After reading the assigned reading for this module, it gave me a lot of perspective about Indian Civilizations that existed at that time. Though both Foner and Zinn focuses on the genocide and enslavement of Indians, I would like to take a closer look at the Indian Civilizations themselves. To further specify, I will be looking in the Indian Civilizations that were within the United States borders and how they lived their lives before European settlers destroyed them and their way of life.
The Indian Civilizations of North America were either hunter/gathering or settled agricultural groups. This means that some Indian tribes were nomadic and would roam a certain area of land following their food sources like buffalo and vegetation as the seasons changed. Other tribes were people with shelters that were built and they stayed in one area farming for their vegetation needs and hunting game that was close to their settlements. Indians that were settled close to large rivers or the ocean would do a lot of fishing and would harvest plenty of other food sources of the water.
Another fascinating aspect of the Indians was how they handled marriage, gender roles, and social norms. At this time in Europe, men were the head of the household and the wife and children answered to him. Women had no property rights or legal identity. In comparison, Indians had matrilineal lines and women were influential deciders in many important decisions of their tribe. It was considered indecent for a woman of that time to be working unless they were poor in Europe. Because of this, a man was considered a man by how much authority he had over his wife and children (an ideal that still plagues some societies today). In North America, an Indian man proved his machismo by being extremely successful at hunting and providing meat for his family or even his whole tribe. Marriage was not as structured in Indian cultures as it was in Europe. If two people wanted to wed it was approved by parents and the ceremony was performed. If the woman or the man wanted a divorce, it was done. Premarital relationships were also accepted in some Indian cultures at the time. Also, nakedness was not looked down upon but considered a norm of everyday life.
It is sad that such rich cultures have been lost because of violent conquest and time. I feel that we could have learned a lot from the Indian cultures that could have helped the Americas become a better place.
Foner, Eric. Give Me Liberty!: An American History. Vol. 1. New York: Norton & Company, 2006. 2 vols. 19-24.
"Native Americans of North America," Microsoft® Encarta® Online Encyclopedia 2009 http://encarta.msn.com © 1997-2009 Microsoft Corporation. All Rights Reserved.
Zinn, Howard. A People's History of the United Staes: 1492-Present. New York: Peremmial Classics, 2003. 3-5.
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Hi there. I agree with your essay topic in how America could have become a better place to live if the Europeans were open to learning from the Indians, rather than dominating them. Perhaps human existence wouldn't be fearful of global warming if in the past we had, in ways, assimilated to Indian culture. It is ironic that after all these years, Americans seem to be reverting back to how Indians lived.
ReplyDeleteFirst, I'd like to point out how a woman's identity has transformed back to that of which Indians first knew. In Indian culture, a woman could work agriculture and take part in tribe businesses. As you stated in your essay, European culture knew no such rights for women, and that continued into American history long after independence was declared. It is now 2009, and we have finally seen a woman candidate running for president of the United States. Also, women in Indian tribes were promiscuous and that was acceptable. It wasn't until the hippie generation of the 1960's did we see women spewing sexuality.
Finally, it seems Americans are just now trying to "go green." Decade after decade, technology advanced without concern for the environment. From aerosol products, to smog from factories, air pollution emitted by motor vehicles, humans have polluted the environment to the point where our environment has started to fight back. As I said before, it is now 2009 and we are just now trying to respect our earth as the Indians were doing long before Europeans arrived on their shores.
Wow! Your blog is WAY more correct than mine. I will definitely agree that in these last few years (and even in the last few decades) we have been reverting back to the ways of the Native Americans. Excellent proof you have there!
ReplyDeleteI agree with all your opinions about the Native American culture, and how it would have been a beautiful thing to keep it pure and take from it or learn from it. It's unfortunate that they had to inherit the American style of living, and lose their own culture. If only we could go back into time.
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