Leslie McEntire
October 6, 2013
Cultural Anthropology
Culture throu
The textbook represents stories, statements and accounts made by both the Europeans and the Native Americans. The initial invasions on America were executed by Europeans and their conquest to discover new worlds and new life. Calloway's decision to structure chapter two with European tones is completely necessary and meaningful when trying to describe America’s history. European ethnocentrism was the driving force behind the invasion on America. Europeans came with great notions of finding God and gold. They wanted to shape and create values among the natives that were the same as theirs. Discovering a new culture and land were just part of the Europeans major plan. The ethnocentrism of the Europeans began to immerge as the settlers began to take root in the Indian lands. Europeans not only wanted to colonize and bring religion to the natives, they also wanted to control, enslave and manipulate the Native Americans. Since most of the stories and accounts were written and represented by Europeans, the actual story is flawed and misrepresented at times. It is impossible to tell the story without some reference and notion the European nationality. The Europeans culture and nationality were shaped and influenced by the Native Americans in many ways. Since most of the European nations invaded at different areas and coastlines, the nationalities are so varied and yet all connected in one large tangled web. The European cultures were meshed and mixed with the natives and other societies and cultures the encountered along the way. The Native American culture was also shaped and defined with the European cultures that invaded them. The meeting of these cultures sparks the beginning of America’s melting pot and the convergence of cultures and people far and wide.
It is difficult to read Calloway’s text and not think it is fueled at least some part by ethnocentrism. The...