Question

Compare and Contrast the European account of the first encounters with that of the Natives. What were the responses by each group to their first encounters?

Answer 1

Early European explorers to the Americas likely experienced emotions including awe at the vast "new" environment, amazement at meeting "others," the thrill of the unknown, concern for personal safety, desire for personal reward, and longing for their homeland and those left behind. Written and pictorial records attributed to Europeans provide the bulk of the records of these early travels. Impressions of natives as well as Native impressions of Europeans are frequently framed in the narratives of the explorers. Examination of these records indicates the cautious and curious nature of first encounters.