Indigenous peoples of the Americas

This article focused primarily on the Spanish conquest of the Incan and Aztec peoples, as part of Europe’s quest to conquer the Americas/”New World”. It explains how conquistadors traveled to the Americas and The ways they interacted with the Indigenous Peoples, as well as how Smallpox, a European disease, single-handedly brought whole nations down to their knees. It also cites how some Spaniards did not agree with Europe’s methods, and gave an example of one such person and their actions. But,…

marking the 300th anniversary of Columbus’ ‘discovery’, 100 years later in 1892 the US president Benjamin Harrison made an official announcement that encouraged American citizens to celebrate the 400th anniversary. Harrison wrote “On that day let the people, so far as possible, cease from toil and devote themselves to such exercises as may best express honor to the discoverer and their appreciation of the great achievements of the four completed centuries of American life”. Later in 1937,…

understand the national problems of Latin America regardless of the background of their historical and social evolution. The political existence of this continent begins with the discovery by Columbus in 1492 and ends in 1580 with the possession of the countries of the Rio de la Plata. Large colonial centers where he had come after a highly developed or in places of great mineral wealth indigenous culture. From Mexico southern part of the United States and Central America was colonized; from…

Republic of Guatemala, is a country that lies in Central America and is bordered by Mexico, the Pacific Ocean, Belize, the Caribbean, Honduras, and El Salvador. The meaning of the name Guatemala being “land of trees,” fits perfectly seeing that the country is heavily forested and mountainous. The country of Guatemala assumes an area of 108,889 km² (42,042 sqmi) and has an estimated population of 12,701,000, which is the most populous in Central America. The languages most prevalent in Guatemala…

For Tayo, his recovery of his indigenous roots is all about memory and what feels right. He remembers the stories that were told to him as a child, and remembering what a prayer or greeting was like. “The things he did seemed right, as he imagined with his heart the rituals the cloud priests performed during a drought.” (p. 94) He also acknowledged the side of him that he disliked, the white side, but focused on the people who raised him and who were his true family. Tayo might not know…

about it this way. How many people actually do take the time to celebrate Columbus Day? As stated by an analysis by Vox, only fifteen percent of private workers take the day off. Only twenty-two states recognize Columbus Day as an actual holiday, which is nearly half of the country. Think about it, only half the country celebrating something a holiday. We don’t consider the Super Bowl a holiday do we? No, we shouldn’t celebrate anything if only half of America is celebrating. We…

Both Indigenous and Spaniards showed great care for their beliefs. Spaniards did anything they could to benefit the church and their God. Spaniards not only cared for the church but imperialism as well. The Indigenous differed because they had many gods to please. According to the Indigenous human’s only role was to fight and die for gods. They satisfied gods through sacrifice. When Spain stumbled upon the Americas, they acted believing Spanish imperialism is their right. This effects the…

This essay argues that North American governments passed laws in an attempt to strip Indigenous peoples of their culture in what can be considered Cultural Genocide by forced relocation, the outlawing of traditional ceremonies and the use of re-education in the form of residential schools. Genocide is defined as the deliberate and systematic act of destruction to whole or part of a racial, religious or ethical group1. In 1933 Raphael Lemkin spoke at an International conference for Unification…

colonialism in the Americas. In our patterns up close section we are given an argument based on this exchange that explains how Europe was the clear winner in this global exchange.2 We, as an audience, should embrace what is being said in this section because as Europe was clearly the big winner in this exchange. The advantages that led Europe to rule as a result of this exchange came from increased agriculture production, disease and occupancy of the colonies in the Americas. To begin, the…

encounter any interference or objection to his proclamation. Stephen Greenblatt states that it possible that Columbus believes the indigenous people would not object to him claiming the land, whether they understood what he was saying or not. The significance lies in the fact that Greenblatt brings up the possibility that Columbus did not believe the Indigenous people had the means, and ability, of stopping Columbus from seizing the land, even if they were to understand what Columbus was…