European And Non-European Culture In The 1500s And 1600s

In Europe, the lifestyle and culture are different compared to the Indians. Europeans aren’t welcomed like how the Arawaks welcomed Columbus’s arrival. The Arawaks believed in making the guest feel like they’re at home and that their possessions should be shared. An example of this would be how they

When Europeans encountered the Native Americans, the encounter was fraught with difficulties for both sides, for the Native Americans more so than the Europeans. Europeans conquered the Native Americans, forced them into labor, and spread diseases which the Native Americans had no resistance to. In addition to this the Europeans considered themselves superior to the Native Americans. Despite this, the Europeans and Native Americans, both had things the other wanted and so they often engaged in trade with each other. However, the Native Americans thought that, despite not having the luxuries the Europeans had, they were better off than the Europeans. This sentiment is exemplified in “Your People Live Only Upon Cod” by French priest Chrestian LeClerq who was traveling with the Micmac Indians. It is a documented response by an unknown Micmac leader to European, particularly French, claims of superiority. In analyzing this document, we will find that the cultures of the French and the Micmac were vastly different. We will also discover what the Micmac and the French thought of each other.

Much of European criticism of Native American was based on differences in religion, land use, and gender relations. Most Europeans reasoned that Indians needed to be converted to the “true religion” of Christianity (Give Me Liberty, 11). In fact, Verrazano concluded that the Indians had “no religion or laws” (Voices of Freedom, 10). The Europeans did not understand the Indians’ use of the land and thus justified overtaking it, reasoning that they did not truly “use” it. Some Europeans criticized gender relations, claiming that women lacked freedom due to their work in the fields (Give me Liberty, 12-13). Others, like Verrazano, criticized the Indians for having “absolute freedom” in which they did not abide to any laws due to ignorance (Voices of Freedom, 10). Regardless of

Throughout the course of history there have been numerous accounts regarding Native American and European interaction. From first contact to Indian removal, the interaction was somewhat of a roller coaster ride, leading from times of peace to mini wars and rebellions staged by the Native American tribes. The first part of this essay will briefly discuss the pre-Columbian Indian civilizations in North America and provide simple awareness of their cultures, while the second part of this essay will explore all major Native American contact leading up to, and through, the American Revolution while emphasizing the impact of Spanish, French, and English explorers and colonies on Native American culture and vice versa. The third, and final, part of this essay will explore Native American interaction after the American Revolution with emphasis on westward expansion and the Jacksonian Era leading into Indian removal. Furthermore, this essay will attempt to provide insight into aspects of Native American/European interaction that are often ignored such as: gender relations between European men and Native American women, slavery and captivity of native peoples, trade between Native Americans and European colonists, and the effects of religion on Native American tribes.

During the 16th and 17th centuries, when the Europeans started to come over to the new world, they discovered a society of Indians that was strikingly different to their own. To understand how different, one must first compare and contrast some of the very important differences between them, such as how the Europeans considered the Indians to be extremely primitive and basic, while, considering themselves civilized. The Europeans considered that they were model societies, and they thought that the Indians society and culture should be changed to be very similar to their own.

During the 16th and 17th centuries, when the Europeans started to come over to the new world, they discovered a society of Indians that was strikingly different to their own. To understand how different, one must first compare and contrast some of the very important differences between them, such as how the Europeans considered the Indians to be extremely primitive and basic, while, considering themselves civilized. The Europeans considered that they were model societies, and they thought that the Indians society and culture should be changed to be very similar to their own.

For almost as long as European settlers have interacted with the native peoples of the Americas, they have had a notion: what many call ‘assimilation’. To Europeans, assimilation of native peoples meant for their culture, which they believed to be superior, to be accepted over time by the natives. And as they grew more and more European in language, religion, customs, organization, morals, and behavior, they would slowly shed off all of their old culture which the European culture would be replacing. The Europeans believed this process was for the best for the natives and that they would be happier living ‘civilized’ lives as opposed to practicing their own traditions.

In 1492, Christopher Columbus sailed west and found himself on the shores of a new world. His mission was to secure new land for Spain. Other European countries heard of his findings, they too crossed the ocean in hopes of securing new opportunities in this newly discovered land such as fur trading and gold mining. Little did they know that a community of indigenous people had already settled in this land thousands of years before. The Europeans decided to negotiate with the natives in order to set up their own communities in the land but the Native Americans held beliefs about society and religion that were far different from their European peers. Europeans thought the Indians to be “Noble Savages, gentle and friendly, but uncivilized, brutal, and barbaric” (citation). They could not see past their own

In the earlier years, Europeans were deeply influenced by the lifestyles of the non-Europeans. Europeans, when taking the non-Europeans hostages would study their behaviors, and hope to improve themselves by taking on the acts of the non-Europeans. During the 1760’s, Europeans respect for the non-Europeans behaviors was portrayed by William Smith when he described how the families and friends of the Native American hostages would come to visit and shed tears while bringing them food and personal items. The Europeans were deeply influenced by the actions and qualities of the non-Europeans, Smith even stated, “Cruel and unmerciful as they are, by habit and long example in war, yet whenever they come to give way to the native dictates of humanity, they exercise virtues which Christians need not blush to

Closely followed by Columbus’ “discovery” of the New World in 1492 were the establishments of European colonies with the French primarily in the north and down the Mississippi, and with the British along the east coast. As a result, the Native Americans’ lives changed drastically. Before 1750, in terms of economically, French responded mutually in terms of economy, culturally befriended them and in terms of religion, responded benignly by encouraging Catholicism through missionaries and on were on the best terms with the Natives; the British by contrast, economically

The Europeans, therefore, described the indigenous people as savage, polytheistic pagans and heathens, who were doomed to damnation for the worship of animals and nature. The Europeans, within their understanding of the will of God, believed it their duty and their responsibility to teach these indigenous people the “correct” way to live, and were determined to impose their own religion upon the indigenous people by enforcing the worship of the God of the Christian Bible through any means deemed necessary, including slavery, coercion, and the threat of, or actual maiming or death. Europeans chose to dismiss the religious and cultural practices of the indigenous peoples because the indigenous peoples did not engage in scheduled worship services as the Europeans did, or call their deities by the names that the Europeans used, nor did the indigenous peoples perform their worship ceremonies in the same manner as the Europeans.

The Europeans migrants travel to colonize the Americans impacting the world and attempting to improve the Americas with their systems from Europe. Neo-Europeans attempted to institute the old systems and way into the new colonies. Colonies such as New France was formed, there neo-Europeans attempts from France wanted to keeps its systems and ways. The trading post of Quebec was formed these Europeans worked among the Native Americans to sell these furs. The French priests originally spend their times attempting to convert the Hurons into Catholics. Mostly jesuit priests moved throughout Natives communities mastering their languages and learning their values. They were welcomed by the communities but when Natives continued to die from disease

The most interesting thing about the Middle Ages is the fact that it was mainly religious pieces that were made during this time. This occurred due to famine, plague and war. This led people to rely on their music to comfort them. By listening to composers music, like Guillaume’s piece “Messe de Notre Dame”, people began to have hope. They were once again comforted by God. This caught my attention because of the belief and faithfulness people had in Jesus Christ. We can compare this to the refugees from Syria. Both groups of people are looking for peace and comfort.

Their actions and culture were entirely cryptic and indecipherable to the europeans, the way they talked, acted, and dressed was something that baffled to them. “ …they faced the river, stamped their feet, nodded their horned heads, swayed their scarlet bodies; they shook towards the fierce river-demon a bunch of black feathers, a mangy skin with a pendant tail … they shouted periodically together strings of amazing words that resembled no sounds of human language; and the deep murmurs of the crowd, interrupted suddenly, were like the responses of some satanic litany." The Europeans see themselves as being children of a world of facts, a society based on industry and purpose, seeing the natives dress and dance seemingly without purpose contradicts all that they know. The so called culture of the natives is without true meaning to the europeans as it contradicts their own culture, but Marlow begins to notice that the differences between them is not truly evident. “"It takes a man all his inborn strength to fight hunger properly. It's really easier to face bereavement, dishonour, and the perdition of one's soul - than this kind of prolonged hunger. Sad, but true. And these chaps,

The political dimensions of the European sphere of influence in the 16th century were dominated by the status of monarchs. The region that Martin Luther worked and lived in was the German state of Wittenberg at the university sponsored by Prince Fredrick III (also known as Fredrick the Wise), here Luther studied and wrote extensively on theology. Fredrick was the political protector of Luther from the reaches of the pope and his delegates. At the time of the initial writings of Luther becoming popular (the 95 Theses being nailed to the church door), Pope Leo X had been vying for Fredrick’s favor. Pope Leo wanted Fredrick to occupy the title of the Holy Emperor due to the recent death of Maxi million of Spain; other candidates for the position included the kings of Spain, France, and England.