fear that their world will come to an end. Their dire
prophesies will come true with the arrival of Span-
ish conquistadores in their realm (see entries for
1502, 1519, and 1521).
ca. 1450 to 1500The Navajo (Dineh) and Apache arrive in
the Southwest.
Originally living in what is now southwestern
Canada, the ancestors of the Navajo (Dineh) and
Apache tribes migrate for reasons unknown to what
is now the American Southwest. There, initially
they remain hunters and gatherers who move from
place to place in search of wild animals and plants.
Their way of life contrasts with that of their new
Pueblo neighbors—the descendants of the Ana-
sazi (see entry for CA. 750 TO 1400)—who live in
villages and obtain most of their food through farm-
ing. The first contacts between the newcomers and
the Pueblo were likely hostile, with the Navajo and
Apache raiding Pueblo villages for food and sup-
plies. Some groups, however, may have developed a
peaceful relationship based on trade.
By the 17th century, increased contact and
intermarriage with the Pueblo will create a hybrid
culture among the Navajo that blends their old
ways with Pueblo farming techniques, ceremonies,
and customs. The Apache, in contrast, will remain
a mobile people with a culture focused on hunting,
gathering, and raiding.ca. 1450 to 1500