Europe And The New World
Tutorial Question: Why were the ‘westerners’ (Spanish, English, Portuguese’s, French etc) able to displace the native people’s of America with, seemingly, relative ease? Was this evidence of a superior ‘civilisation’?
Many believe that there is a great difference between ‘westerners’ and the native people of the lands they conquered. The truth is, that there is not great distinction, except in the minds of white men. ‘Westerners’ such as the French, Spanish, English and Portuguese have always believed in their own superiority. This confidence gave them the strength to displace the natives and also the justification for doing so. The civilized world seemed to grow, and change with new ...
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However was this triumph over the inhabitants of the land evidence of a superior civilisation?
How does one define ‘Civilisation’? For if we are to discuss what is a superior and an inferior race then understanding of the term ‘civilisation’ is critical. The term ‘civilisation’ is used everyday and is understood by everyone, yet a proper definition is more difficult to pin down. The oxford university dictionary defines civilisation as: ‘a developed or advanced sate of human society.’ This is helpful, yet the question of how developed or how advanced is still relevant. Others have said that a civilized society is different from an uncivilized society because of certain attributes such as writing, cities, building etc. But agreement is difficult, it is much more safer not to rely on a single definition, instead look at examples of what everyone has agreed to call civilisations such as Greek or Rome . However, the term ‘civilisation’ still seems to be from a ...
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far east concerning trade, so merchants and sovereignty had to look elsewhere for fortune.
Secondly, the expansion was also believed to be for missionary enterprises. Europeans believed natives to be heathen and hence sinful. Therefore their work for God, was to convert these non-believers to the Christian faith. Many conquers believe that their role was: “to serve God and his majesty, to give light to all those who sat in darkness and to grow rich, as men desire to do. ” It has been argued that wealth was the primary reason and religion was the justification, yet it possibly came down to the individual – some were ‘in it’ for the wealth, while others generally believed they ...
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Europe And The New World. (2006, September 8). Retrieved December 23, 2024, from http://www.essayworld.com/essays/Europe-And-The-New-World/52083
"Europe And The New World." Essayworld.com. Essayworld.com, 8 Sep. 2006. Web. 23 Dec. 2024. <http://www.essayworld.com/essays/Europe-And-The-New-World/52083>
"Europe And The New World." Essayworld.com. September 8, 2006. Accessed December 23, 2024. http://www.essayworld.com/essays/Europe-And-The-New-World/52083.
"Europe And The New World." Essayworld.com. September 8, 2006. Accessed December 23, 2024. http://www.essayworld.com/essays/Europe-And-The-New-World/52083.
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