Before colonisation did the indigenous have a concept of money and greed?

Question

So the EUROPEANS brutally colonised and enforced slavery on the people because THEY (europeans) were the ones with the concept of things having ownership (i.e on land) and money and development. I have read things about the indigenous not legisising land and so the Europeans thought they could claim it as theirs because the indigenous had no papers.

I would just like someone basically to clarify if the indigenous who were taken into slavery had a concept of money and greed --- I mean especially for those who were born into slavery, they must have just thought that to live you need to work to have a home else you were killed... well you were killed anyway but wow this is horrible :(

Answer 1

They're human. All humans have the concept of greediness, even if they don't have money. They still generally have trade. Money's just trade made easy.

Will the Native Americans count as an example? Europeans did try to make them slaves, and I know a bit more about them than I do about Africans. In the Pacific Northwest, there were tribes who had Potlatch rituals. They did this for weddings, funerals, etc. One person would invite some people over to his house. He would give away everything he owned to his guests, whose job was to insult everything they were given, both in terms of quantity and quality. It started as an equalization of wealth- only really wealthy people could hold potlatches. Eventually, though, it grew a bit crazy, as things usually do with this sort of status symbol. People would work their butts off to get stuff to give away, and they would completely impoverish themselves at the ritual. At contact period, I understand they were doing things like burning down their houses and burning large piles of goods in a show of "I'm so wealthy, I don't care".

Now, this doesn't look like traditional western greed on the surface, but think of rich people today who spend absurd amounts of money on designer clothes and jewels and such because they can. Think of people who only wear such clothes for one season. I think "greed" certainly applies to such an ostentatious show of and waste of wealth, especially considering how obsessed some people became with it.

Answer 2

I dont know about money, but I think everyone has a concept of greed. Greed is a natural feeling. It might not have had to be money. Someone could want more food, power, wives, anything. Even a slave would have a concept of greed.

It was horrible how indigenous people were treated, no matter what.

And I dont see why people have anythin aginist your spelling. I think maybe they dont like to admit that what the Europeans did to indigenous people was wrong.

Answer 3

I think they had a concept of greed among themselves well before the Europeans, and yes I imagine if you were born into slavery it would be difficult to have any concept of freedom. From what I've read some slaves had great difficulty adjusting after emancipation.

Answer 4

No They didn't. Mesoamerican Civilizations were wealthy without money or greed. Amazing eh?
They had everything they need in life but they didn't have visa o master cards.
It is copmplex. But they had a more evolutionated life if you study themm deeply

Answer 5

good grief. there is a spell check on here. USE IT. oh and why not pick up a history book sometime.

Answer 6

learn how to spell first

and no, they did not have money, just trade, tribute and offerings
not to mention sacrificial tribute