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Montana History
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Montana
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Early History
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Apart from the brief visit of the Scandinavians in the early
eleventh century, the Western Hemisphere remained unknown to Europe until Columbus's voyage in
1492. However, the native peoples of North and South America arrived from Asia long before, in a
series of migrations that began perhaps as early as forty thousand years ago across the land
bridge that connected Siberia and Alaska.
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Montana Early History
First Early Inhabitants of Montana
Early history examines the archaeological record that tells the story of the first inhabitants of Montana. Learn about the history and culture of the first inhabitants, and what lessons it might teach us about the early history of Montana.
Montana First Early Inhabitants
- 80,000,000- 60,000,000 B.C. - Dinosaurs die off in Montana.
- 2,000,000-20,000 B.C. - Series of glacial ice sheets cover portions of Montana.
- 15,000-13,000 B.C. - Asiatic people migrate over land bridge to Montana.
- 8,000-6,500 B.C. - Prehistoric people develop communal hunting techniques in Montana.
- 6,500 B.C.-1,500 A.D. - Prehistoric people populate all areas of Montana.
The first inhabitants of the area now known as Montana were nomadic people who followed the mammoth and the buffalo and gathered plants. Although some tribal people believe their ancestors have lived in the northern Rocky Mountain region since the world began, archaeologists believe the first inhabitants crossed the Bering Strait from Asia around 12,000 years ago. There is evidence of a thriving culture living west of the Rocky Mountains as early as 9,000 years ago.
Before the white settlers arrived, two groups of Indian tribes lived in the region that is now Montana. The Arapaho, Assiniboine, Atsina, Blackfeet, Cheyenne, and Crow tribes lived on the plains. The mountains in the west were the home of the Bannack, Flathead, Kalispell, Kootenai, and Shoshone tribes. Other nearby tribes (such as the Sioux, Mandan, and Nez Perce) hunted in the Montana region. When the first white traders came west, there may have been as many as 15,000 people belonging to the Blackfeet Nation living in this area.
Each of these tribal cultures worshipped all sources of life and believed the earth was sacred. Their contact with white traders and the introduction of guns and horses into these societies changed them forever and made them dependent upon trade for their existence. Their use of horses for hunting made them much more efficient in killing the bison upon which they lived, but may also have led to the near extinction of these animals.
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US History
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Understanding history is empowering. An incident is but the furthest
ripple of an ever-expanding wave that may have started eddying outward hundreds of years ago. One
who has "insight" in history is able to harness the power of that wave's entire journey.
United States of America has an early history beginning
sometime prior to 15,000 years ago, as well as the past 200 years or so of rich and proud
history, which is relatively short compared to other countries and nations. From
Independence to the Civil War to the World Wars to the Cold War, we have a lot of things to
tell and things to be proud of.
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