Question

How might we explain the attitudes of the Renaissance-era Europeans toward the newly discovered Indians? Was the concern Christianizing the Native Americans sincere?

Answer 1

Answer:

How might we explain the attitudes of the Renaissance-era Europeans toward the newly discovered Indians?

Europeans saw the recently discovered population as inferior because the main belief in the period is that the Europeans were culturally, economically, and socially superior based on the idea of Humanism and Eurocentrism. Considering the fact that these new population discovered in America were not described in the Bible or registered in any philosophy or science book of the time, Europeans saw them as inferior ones, and liable to Christianize and turn them into civilization.

Was the concern Christianizing the Native Americans sincere?

The word "sincere" is not correct to use in this case. In general, the Church was following the idea to spread religion through the world, especially to the ones who didn't know God. In the case of the Native Americans, they were completely "empty" - if we can use this word - so they could be easily Christianized. However, the most important thing we have to consider is that in the 16th and 17th centuries the Church was gradually losing members to the new ideas that were spreading across Europe (Protestantism). So, the Church had to find new "souls" to bring to its core. In other words, it was not the case to be sincere or not, it was just a necessity to maintain control.

Explanation: