We are independent & ad-supported. We may earn a commission for purchases made through our links.
WiseGeek

Advertiser Disclosure

Our website is an independent, advertising-supported platform. We provide our content free of charge to our readers, and to keep it that way, we rely on revenue generated through advertisements and affiliate partnerships. This means that when you click on certain links on our site and make a purchase, we may earn a commission. Learn more.

How We Make Money

We sustain our operations through affiliate commissions and advertising. If you click on an affiliate link and make a purchase, we may receive a commission from the merchant at no additional cost to you. We also display advertisements on our website, which help generate revenue to support our work and keep our content free for readers. Our editorial team operates independently from our advertising and affiliate partnerships to ensure that our content remains unbiased and focused on providing you with the best information and recommendations based on thorough research and honest evaluations. To remain transparent, we’ve provided a list of our current affiliate partners here.
Culture

Who are the Pueblo Indians?

By Jessica Hobby
Updated May 17, 2024
Our promise to you
WiseGeek is dedicated to creating trustworthy, high-quality content that always prioritizes transparency, integrity, and inclusivity above all else. Our ensure that our content creation and review process includes rigorous fact-checking, evidence-based, and continual updates to ensure accuracy and reliability.

Our Promise to you

Founded in 2002, our company has been a trusted resource for readers seeking informative and engaging content. Our dedication to quality remains unwavering—and will never change. We follow a strict editorial policy, ensuring that our content is authored by highly qualified professionals and edited by subject matter experts. This guarantees that everything we publish is objective, accurate, and trustworthy.

Over the years, we've refined our approach to cover a wide range of topics, providing readers with reliable and practical advice to enhance their knowledge and skills. That's why millions of readers turn to us each year. Join us in celebrating the joy of learning, guided by standards you can trust.

Editorial Standards

At WiseGeek, we are committed to creating content that you can trust. Our editorial process is designed to ensure that every piece of content we publish is accurate, reliable, and informative.

Our team of experienced writers and editors follows a strict set of guidelines to ensure the highest quality content. We conduct thorough research, fact-check all information, and rely on credible sources to back up our claims. Our content is reviewed by subject matter experts to ensure accuracy and clarity.

We believe in transparency and maintain editorial independence from our advertisers. Our team does not receive direct compensation from advertisers, allowing us to create unbiased content that prioritizes your interests.

The Pueblo Indians are Native Americans who live in the Southwestern corner of the United States. They are named for the dwellings they are famous for constructing, called pueblos. Pueblos are multi-story, apartment type buildings that are constructed from natural material such as adobe mud and stone. The homes in the pueblo were built around a plaza, which had a central chamber used for religious purposes. Each pueblo was an independent community with its own chief.

The majority of modern day Pueblo Indian communities are located in New Mexico, but at one time they also occupied large portions of Arizona, Colorado and Utah. The Pueblo Indians are descendant from three major civilizations that include Mogollon, Hohokam and Puebloan peoples. These prehistoric indigenous civilizations first appeared in the year 1200 B.C., with the first permanent villages appearing in 500 A.D.

During the height of their civilization, Pueblo Indians not only hunted, but began to grow vegetables such as maize, squash and beans. They also raised turkeys and developed irrigation systems to aid in their agricultural pursuits. As the Pueblos continued to utilize their irrigation systems, they began to grow tobacco and cotton. Additionally, the Pueblo Indians are well known for their handmade arts, crafts, clothing and jewelry, which are adorned with turquoise, shells, feathers and animal furs.

By the year 1600 A.D., the Spanish had forced the Ancient Puebloans to abandon their communities and force their religion underground. The Spanish conquered and re-conquered the Puebloans during the 1600s, built missions near pueblos and forced Christianity on the Native Americans. In 1680, the Pueblos rose to take back their land from the Spanish; the returned and repossessed the area in 1692.

When Mexico gained its independence from Spain in 1821, Pueblo Indians began to revolt. In 1847, the Taos Pueblo Indians revolted against the new American government, who retaliated by storming their pueblo and killing more than 150 Indians. After the revolt, the United States government executed 16 Indians for their role in the uprising.

Currently, there are 19 pueblos still inhabited by Pueblo Indians in New Mexico. Most of the pueblos are open to the public, who may visit to attend meetings and ceremonies. Each community has its own laws and etiquette for people to familiarize themselves with prior to visiting.

WiseGeek is dedicated to providing accurate and trustworthy information. We carefully select reputable sources and employ a rigorous fact-checking process to maintain the highest standards. To learn more about our commitment to accuracy, read our editorial process.
See our Editorial Process Share Feedback

Related Articles

Discussion Comments

WiseGeek, in your inbox

Our latest articles, guides, and more, delivered daily.

WiseGeek, in your inbox

Our latest articles, guides, and more, delivered daily.