How Civilization: Were Native Americans Civilized?
Native Americans are a group of people with a variety of political structures and numerous ways of life. Most people envision Native Americans as uncivilized; however, this is often an overlooked topic and there are multiple pieces of evidence to prove they are civilized people. The Native Americans were civilized in many forms, they lived in harmony among nature until the white men kicked them off their land. The meaning of civilized is for a group of people to have well-organized laws and rules about how people behave with each other. Natives showed the organization of laws and rules when they “adapted to their new environmental conditions and natural surroundings, and eventually developed their own political systems, religious beliefs, and
languages” (Lecture,3). With their spiritual beliefs they organized their own system of beliefs, as “most indians held that a single Creator stood atop the spiritual hierarchy,”(GML,9) providing information that they are civilized because they set the rule that there is a supreme being.They show civilization to women when they were included in the aspects of native society, whereas the groups who don’t include all genders in societal activities are seen as uncivilized. Actions of people being civilized goes on as being polite, reasonable, and respectful, rather than creating barriers from the differences of men, and women, which all are treated with respect by Natives for their respective differences. “The European idea of male dominance and female subordination in all things was conspicuously absent in native societies, where power was shared between the sexes,” (Lecture,6) both genders within this society are seen to be used for the betterment of the community. To the Natives all people were seen of value, each with a unique perspective. According to Giovanni da Verrazano, the Natives “are the most beautiful and have the most civilized customs…” (VOF,6). In the end, it is shown that because the Natives have a well organized society, believe in one supreme being, and see both men and women as equals they are a civilized society rather than an uncivilized one.
languages” (Lecture,3). With their spiritual beliefs they organized their own system of beliefs, as “most indians held that a single Creator stood atop the spiritual hierarchy,”(GML,9) providing information that they are civilized because they set the rule that there is a supreme being.They show civilization to women when they were included in the aspects of native society, whereas the groups who don’t include all genders in societal activities are seen as uncivilized. Actions of people being civilized goes on as being polite, reasonable, and respectful, rather than creating barriers from the differences of men, and women, which all are treated with respect by Natives for their respective differences. “The European idea of male dominance and female subordination in all things was conspicuously absent in native societies, where power was shared between the sexes,” (Lecture,6) both genders within this society are seen to be used for the betterment of the community. To the Natives all people were seen of value, each with a unique perspective. According to Giovanni da Verrazano, the Natives “are the most beautiful and have the most civilized customs…” (VOF,6). In the end, it is shown that because the Natives have a well organized society, believe in one supreme being, and see both men and women as equals they are a civilized society rather than an uncivilized one.