"The land is very fertile and produces many trees. . . . The Indians sow corn, beans, and squash in their fields, which they clear from the forest. They also gather wild berries and nuts, and they hunt deer and turkey in the woods, and fish in the rivers. Because they rely on both farming and hunting, they live in large, permanent villages. . . ."
—Adapted from a French explorer’s account of the St. Lawrence River valley, 1535
Which of the following environmental adaptations of indigenous societies in the Northeast is best described in the excerpt?
- AThe reliance on forced labor under the Spanish encomienda system to produce agricultural surpluses.
- BThe adoption of a highly mobile lifestyle based on following migratory herds of large game.
- The development of permanent villages supported by a mix of agriculture, hunting, and gathering.Answer
- DThe cultivation of European grain crops such as wheat using domesticated horses.
Answer
The development of permanent villages supported by a mix of agriculture, hunting, and gathering
The correct answer is correct because the excerpt details how indigenous societies in the Northeast combined agricultural cultivation of maize, beans, and squash with foraging, hunting, and fishing, which allowed them to maintain stable, permanent village settlements in the forested environment.
Step-by-Step Solution
Key Concept
Northeast indigenous societies adapted to their forested environment by developing mixed agricultural and hunter-gatherer economies that supported permanent villages.