Unit 1.6- Cultural Interactions Between Europeans, Native Americans and Africans

Question 1

Regarding what type of worldviews did the Europeans and Native Americans assert?

Answer 1

In their interactions, Europeans and Native Americans asserted divergent worldviews regarding issues such as religion, gender roles, family, land use and power.

Question 2

What impact did the mutual misunderstandings between Europeans and Native Americans have?

Answer 2

Mutual misunderstandings between Europeans and Native Americans often defined the early years of interaction and trade as each group sought to make sense of each other. Over time, Europeans and Native Americans adopted some useful aspects of each other’s culture.

Question 3

What did the native people do as European encroachments on their land increased?

Answer 3

As European encroachments on Native Americans’ lands and demands on their labor increased, native peoples sought to defend and maintain their political sovereignty, economic prosperity, religious beliefs and concepts of gender relations through diplomatic negotiations and military resistance.

Question 4

What impact did extended contact with Native Americans and Africans have?

Answer 4

Extended contact with Native Americans and Africans fostered a debate among European religious and political leaders about how non-europeans should be treated, as well as evolving religious, cultural and racial justifications for the subjugation of Africans and Native Americans.