Early American Encounters of the 1600s
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Early American Encounters of the 1600s
Question 1
Early explorers in the Americas paint a mixed picture of the natives and the land they surmount. Some of the prominent explorers who shaped the American history are Christopher Columbus, Samuel De Chaplain, and John Smith. From their writings, it appears that the Americas are very fertile lands but low in gold mineral resources. Christopher Columbus describes the land as mountainous, with fertile and beautiful plains (Howard, 2010). Christopher Columbus forced the natives to bring gold or have their hands chopped off. Despite this threat, they still could not bring it. Not being able to deliver gold even at the risk of death might be a proof that the land was low on this resource. The impression created by these early American explorers is that the natives were a very kind and welcoming people. However, it comes out vividly that they suffered serious consequences for their hospitality. They were killed or enslaved en mass, especially by Christopher Columbus. From the writings of these three explorers, I would have joined in De Chaplain’s voyages. This is because de Champlain comes out as an individual keen to interact and learn the ways of the natives, as opposed to exploiting their vulnerability to conquer. His writings bring forth a man who respects other people’s culture, as opposed to imposing French cultural superiority (Samuel, 2012). His writings also show his willingness to help out the Indians during winter. This is a characteristic of a man with a heart for humanity. My belief in intercultural respect and human dignity above all is what makes me affirm that I would join in De Champlain’s Voyages.

Question 2
Of all the primary foretastes into the 17th century mind and life of new world residents, what remains in my mind is the brutality and utter disgust with which Christopher Columbus viewed the natives. This is because Columbus and his men applied the highest possible levels of brutality on the natives. In his writings, Christopher Columbus describes the natives as a people with no religion and who breed without the context of marriage (Howard, 2010). However, the worst is the manner in which he interacts with the natives. Columbus forced them into slavery, up to 500 at a time, and shipped them to Spain. He tells of how up to 200 of the natives died during the course of the journey. Columbus’ inhumanity towards the natives drove many to death either through slavery, or through mass suicide. Reports indicate that after Columbus entered Cuba, he enslaved the Arawaks in their thousands, many dying in the estates where they worked. Columbus also burned alive the natives for not bringing him gold (Howard, 2010). This forced the natives into mass suicides out of desperation. By 1650, the Arawak people became extinct due to the escapades of Christopher Columbus. It is impossible to get such a gruesome image out of the mind. Columbus embodies the lowest possible levels of early European moral standing. It is ironic that he describes the locals as a people with no religion, yet his actions are animalistic. Without his interference, the natives would have come out as a harmonious people, living in peace. His accounts paint the picture of a people who lived in communities of around 600, and who did not bear arms.

References
Howard Zinn (2010). A people’s history of the United States. New York: Harper Collins.
Samuel de Champlain (2012). The voyages and explorations of Samuel de Champlain 1604-
1616. New York: BiblioBazaar.