Natives and Newcomers, Chapter 1

Fun Facts from Chapter 1

Some Americans thought Europeans were gods because they weren't interested in having sex with their women
Some Europeans compared Americans to the Irish because the Irish were the most uncivilized people they could think of
Americans tried showing respect for Europeans by carrying them on piggyback
Pipe smoking parties lasted about three days
Americans who had never seen swords before often grabbed them by the wrong end
Europeans remixed Indian war dances with fiddles

Imagining the “Other”

“Other”
Different from “us”
Similar to other “others”
What to compare “them” to?
Marco Polo and the East
Africa and the Canary Islands
Classical mythology
Biblical literature
Past and modern “barbarians”
“While Europeans found “others” to be different and usually inferior, the “others” the Indians knew tended to be similar or superior.” (19)

Interaction

N. Europeans may have been fishing off the coast of Newfoundland for over 1000 years
Religious beliefs lead to desires for different goods
Pirates worked privately or for government organizations
Both native Americans and Europeans traded objects of lesser value in their society for objects of greater value
The arrival of European fur traders did not create internal trade systems, transportation routes, or trade alliances. They simply turned regional economies into globalized ones

Interdependence

Kidnapping and forced acculturation occurred at the same time as voluntary cultural exchange
Interdependence led to the destruction of distinct “Indian” and “European” identities
If you want to be on good terms with anyone, give them a gift
Water transportation is the most conducive to trade
Demands for goods traded between Indians and Europeans were often created by 3rd parties 1000s of miles away

Most exchanges were completed by experts in trade, facilitating the efficiency and economy of suppliers and customers
All people are inherently greedy, corrupt, curious, and racist
Governments and companies reform themselves to improve their competitive edge

When learning a language, it's best to know the words for:
Greetings
Finding things and locating leaders
Buying/selling
Getting directions
Getting laid and swearing