From history I've read, the Natives greeted the settlers, sometimes with food and gifts, and sometimes they just ignored them and went on with their business.
Jamestown, Virginia was the first permanent English settlement, it was on the territory of the Powhatans. The Powhatans watched the English settle but did not attack. When the English were starving during the winter of 1610, some English decided to join the Indians. The governor of the Indians sent an order to the Powhatans to return the "runaways", but the Indians didn't like the idea of forcing people to go and leave, so the English sent out soldiers to "take revenge".
My question is, even if they were called Natives or Indians, is it possible that they were more civilized than the English settlers?
2007-03-03 19:56:59 · 10 answers · asked by Anonymous in Society & Culture ➔ Cultures & Groups ➔ Other - Cultures & Groups
Natives were civilized. Actually the common stereotype of the Native savage is an attempt at making Natives appear uncivilized.
Those who say, for example, it depends on the tribe, some tribes were very warlike etc.. do not know Native history. To say a whole tribe is a stereotypical image of warlike is racist and culturally ignorant. Settlers needed to portray Natives as uncivilized so they could feel as though they had the right to have power over Native people.
Native people had advanced agriculture, advanced astronomy/astrology, advanced oral traditions, they knew medicines from the land.
Native people had extremely low rates of domestic abuse, rape, violence, etc... These things were brought by colonization.
What about the above speaks to uncivilized?
You want to talk about uncivilized, let's talk about colonization.
They Raped, Tortured, Kidnapped, Stole Land, etc...
Having said that, I don't think we should categorize people as civilized and uncivilized anymore. We need to honor the atrocities of the past. And we need to accept each other today as we are and educate ourselves on all histories.
Coming from a Native woman.
2007-03-07 10:49:57 · answer #1 · answered by RedPower Woman 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Can't say all tribes would react that way, but it sure seems most were gladly able to just make room and leave everyone to mind their own business and leave each other alone. Only problem is...the new arrivals apparently were never taught how to behave and act like good guests and be grateful for being allowed to step foot on this land. The "civilized" whites had no idea what that word even meant, they sure were not a living definition of it.
2007-03-04 09:05:32 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Simple, the Natives Civilized it and the English uncivilized it. It is very uncivilized to steal and kill over a Country, especially when you have your own Country (Europe), but insist on being greedy, selfish and evil. Most civilization started with people living in third world Countries who is considered to be not so bright. And most third world Contries is starting to develope themselves like Nigeria (Africa) and China (Asia). Are you insecure? Do you love being superior? Are you English? Why do you care so much? Anyway, no one knows which race in this world really started Civilization. History and especially American history is a BIG LIAR. No one really knows what happened millions of years ago. Dinorsaurs and cave ppl most likely couldn't talk, ha ha.
2007-03-03 21:36:35 · answer #3 · answered by Ciara Jones 1 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Yes, the Native Americans.
2007-03-03 20:02:06 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 0⤋
it depends on what your interprtation of civilised is.the practise of taking body parts such as scalps was some thing they got from the white man.i dont believe that indians put a bounty on white mens scalps or heads.but according to history the white man paid for indian scalps and heads.
2007-03-03 20:26:11 · answer #5 · answered by BUSHIDO 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Depends on the tribes in question...some were very civilised and some were very primitive and warlike. There were thousands of tribes at one time and some confederations...others were nomadic and lived only in lean tos and scavanged (Oregon Paiutes for example)
2007-03-03 20:01:50 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
It's not a question, the Natives were more civilized
2007-03-04 02:58:17 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 0⤋
Native Americans. Don't you think it's pretty uncivilised to go into one's home and take over?
2007-03-03 19:59:30 · answer #8 · answered by ~ B_e_K_z ~ 5 · 5⤊ 0⤋
Define "civilized".
2007-03-03 20:50:16 · answer #9 · answered by charliecizarny 5 · 0⤊ 1⤋
I believe both were as barbaric as each other
2007-03-03 22:10:06 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 4⤋