FREE ESSAY ON EUROPEAN MICONCEPTIONS ABOUT THE INDIANS

EUROPEAN MICONCEPTIONS ABOUT THE INDIANS

What types of Indian behavior, rituals and customs did Europeans typically misunderstand
or mis interpret? What myths of Indian society resulted?
After being isolated from Europe for so long it was only a matter of time before the two
wolrds collided, the simpler world of the indians with the more advanced world of the
europeans. Not only was the European world different but the Indian world was multifacted
within itself. Out of the collision of these two worlds there was bound to be some
misconceptions and misinterpretations.
The europeans often misconstrued certain indian behaviors. The male indians were
perceived to be lazy since the females tended the fields as well as the home while the
males went hunting or fishing. Hunting and fishing to the europeans was a reacreational
activity not a necessity for survival. It was customary for an Indian male to have
arranged sexaul relations if his wife was pregnant or nursing. the europeans saw this as
indulging in every kind of intemperance and wicked lust. The indians were seen as naive
because they had no interest in amassing wealth, therefore the europeans concluded that
the indians were childlike and not to be treated as equals. Indians were also seen as
heathens because they
worshipped a large number of gods.
The indians believed in each being having a different level of manitou. Out of this
belief many different rituals were born. To appease or woo powerful
spiritual entities, individuals would pray and/or sacifice valuable items such as
furs,food, or tobacco but when the entire community sought divine assistance
to ensure successful hunts, good harvsets, or victories they called upon shamans. These
rituals reinforced European beliefs that the indians were heathens.
Many myths of indian society resulted from European
misconceptions. These myths included but were not limited to: the indians being
naive,blood thirsty sasvasges who indulged in every kind of wicked lust and performed
strange rituals.
the europeans unjustly labeled the indians because their way of life was different.
European perceptions were based on life as they knew it and they felt that they way of
life was the right way. Just because someone does something a different way doesn't mean
it is wrong or of lesser value.