When the European population sought expansion, they took a voyage to the East Indies in hope of establishing a trade route. Although, Christopher Columbus made wrong calculations, he and his men landed in a New World that would bring them great fortunes. Unfortunately, for the Natives living in the America’s the Europeans arrival would be the beginning of a terrible nightmare. In Latin Colonial America by Kevin Terraciano, there are letters and documents that give the various perspectives of people living during the initial conquest period. Native languages have been translated to English by Mattew Restall, Lisa Sousa and Kevin Terraciano in the book Mesoamerican Voices. While the Europeans viewed the Indigenous population as inferior, the
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Europeans deemed all practices that were not theirs as inferior. Many journals that belonged to Christopher Columbus displayed his first encounters with the indigenous population. Columbus described the average Native as peaceful and generous because they were willing to give everything up for things that had very little value. Columbus also mentioned that the Natives had no knowledge of iron and when showed a sword, the Natives would “cut themselves through ignorance” (Colonial Latin America, p. 3). Europeans like Christopher Columbus realized that the Natives had no ambition or greed and immediately assumed that such paradise like the America’s were not being utilized properly. The European population felt that they knew the proper way of running a country and that when in charge they could make use of all the resources including the Natives. By stating “They should be good servants and of quick intelligence” Christopher Columbus automatically assumed that these Native individuals were below them (Colonial Latin America, p. 3). When someone implies that they will make servants of those who surround them because they are presumed gullible, than they have no doubt that they are the superior race. The European race had forced other races like the African to submerge onto their rule, so it was not difficult to take advantage of this race. Naively the Native was impressed with the god like …show more content…
Europeans had a clear plan of overtaking the throne and ambitiously getting every resource they could obtain. In the name of Christianity the Europeans demanded the Indigenous population to submit to the king. The Requerimiento was a speech that was delivered by the Spaniards in the name of God and the King. This speech stated, “…Therefore I beg and require of you as best as I can that you recognize the Church as lord and superior of the universal world and pope…” (Colonial Latin America, p.15). The document continues by stating that those men who do not turn into Christians will be killed and their women and children will be turned into slaves (Colonial Latin America, p.15). This shows that the European government has demanded that all indigenous people be turned into Christians or be ready to endure much pain. The indigenous community stood no chance against the weapons and disease of the European population and they either died or obeyed. While the indigenous population is forced to change their religious beliefs, they are also being exploited. An encomendero named Bartolome de Las Casas witnessed the barbaric acts being committed against the indigenous community. In fact, Casa mentions that instead of killing for resistance against the King, many Europeans grew accustomed to
Europeans deemed all practices that were not theirs as inferior. Many journals that belonged to Christopher Columbus displayed his first encounters with the indigenous population. Columbus described the average Native as peaceful and generous because they were willing to give everything up for things that had very little value. Columbus also mentioned that the Natives had no knowledge of iron and when showed a sword, the Natives would “cut themselves through ignorance” (Colonial Latin America, p. 3). Europeans like Christopher Columbus realized that the Natives had no ambition or greed and immediately assumed that such paradise like the America’s were not being utilized properly. The European population felt that they knew the proper way of running a country and that when in charge they could make use of all the resources including the Natives. By stating “They should be good servants and of quick intelligence” Christopher Columbus automatically assumed that these Native individuals were below them (Colonial Latin America, p. 3). When someone implies that they will make servants of those who surround them because they are presumed gullible, than they have no doubt that they are the superior race. The European race had forced other races like the African to submerge onto their rule, so it was not difficult to take advantage of this race. Naively the Native was impressed with the god like …show more content…
Europeans had a clear plan of overtaking the throne and ambitiously getting every resource they could obtain. In the name of Christianity the Europeans demanded the Indigenous population to submit to the king. The Requerimiento was a speech that was delivered by the Spaniards in the name of God and the King. This speech stated, “…Therefore I beg and require of you as best as I can that you recognize the Church as lord and superior of the universal world and pope…” (Colonial Latin America, p.15). The document continues by stating that those men who do not turn into Christians will be killed and their women and children will be turned into slaves (Colonial Latin America, p.15). This shows that the European government has demanded that all indigenous people be turned into Christians or be ready to endure much pain. The indigenous community stood no chance against the weapons and disease of the European population and they either died or obeyed. While the indigenous population is forced to change their religious beliefs, they are also being exploited. An encomendero named Bartolome de Las Casas witnessed the barbaric acts being committed against the indigenous community. In fact, Casa mentions that instead of killing for resistance against the King, many Europeans grew accustomed to