Black Legend, Native Americans & Spaniards

BLACK LEGEND, NATIVE AMERICANS & SPANIARDS

PRE-COLUMBUS ERAThe human story doesn't simply translate from primitive to civilized; that implies a linear progression, which unfortunately is simply not realistic. When the europeans arrived, there were no classical civilizations with magnificent monuments and large empires; or even metalworking or written languages. However, most native american tribes did utilize agriculture to a large extent, had complex social and political tribal structures and also had very widespread trade. During this era, the North American population is roughly estimated at around 7-8 million. With that said, when europeans did enter the scene, they broke with them horrible diseases like small pox and influenza that DEVASTATED native populations (approximately 8/10 people). The closest thing to a large "classical" civilization in the area that is now the United States was the Zuni & Hopi civilization. They had large settlements in the southwest, but had to move on due to environmental issues like drought.

TRIBAL LIFE DESCRIPTIONSThere was huge diversity in the groups of people that lived in North America during the pre-columbus era. The native americans organized themselves into tribes; in which life was dominated by the natural resources that they had at their disposal. Sometimes, they formed loose confederacies. A prime example was the The Iroquois Confederacy. Native Americans saw property differently than their european counterparts; land was common to everyone, and couldn't be "owned". Tribes did usually have hierarchies, but their resources were shared much more equally than Europeans. Also, pre-marital sex wasn't taboo, it was normal.

As Black Hawk, a leader of the Sauk tribe said, "The Great Spirit gave it to his children to live upon and cultivate as far as necessary for their subsistence; and so long as they occupy and cultivate it, they have a right to the soil."

"The Indians... were totally deprived of their freedom and were put in the harshest, fiercest, most horrible servitude and captivity which no one who has not seen it can understand. Even beasts enjoy more freedom when they are allowed to graze in the fields. But our Spaniards gave no such opportunity to Indians and truly considered them perpetual slaves... I sometimes came upon dead bodies on my way, and upon others who were grasping and moaning in their death agony repeating, "Hungry, hungry." And this was the freedom, the good treatment and the Christianity the Indians received."Quote by Batolomeo de las Casas

SPANISH EXPLORERSJuan Ponce de Leon was the first Spanish explorer to set foot in florida. He was looking for the mystical fountain of youth. He also helped propagate the spanish effort to colonize Florida; partly in order to better protect the waters from pirates tryint to loot their galleons filled with gold. However, priests tried too hard to convert the locals to christianity, which ultimately lead to rebellions.Alvar Nunez Cabeza de Vaca explored the American southwest; in the process he spread the diseases that decimated the native american populations. The first large scale Spanish settlement was called Sante Fe, which was in New Mexico. Here as well, priests were militant about converting the locals to Christianity and sough to stamp out all native religions. This lead to the 1st large scale rebellion. The different Pueblo's tribes united under the command of someone called Popey in 1680 and sacked Sante Fe. After this rebellion, the Spanish changed their policies and became less domineering of the native americans.

THE BLACK LEGENDThis was a the tale of the Spanish unleashing unspeakable cruelties on the Native Americans. This was true! However, it was primarily used by the English to justify their own westward colonization; to save the poor indians from the terrible spanish.

OPVLThere were very very few written records of the Native American perspective, so it is nigh impossible to get an acurate grasp of their own situation. On the other hand, for the majority of American history, there are plenty of written records, but it is important to remember who is talking and why; and also whose voices aren't being heard!