People today commemorate Christopher Columbus as a hero who found a new continent for the first time. There is even a day called Columbus Day in October which celebrates the initial finding of Columbus. However, we should not forget about the negative impact of the discovery of the new world. Europeans regarded Native Americans as a tool and neglected them. European’s attitude towards Native Americans can be characterized by their level of ignorance.
First, Europeans often treated Native Americans inhumane. Considered Native Americans as different species, Europeans demolished their villages and viciously killed many of them. Furthermore, Europeans refused Native Americans’ hospitability and responded with ruthless hostility.
“The next day Governor de Soto came to the crossing opposite the village, and the chief Indians came with gifts and the woman chief, a lady of that land whom the Indians carried on their shoulders with much respect, in a litter covered with delicate white linen . . . . . . Later the Spaniards continued on their journey to another village where they rounded up the Indians and put them in iron collars and chains. They look the Indian prisoners to keep them as slaves or servants to carry the supplies, which they received from the Indians by gift or by force.”
This document from an account of Spanish Governor de Seto’s three year exploration elucidates the merciless and violent nature of Europeans at that period. It can be inferred from iron collars and chain that Europeans treated the Indians as servant-like savages. Another example is from a 17th century manuscript, drawing named Conquest, Miracle of Santiago. This depicts the overwhelming power of Europeans by showing Europeans oppressing Native Americans’ body with their horses. To sum up, some Europeans viewed Native Americans with prejudice which consequently led to brutal behaviors.
Other Europeans commonly belittled Native Americans since Europeans had technological and...