Native Americans

During the 16th and 17th centuries, when Europeans started to come over to the New

World, they discovered a society of Indians that was strikingly different to their own.

The Europeans believed that only the rich should own land and followed the practice

that when you pass away, the land stays in the family to keep the family honor and pride

alive. The Indians believed that property was part of a tribe, not a personal possession to

property was part of a tribe, not a personal possession to own. As a general rule, the

Indians followed their belief that states that everything on earth is given to all, and each

person deserves their own share.

Native Americans had inherited the land now called America and their lives were

destroyed due to European Colonization. When the Europeans arrived and settled, the

way of the Native American life was changed forever. These changes were caused by a

number of factors including disease, loss of land, laws, and attempt to export religion,

which all violated Native American culture.

Native Americans never came in contact with diseases that developed in the Old World

because they were separated from Asia, Africa, and Europe. Diseases like smallpox,

measles, influenza, pneumonia, and malaria had been unknown to the Native Americans

until Europeans brought these diseases over time to them. Native Americans had no

immunity to any of these diseases and it took an immense toll of their population. This

was the largest population decline in all recorded history. Within twenty years this led to

a 50% decrease in Native American population.

There were both positive and negative results from the cultural interactions between

the Europeans and Native Americans. Whether this was a “good thing” is irrelevant.

The interaction of the European Old World with the culture and ecology of the New

World, in terms of material goods, livestock in the...