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Example research essay topic: Beginning Of The Movie Fifteenth Century - 1,838 words

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Columbus Expedition Into North America: Invasion or Cultural Exchange? If one looks at the encounters between Europeans and Native Americans during the fifteenth century and beyond, it is obvious to see a trend of invasion, conquest, slavery, and eventually death lurking about the historical documents describing that time. Historian Howard Zinn describes these conquests as, the invasion of America. Zinn is correct in this belief, however, the expeditions into the New World by Europeans during the fifteenth and sixteenth centuries cant be easily labeled as invasions.

If one looks at the end results of the conquests by Europeans, it is evident that the most of the native tribes who made contact with Europeans were in most cases worse off than they were before they made contact. However, the barbaric overtaking of territory and culture by the Europeans is a far-fetched myth as these conquests were more a sort of cultural exchange than anything else. Spanish expeditions to the North American continent during the fifteenth century were increasing with a steady pace. By 1520, Spain had established outposts in Mexico, as well as in the Caribbean.

Columbus famed voyage in 1492 had long since passed, and this new territory was the door to an infinite amount of possibilities. Little did the Spanish know, however, that the Arawaks in the Caribbean werent the only group of natives living in this new land. The Pecos Indians to the North of Mexico as well as the Iroquois, Hurons, Pequots, Shinnecocks, and Mohawks in the Northeast of the New World remained unbeknownst to the Spanish. In 1540, Francisco Vasquez Coronado led an expedition to search the mysterious land to the North of Mexico for rumored cities of gold. This expedition was the largest of its kind ever to explore the North American continent: 250 horsemen, 70 foot soldiers, 1300 Indian and African slaves, 1000 horses, 500 pack animals, and herds of sheep and cattle. The Pecos; a technologically advanced tribe with several flourishing communities north of Mexico, gained word of this expedition and sent a peace delegation of about twenty Indians bearing gifts; some of which were Buffalo skins, for the Spanish.

Enticed by the Indians descriptions of gold and riches to the east, they set off on yet another expedition, this time led by Hernando de Alvarado to the Eastern U. S. The Spanish did not go alone, however. They were sure to take four Indians captive to guide the way. Later in 1598, Governor Don Juan de One along with several priests, soldiers, and colonists established Nuevo Mexico; the first Spanish settlement. The Pecos were to swear allegiance to the King of Spain, then be gathered into large encomienda's or communities.

The Pecos were then required to contribute crops, cotton blankets, and other goods to the provincial government. With the settlers and soldiers came Franciscan priests assigned to work at the pueblos. The priests task was to, win souls for the Roman Catholic church, and, to educate the natives on how to become citizens of the Spanish Empire. Priests often confiscated Pecos objects used in religious ceremonies. During the 1600 s periods of famine and drought gave reason for the Pecos to resort to their traditional religious beliefs. They rebelled against Christianity and the Spanish King they pledged allegiance to.

Finally, in August of 1680, more than sixty years after they first made contact with the Spanish, the Pecos Indians led a grand revolt; carefully organized and orchestrated. More than 17, 000 natives from 24 independent communities, speaking several languages and dialects, managed to kill 21 of the 33 priests and drive the Spanish out of Santa Fe. Governor Otermin fearing death fled to El Paso, Texas. One may think that the Spanish violently stole the culture and religion as well as the land of the Pecos, however, the answer is much more complicated. Let us remember that the Pecos were the ones who first went out and made contact with the Spanish, and that the two groups coexisted in very advanced societies for over sixty years before a revolt of any kind took place.

Yes, the Franciscan priests did try to take the religious objects of the Arawaks away, but that was after more than fifty years of letting the Arawaks practice their own religion! Also, let us remember that the reasons for the revolt of the Arawaks and other tribes living in New Mexico were not at all related with the way the Arawaks were being treated. The revolt took place because there was a long period of drought and famine in the Southwest. Harsh environmental conditions- not political, social, or spiritual, led to the revolt by the Pecos.

If looked at over the whole course of contacts with the Europeans, however, the Arawaks, and other native tribes for that matter, were stripped of their religion, and their land. In their efforts to spread Christianity and form new communities, the Spanish took the very strong and rooted culture of the Pecos Indians and pushed it to the side to fulfill their material needs. Though the Pecos Indians did revolt, and win, the severity of what the Spaniards did to the Pecos over time isnt at all diminished. In some ways, it just gives more validity to the opinion that European conquests were an invasion. The Spanish, however, werent the only group of Europeans exploring the new territory of North America. The film Black Robe, which is based on factual events, traces the journey of a French Jesuit priest as he travels from Algonquian territory to a Huron village in Canada.

Black Robes constant struggle with the Indians is evident not only in the way French and Indian cultures clash, but also in the way in which the spirituality of the two groups is expressed. When Black Robe is taken up to a Huron Village in Canada, he tries to get the Hurons to join him in following the Christian ways and in worshipping God. However, Black Robe finds this a difficult task for the Hurons are of a totally different culture and worship higher beings in much different ways than he. Contrary to the belief of many, Black Robe doesnt walk into the Hurons lives and impress his beliefs on them. He simply tries to explain the way of the Lord to the Hurons in the hope that theyll begin to follow his teachings.

It is obvious that Black Robe gains so much knowledge about the Indian cultures in general, and also about himself. In the beginning of the movie, he was out to try to convert the Indians to Christianity, however, by living with the Indians as they take him up to Canada, he discovers that the Indians have their own set of values and moral codes and he learns that the Indians can coexist with Black Robe without being Christian. Towards the end of the movie, however, when Black Robe realizes he cant suppress the religious beliefs of the Hurons, they come to him and ask if Black Robe baptizes their children, will they be cured? Black Robe knew another priest had said that yes, if the Huron children were baptized, then they would be cured. Black Robe, however, said that he cant guarantee the children to be cured, but that God may hear the Hurons prayers.

In the beginning of the movie, Black Robe would have said that yes, the children would be cured, but, because he knew the Hurons had strong spiritual beliefs which he had come to respect, Black Robe was truthful with the Indians. The movie Black Robe is a far cry from a violent spiritual invasion. However, after the Hurons were baptized by Black Robe, their tribe was later wiped out by a nearby rival tribe. Though Black Robe didnt enter the Hurons society and force them to follow his teachings and convert to Christianity, in the long run, the Indians were again worse off than when they first came in contact with Black Robe. We must remember, however, that it was the Hurons who came to Black Robe to be baptized eventhough this would not necessarily cure their children. Finally, Zinn's article about the conquests of Columbus in the Caribbean in the late fifteenth century describes clearly the harsh treatment natives were subjected to when they welcomed the Europeans into their homeland.

Zinn writes, Arawak men and women, naked, tawny, and full of wonder, emerged from their villages onto the islands beaches and swam out to get a closer look at the strange big boat. When Columbus and his sailors came ashore, carrying swords, speaking oddly, the Arawaks ran to greet them, brought them food, water, gifts. The Indians belief that everything was communal and should be shared amazed Columbus. Such beliefs were not commonplace in fifteenth century Europe. The mentality of Europeans during that time was so different than that of the natives in North America. The Europeans were living lives which revolved around money, and an every man for himself mindset, while the attitude of working in a community and helping each other out in times of need was a key practice among the natives.

The Indians, to the Europeans, were like little children who hadnt learned to hate. Zinn tells of Spaniard Bartolome de las Casas who is a valuable source of information describing the various Spanish cruelties to innocent natives during that time. Las Casas describes how the Spaniards, grew more conceited every day, and soon they refused to walk anywhere; riding the backs of Indians if they were in a hurry. Zinn writes, Total control led to total cruelty. The Spaniards, thought nothing of knifing Indians by tens and twenties and of cutting slices off them to test the sharpness of their blades. ' As a sick joke, two Spanish Christians took the parrots two Arawak boys were carrying and then beheaded them for fun. Unfortunately, the abuses of the Spanish didnt stop there.

Any Indian trying to escape would be hunted down like an animal and killed. Most of the Indian populations in North America decreased after the Europeans made contact with the New Worlds inhabitants. From 1498 to 1508, the Arawak population in the Caribbean decreased by over 3 million people. The Indian population of about ten million in North America over the years was reduced to about one million after the Europeans made contact with the tribes inhabiting those areas. One key concept that needs to be addressed is the way in which Zinn portrays the Spaniards who came to the North American continent with Columbus. In his article, Zinn makes us believe that the Spanish came, killed off a lot of the Arawaks, stole their land, and then left or moved on to find more Indians.

That simply is not true. Yes, Columbus and his men did come to the Caribbean and came into contact with the Arawaks, however, there was some intermixing of the two cultures. Zinn fails to tell us of the side of the encounter in which goods were


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Research essay sample on Beginning Of The Movie Fifteenth Century

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