introduction to amerian civilization

8/9/2019 Introduction to amerian civilization

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INTRODUCTIONTO AMERICAN

CIVILIZATION

Exploration Encounters


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I. Exploration Encounters.Modes of Appropriating theNew World Disputed etymology of “America”: Ameraca or

Amerca, name given by cartographer Martin

Waldseemller to !outh America in honor of

Amerigo "espucci#s better grasp ofgeographical situation $%&'()

America extended to the northern continent

by *erardus Mercator $author of “Mercatorpro+ection” cylindrical map presented in

%&-., used for nautical purposes)


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/olumbus# 8our "oyages $Encarta)


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The “Discovery” of America

hree main features of /olumbus# Diario $cf0odorov): representation $self, nature, his men, and the

Ara9a1


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Cu!ura Di"ere#ce $Tra#sa!io#

/olumbus# observation that the 7atives “barteredli1e idiots” is put in a different light if 9e stress

cultural difference they 9ere not cheated

according to their standards0 he 7atives may thus

no longer be regarded as victims, but partners inmutual misunderstanding0

!upposed linguistic incompetence of the 7atives0


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O!her E%&orers a#' Their Vie(s Bernard Diaz del Castillo on Mexico (The True History of the

Conquest of New Spain, %&5's, /ortes# exploits )

C Natives as uncivili;ed, violent, instigating to 9hite reaction

C 7atives not open to /hristianity, the missionary role of

con@uistadores

oman /atholic friar Bartolome de Las Casas /aribbean$%&'5), Mexico $%&'s, %&66C%&6() The ery !rief "elation of

the Devastation of the #ndies $%&&5)

echni@ue: compare and contrast the precepts of /hristian doctrine

of 9hite con@uistadores 9ith /hristian practice $violence, no

respect, uncivili;ed behavior)0 /hristians# main features:

economic interest, human inferiority grid, FellCrunning symbolism

$natives# Ginfernal labor# pearls, etc0) Het, in favor of bringing

blac1 slaves in the place of 7atives0


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O!her E%&orers a#' Their Vie(s 7obleman Alvar Nunez Cabeza de Vaca 8lorida expedition

$%&5(), exas $%&5I) ta1en prisoner for 5 years then becoming amerchant and healer, going to Mexico, unsuccessfully trying to

convince Emperor /harles


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The I#ve#!io# of !he Ne()or' “America 9as not discovered, but invented”

$Edmundo 4#*orman)0


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Discovery* I#ve#!io# orE#cou#!er+ Discovery $hierarchy, essentialist vie9point, 7ative

as either inferior underdog or victim, a oneC9aytransfer)

Invention $/olumbus the strategist, imaginary

agency priming, pragmatism, selfCinterests usu0

representing 9hites# conception of the 7e9 World

till recently)

Encounter $both 9ea1 and po9erful 7atives, both

strong and 9ea1 9hites, t9oC9ay transfer,negotiation, from other to another ) Jthe term

promoted for the %..5 celebration of /olumbus

DayK


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E#,ish America ichard Fa1luyt= in compilations such as Diverse oya$es

Touchin$ the Discovery of America $%&I5) and %rincipalNavi$ations& oya$es& Traffiques& and Discoveries of theEn$lish Nation $%&I.C.'= %&.IC%-''), he urges fello9countrymen to do something about the possibilities of the7e9 World: “We read that the 3ees, 9hen they gro9 to be

too many in their o9n hive at home, are 9ont to be led outby their /aptains to s9arm abroad and see1 themselves ane9 d9elling placeL


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E#,ish America !ir Walter aleigh founded "irginia /olony in %&I6

but failed to establish a permanent settlement0 /aptain ohn !mith founder of first permanent

English settlement at amesto9n, "a $%-'()

C Emphases in The 'eneral History of ir$inia

C Whites# interest in food and information from natives

and dependence on them as guides

C 7atives# interest in tools and 9eapons from 9hites

$grindstones, canons, etc0) and dependence onthem for that

C 8irst 7e9 England colonies: >lymouth >lantation $%-5') Mayflo9er,

William 3radford= !alem B 3oston $%-') Arbella, ohn Winthrop


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Nor!her# a#' -ou!her#Coo#ies !outhern colonies $"irginia etc0) enormous

farms and plantations soon using labor of

blac1 slaves to gro9 tobacco, cotton etc0

7orthern colonies $7e9 England) >uritansettlers esp0, emphasis on strict /hristian

beliefs, dvpmt of cultural issues, press

(!oston News etter , %('6 )& /ambridge>ress $%-I *hole !oo+ of %salms , !ay

%salm !oo+ , %-6'), Farvard $f0 %--)


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introduction to amerian civilization

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