Colonization began, essentially in 1565 with the founding of St. Augustine by the Spanish. European exploration of the New World began far before this date, however, with countless explorers taking the initiative, and traveling around the world, in search of riches, primarily. This triggered the beginning of a massive mercantilist revolution, with European countries sending more explorers, and inhabitants of those countries coming of their own free will. Caught in the middle of this massive exploratory frenzy were the Native Americans, who had been inhabiting the Western Hemisphere for a plethora of millennia. These Natives had built vast empires, and developed their civilizations to the point where they were living, for the most part, prosperously. This was about to change, for the cultural impact of Europeans on Native Americans, and that of Native Americans on European expansion, was far greater than any had expected.
Upon arrival to the New World, many colonists were subjected to harsh weather, and unsuitable living conditions. The Native Americans were quick to help these settlers, showing them new techniques of farming, and even sharing their food with them. These colonists weren’t as thankful as expected, but rather, they turned on their Native counterparts, and began encroaching on their lands. This, at first, was hardly taken, but as the expansion continued, it was noted amongst the Native tribes, who felt that something should be done. This applied to the British, who were colonizing along the North-Eastern seaboard, and the French, extending their influence into regions of today’s Canada. Meanwhile, in the southern part of the continent, the Spanish savagely defeated and overtook the Aztec Empire, forming the colony of New Spain. This, combined with their fort in St. Augustine, Florida, and their vast colony of New Mexico, irritated many Natives to no extent. Spain brought with them to the New World, in addition to epidemics and widespread diseases that decimated over 20 million inhabitants of Latin America, a few beneficial items. Firstly, the Spaniards introduced their new friends to wheat, sugar cane, pigs, and cattle, in addition to simple metalworking techniques. Next, the Natives found tantalizing the glass beads that the Europeans possessed. They would trade pelts for the beads, as well as metal tools that were scarce, such as axes and knives. Most importantly, however, was the horse, which initiated a transformation in Native American battle and warfare. In addition to economic goods, Spain attempted to convert as many Native Americans as possible to Christianity. This caused thousands upon thousands of Natives and their cultures, to alter drastically.
With the introduction of mass epidemics into Native American society, the Natives became increasingly opposed to European colonization, spurring many armed conflicts. Such quarrels included the French and Indian War, and an Indian uprising in the Ohio Valley and Great Lakes area. The Native Americans were later forced to pick sides during the Revolutionary War, debating over whom they considered they stood a better chance against, as far as keeping their land was concerned. Along the new frontier of the colonies, especially, were numerous skirmishes involving foreign powers and Natives. In expanding and increasingly large amount to the West, Native Americans fought their hardest to fight off the Europeans, who eagerly took anything they wished, and claimed it as theirs. This required at least a bit of attention to be paid, with governments attempting to compromise in the face of an imminent war. One such agreement was the Treaty of Fort Stanwix, reached by the British and Iroquois. This granted land along the Ohio River to colonists. While meant to ease tensions, the treaty only heightened conflicts in the area, with constant struggles between Shawnees and Mingos, and white Virginians. It was evident that conflict amongst the colonists and Native Americans was not going to cease until someone relinquished, which neither side was prepared to do.
It was impossible to predict the impact that European colonization would have on Native American culture, and the effects that the Native Americans would have on European expansion. The Natives had maintained a well-developed form of ruling themselves, with an intricate culture that was soon to be changed by the much different, and less sympathetic, Europeans. The Native American belief of reciprocity, for one, was opposite that of the Europeans, who believed in ownership of the land, rather than the sharing of it with others. This spurred much conflict between the inhabitants and the newcomers, leading to armed conflict all across the new frontier. The Natives made their best attempts at slowing this expansion, through fighting and arguing. On the other hand, what the Europeans brought with them also had a profound effect on Native American society. The Spanish, for example, introduced horses to the Natives of the areas they conquered, which then revolutionized their traditional methods of fighting. The glass beads the Europeans held were much desired for their appearance, thus leading to immense changes within the Native’s economies, influencing their culture. This was in addition to Spanish movement for Christianity converts and the epidemics brought over by Europeans in general, which wound up devastating massive populations of people. Overall, however, Native American culture was changed drastically with European colonization, which the Natives strove to stop from taking place.
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