Culture Collision: Cortes And Christopher Columbus

Culture Collision

The world and how we know it is one filled with culture. Different regions vary in how the people of that particular area dress, talk, act and live. In todays society it is not uncommon to encounter someone from a different culture, sometimes on a daily basis. Due to advancements in social networking and means of transportation, it is easy to experience and learn about different cultures and societies without leaving your front doorstep. Observing different cultures is quite normal and something that is very familiar with a lot of people. But, a quick glance throughout history and it becomes apparent that experiencing a new way of life is a lot more routine today than it once was. Explorers such as Christopher Columbus
During the 15th century these two Spanish explorers set out to explore the “New World.” Cortes and Columbus were also among the first to encounter the natives of this New World, commonly referred to as Native Americans, or Indians. For the next hundreds of years the Natives would be oppressed by more advanced civilizations such as the Spanish, French and British. They would be forced to endure as their land was seized from them and their families murdered. Eighteenth Century Indians such as Pontiac would push for war while natives such a Logan would mostly become an advocate for peace. Although Cortes and Columbus arrived hundreds of years before Pontiac and Logan, it is interesting to think about how these culturally different people would interact with each other. While Pontiac and Cortes would most likely find common ground in their belief of uniting the Indians, they would disagree on the subject of Religion, as would Logan and Columbus over
As conversation moved from unity to religion there might be some debate. Both men are passionate about their religion and believe that their way is the right way. Cortes writes in one of his letters, “ I made them understand through the interpreters how deceived they were…They must know that there was only one God.” (Cortes 57) He later writes, “…they had left their native land so long ago; and as I had only recently arrived from there, I would better know the things they should believe.” (58) The examples from the text not only show that Cortes was passionate and fearless about sharing his religion, but he was also successful in doing so. Converting a whole city to Christianity was something he took pride in, as much as to include it in his letter to the King. Many Indians converted to Christianity due to missionaries and explorers from European countries. However, there were some that denied the teachings of this “new” religion and stood by the beliefs that the tribe has known for generations. Pontiac was one of these Indians. He did not buy into the whole idea that what he believed was wrong and even used his religion to fuel an uprising. He is credited with saying, “Fling all these things away; live as your wise forefathers lived before you…these dogs dressed in red…you must raise a hatchet against them.”(Pontiac 445) Pontiac is referring to ridding their new