Changes in the Land
Changes in the Land
William Cronon
There were many differences between the Colonists of New England and the natives that dwelled there in 1600. Among these many differences three stood out to be of the upmost importance. The Indians developed a life in which they moved with the seasons, they followed the food that was easiest to obtain in that season and environment. The English on the other hand were accustomed to a life which was more stationary, their agriculture was based upon raising crops and domestic animals in a household like production unit, which was contained within fixed property boundaries and was linked to a commercial market. Speaking of a commercial market the most important difference between the Natives and Colonists was the idea of land as a commodity. During the entire colonization of the new world the English constantly referred to the ecosystem as something they could convert to capital. It is hasty to say the Indians did not trade between villages; they did so for different reasons. In most cases village Sachem used trade as a way of obtaining respect or allies, not necessarily for obtaining wealth. The third and final difference between the Indians and colonists was their idea of property. Each Native village hunted, fished, trapped, and planted in the lands that they had for generations, if another village wished to use their land they would negotiate certain usufruct rights to which that village could use the land. The Natives “owned” very little, most personal items and tools where shared amongst the village. To understand the ways in which the Indians of New England lived their lives one must understand that not all Indian villages practiced the same traditions. The Natives in northern New England did not plant crops and solely hunted and gathered to stay alive. The Indians of the north were vastly different from the colonists in one fashion: they did not store any food for the winter. This sounds irrational but to the Natives
William Cronon
There were many differences between the Colonists of New England and the natives that dwelled there in 1600. Among these many differences three stood out to be of the upmost importance. The Indians developed a life in which they moved with the seasons, they followed the food that was easiest to obtain in that season and environment. The English on the other hand were accustomed to a life which was more stationary, their agriculture was based upon raising crops and domestic animals in a household like production unit, which was contained within fixed property boundaries and was linked to a commercial market. Speaking of a commercial market the most important difference between the Natives and Colonists was the idea of land as a commodity. During the entire colonization of the new world the English constantly referred to the ecosystem as something they could convert to capital. It is hasty to say the Indians did not trade between villages; they did so for different reasons. In most cases village Sachem used trade as a way of obtaining respect or allies, not necessarily for obtaining wealth. The third and final difference between the Indians and colonists was their idea of property. Each Native village hunted, fished, trapped, and planted in the lands that they had for generations, if another village wished to use their land they would negotiate certain usufruct rights to which that village could use the land. The Natives “owned” very little, most personal items and tools where shared amongst the village. To understand the ways in which the Indians of New England lived their lives one must understand that not all Indian villages practiced the same traditions. The Natives in northern New England did not plant crops and solely hunted and gathered to stay alive. The Indians of the north were vastly different from the colonists in one fashion: they did not store any food for the winter. This sounds irrational but to the Natives