Free Response Answers

The relationship between the Europeans and the Native Americans during the colonial period were similar to a mentor and mentee relationship when exposing the ignorant in mind to a world and culture unknown. European colonizers and explorers came to American soil with no knowledge about the terrain. Many had their minds set on acquiring riches to either gain individual wealth or add onto their affluent rulers who sponsored their costly voyages. The local natives were the first inhabitants of the unknown landscape Europeans had encountered when first arriving and their knowledge and expertise on the unfamiliar land was valuable in their conquest. The narratives on Cabeza de Vaca are an example of one of the first European explorers to come to America and have personal experience with the locals. The Native Americans became “tour guides” to many of the explorers and their knowledge on the land was valuable to their survival. The story of Cabeza de Vaca having to live off the terrain for many months in harsh weather under the guidance of the Native Americans is an example of the knowledge of the locals being of value. All the Indians of this region either are ignorant of time by sun or moon…They understand the seasons in terms of ripening fruits, the dying fish, and position of stars in which they are adept. (Cabeza de Vaca) explains how many of the locals and the explorers understood each other when concerning time and season. Because Native Americans were void of any numerical calendar, they relied to natures own time to distinguish times and seasons; better helping the explorers survive in harsh months and weather when concerning the food to eat and how to prepare such delicacies. With the Native Americans vast knowledge on the lands seasonal periods, explorers had a better percentage of surviving the most brutal of times with the aid of the locals as well. We always went naked like them and covered ourselves at night with deerskin. (Cabeza de Vaca) portrays how local Natives guided the European explorers into making articles of clothing to shield their nakedness from the elements of nature when time required it. Without the knowledge from the Native Americans, European explorers would not have known to use the carcass of a deer to make clothing to keep their body’s warm- let alone capture one without scarring it off into the wilderness. I bartered with these Indians in combs I made for them and in bows and arrows and nets. (Cabeza de Vaca) shows how Europeans learned the personalized techniques of artistry of the Native Americans to make a living in the trade to stay alive; selling or exchanging what they created to gain food and sustenance to live by during their months in unknown lands. The lessons in skill from Native Americans had given these naïve explorers tools of survival and slight independence from their “hosts”.
However, the stereotypes of Native Americans being savage and inhumane are the representation Europeans give their saviors in their narratives back home. Although many of the narratives representing Native Americans show how the aid of the locals helped keep oblivious explorers alive and well, they do so in a manner that depicts the average Native American as savage and ghastly. We always went naked like them (Cabeza de Vaca) depicts Native Americans as wild, ill-mannered, and uncivilized as they roam free in shameless nudity; not having anything to clothe themselves with or having any manners to shield their privates in a land where the customs are free nudity is frowned upon. They joined another tribe, the Arbadaos, who astonished us by their weak, emaciated, swollen condition. (Cabeza de Vaca) shows the Natives as inept to take care of themselves in order to live a healthy life amongst men who have hygienic rituals daily. There is no chief (Cabeza de Vaca) portrays them as a nation under no rule of morale. The men bore one of their nipples, some both, and insert a joint of cane two and a half palms long by two fingers thick. (Cabeza de Vaca) shows that their customs of self-expression are odd and unnatural. Narratives from European explorers portray the Native Americans as a type of new “specie”. It is something unknown and confusing yet tantalizing.

European colonizers used their narratives to mediate the relationship with authority figures by mainly focusing on what the costly voyages and journeys could do for the rulers in who sponsor their trips. Christopher Columbus used his narrative to persuade the dominant leaders of his country that the voyages they were sponsoring would pay off largely for their own benefit. His letter to Luis de Santangel demonstrated that his efforts in financing his first voyage would largely pay off for his benefit instead of his own. And there I found very many islands filled with people innumerable and of them all I have taken possession for their highness… (Christopher Columbus) Columbus writes to Santangel in an effort to demonstrate that his authority over the unknown territory is already advancing on the general population of Natives for the ultimate takeover for the King and Queen. He also goes into detail throughout the narrative stating that the islands he had found from his journeys named after the authoritative figures that sponsored his voyage. Reference to the Divine Majesty and the current King and Queen of Spain demonstrate that the islands name entitles complete ownership and rule by those who governs it. By naming the islands after political leaders, Columbus establishes ownership of those lands and gives them to those authorities. This island and all the others are very fertile to a limitless degree, and this island is extremely so. (Christopher Columbus) Columbus uses imagery to depict the lustrous lands and fertile grounds that are of use for an advantage in their nation’s agriculture or other cultivation advantages that can benefit well financially for the good of national economy. Cabeza de Vaca uses his stance on conversion to gain the support to the Catholic Majesty that installed the support for his voyage. …for those who go in your name to subdue those countries and bring them to knowledge of the true faith and true Lord and bring them under the imperial dominion… (Cabeza de Vaca) demonstrates the main argument that the rule of the dominant ruler be enforced on the general population of the new lands and the enforcement of their religion and political government will be in effect for a wider spread of domination for their majesty. These narratives are the base of their argument for continuous support for the leaders and authorities who sponsor and support these costly trips to foreign lands.

The first European explorers envisioned the Americas as a project they could conquer and rule to enforce dominant rule and authority of their nation. Columbus conveys the Americas as an “enterprise” and won the support from the King and Queen due to his ideas of expansion of their ultimate power of authority. The support was won due to the guarantee of something being in return for the cost of their sponsorship. The promise of domination and power over the new lands was the settling factor is the result of the decision. The lands were thought to have luscious lands, wide fields, and invaluable riches that are immeasurable. I believed that their example would have been to the profit of others. (Christopher Columbus) demonstrates how Columbus already acquired preconceptions of what the land would look like and how it could benefit the ultimate beneficiary.