The European colonization of America
was, and still is, one of the most relevant and condition-altering events.
However, most focus on the aftermath of the colonizers’ arrival; not enough on
the situation of the societies involved previous to it or the early settlement
days. By neglecting this, valuable information and events are ignored as well.
For prior to the colonies, the American, African, and European worlds were
doing rather well and striving within each of their own environments. History
then proceeds to their colliding, then to colonization, and then a series of
events that served as obstacles to the European’s arrival and settling.
Commencing this event’s history,
there are those who were living in America. As vast as the list of Native
American societies is, it may be surprising to know that these all share
similar core values and fundamental behavior. Some of these characteristics
involved the following: social needs fulfilled through family, extended kinship
networks, fate decided by the doing (or not doing) of traditional rituals, and
the belief that people were entitled to use land but never to own it. Native
Americans also understood the benefit of trade, not only referring to the
direct gain of product, but also the underlying present of hospitality and
friendliness between different groups.
Next, of course, is the European
society. The European nations were organized in a system of duties and
exchanges based on land, war, and tradition. In other words, feudalism was the
basis for their society. The success behind feudalism also lies on the support
it received from religion, which was mainly Christian at the time. Religion, in
fact, also stands behind the fact that Europeans were so very obsessed with
exotic items and produce; after the Europeans involved with the Crusades
brought home Asian products, the European demand for these grew rapidly. This
led to the creation of jobs such as merchants and craftspeople – however,
unlike Native Americans; trade for Europeans was nothing more than an exchange,
not a tie to social obligations to others. This fascination and desire for
Asian produce led to the Age of Discovery, whose main purpose was to find a
faster route to the Asian territory. Instead, America was discovered by them.
And finally, the African Kingdoms. In
Africa, in the north of the Congo River, was a long swath called Guinea – this
was the center of all trade between Europeans and Africans. In Guinea, there
was a lineage that was the ruling class. Most societies were made up of people
who lived in towns and supported themselves primarily through farming. Again,
most people in Guinea belonged to the same lineage. However, the groups in
Guinea varied their religious beliefs – yet they all generally coincided on the
existence of one Supreme being and other, lesser powerful, deities. Also, they
believed in the existence of spirits before and after the decease of a person. And
then there was the Empire of Songhai, one of the largest at the time situated
in the Sahara. Traders could find gold and ivory from the forest kingdoms, also
salt, cloth, weapons, horses, and books. And another good Europeans collected
from Africa were human slaves, however this type of slavery was far more humane
than the one practiced in years to come, in fact, some slaves saw it as a
productive opportunity.
As said before the collision of
these cultures increased the desire for trade and faster ways for their
transfer to Europe. When America was find looking for one of these new, more
efficient pathways, Europeans decided to commence colonies and send settlements
to these areas. However, things were not going to go smoothly. The Spanish, for
example, found resistance from New Mexican Native Americans in the Revolt of
1680, which was won by the Native Americans – however, the Spanish returned.
Yet, not all was in vain, for the return of the Spanish was established on a
commitment that favored both the Spanish and the Pueblo inhabitants equally. Another
resistance the European settlers confronted was the Native American community
in Chesapaeke Bay, which also ended in a compromise between the two sides.
These
colonies also witnessed the beginning of Tobacco plantations and colonies
placed in Virginia to work the fields – of course, those who worked the fields
were the slaves. Slaves first arrived at these colonies during the year 1907.
Also, the presence of Puritans and their conflict with King Phillip was quite a
rumble – for the Puritans were making the land of America far too different to
what Phillip wanted – very negatively so. SO, Phillip rallied up Native
Americans to fight against the Puritans and protect that land. However, after
plenty of casualties and historic bloodshed, the Puritans won. Which is also
connected with religious conflict between the colonies.
The
three societies described had a role in the colonization of America and its
success. However, the results and events that followed it did not have such a
smooth and well-constructed nature. Events such as slavery, conflicting
settlements with natives, and settlements versus England prove it so. Yet,
without them, there wouldn’t be half as much history as there is.The Revolt of 1860
