feudal state dependent on white farmers and ranchers. Only a few Indians in the dense forests of the Amazon River still live a traditional life. Indians in Latin American countries are an important part of the modern nationalities (Mexicans, Guatemalans, Paraguayans and Peruvians) in their countries. The vast majority of modern Indians are white, black and other hybrids, and few Indians are pure blood. Some people can speak English or Spanish. Generally living in poverty, the cultural level is far from that of whites, and their social status is low. They are restricted by race in education, occupation and residence, and most of them are engaged in manual labor, working in farms, pastures and mines. With the development of industrialization in various countries, Indians are increasingly entering large and medium-sized cities to make a living. A class of highly educated intellectuals emerged, and they began to organize their own political and cultural groups, fighting for the right to life, opposing racial discrimination, and paying more and more attention to preserving Indian cultural traditions. The Pan-Indian Movement flourished.