Since the early days of American discovery by Christopher Columbus and its Native
peoples, the European settlers have never stopped learning about Indian life, culture,
personality and how to cope with the cultural differences that seemed so difficult to reconcile.
Since then, there have always been various opinions about the cultural differences between
the New and the Old World´s civilization. Confusion, scepticism, denigration and war have
always accompanied the relation between Native people and European settlers until present
time. Within this paper these perceptions of the Indian life, as well as the Indian view of the
strangers from the Sea shall be examined and evaluated. The most interesting question to ask
will be: how and most of all why did the image of the Indian people develop from the 15th
century and the discovery of American Natives to Benjamin Franklin´s “Remarks Concerning
the Savages of North America” in 1784 and who or what reason caused this change in the
minds of the people? [...]
Table of Contents
1. Introduction
2. Indian images throughout the centuries
2.1. 15th and 16th century perceptions
2.2. 17th and 18th century perceptions
2.3. Benjamin Franklin´s “Remarks Concerning the Savages of North America”
3. Conclusion
Objectives and Themes
This paper examines the evolving European perceptions of Native American cultures, tracing the shift from early colonial stereotypes to the more nuanced views presented during the Enlightenment. The work analyzes how cultural differences were interpreted, misunderstood, and eventually debated by various European writers.
- The historical development of the "noble savage" versus "barbarous savage" stereotypes.
- The impact of Christian dogma on the early perception and treatment of indigenous peoples.
- The role of the Enlightenment in fostering tolerance and a re-evaluation of Western civilization.
- A detailed analysis of Benjamin Franklin's "Remarks Concerning the Savages of North America."
- The correlation between colonial political interests and shifting Indian images.
Excerpt from the Book
Benjamin Franklin´s “Remarks Concerning the Savages of North America”
Benjamin Franklin was often called the first great non-Puritan of his time. With this attitude he was highly representative for the tolerance of the Enlightenment and carried on this spirit. He early distanced from his father´s calvinistic views which he had been told since childhood. Because of his curiosity and tolerance towards different cultural and spiritual views – he willingly tried vegetarian and vegan lifestyle as well as different religious beliefs – he refused the antiquated opinions of Christianity and Puritanism towards other peoples´ cultures.
His contribution to the acceptance of the Indian spirit within Western society should be called the “Remarks Concerning the Savages of North America” and it followed the roots and the ideas of great scholars of the Enlightenment like Voltaire and Rousseau. His main concern has always been the tolerance and respect between different parties when being present as a statesman, as well as philosopher and intelligent human being. Even this tolerance and the destruction of prejudice was expressed throughout his remarks on the Indian people: “Savages we call them because their manners differ from ours, which we think the perfection of civility, they think the same of theirs.”
Summary of Chapters
1. Introduction: This chapter outlines the scope of the study, posing the central research question regarding why and how the perception of Native American peoples changed from the 15th century through 1784.
2. Indian images throughout the centuries: This section details the historical shifts in European perception, analyzing the initial contact, the role of Christian missions, and the influence of Enlightenment thought on the image of the "savage."
2.1. 15th and 16th century perceptions: This chapter covers the early exploration period, focusing on the conflicting images of indigenous generosity versus the fear-driven denigration promoted by the Church.
2.2. 17th and 18th century perceptions: This chapter discusses the move toward tolerance during the Enlightenment, highlighting how writers began to use Native American life as a mirror to critique European social and religious injustices.
2.3. Benjamin Franklin´s “Remarks Concerning the Savages of North America”: This chapter analyzes Franklin’s work as a pinnacle of Enlightenment tolerance, demonstrating his defense of Indian culture as structured, rational, and superior in certain aspects to Western norms.
3. Conclusion: The concluding chapter synthesizes the arguments, noting that while the debate remains complex, the contributions of open-minded thinkers like Franklin have fostered a greater awareness of cultural differences.
Keywords
Indian perceptions, Enlightenment, Benjamin Franklin, Colonialism, Native American culture, Cultural differences, Puritans, Social critique, Tolerance, Ethnography, Western civilization, Noble Savage.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the fundamental focus of this academic paper?
The paper focuses on the historical evolution of how European settlers and writers perceived Native American peoples, starting from the 15th-century encounters up until the late 18th century.
What are the primary thematic fields covered in this work?
The core themes include colonial history, the intersection of religion and cultural prejudice, the impact of the Enlightenment on global perspectives, and the social critique of Western societal norms.
What is the central research objective or question?
The primary goal is to investigate how and why the image of Native Americans developed and shifted over the centuries, specifically looking at the transition from colonial prejudice to the critical, humanistic perspectives seen in the 1780s.
Which methodology is applied in this research?
The author employs a historical-analytical method, examining primary texts and secondary historical accounts to evaluate the shifting cultural perceptions within the provided timeline.
What topics are addressed in the main body of the work?
The main body covers early exploration, the destructive role of Puritan religious views, the shift toward tolerance during the Enlightenment, and a specific case study of Benjamin Franklin’s observations.
Which key terms best characterize this work?
Key terms include Enlightenment, cultural perception, colonial history, Benjamin Franklin, and cultural tolerance.
How does Benjamin Franklin specifically challenge the Puritan view of indigenous people?
Franklin argues that what Europeans call "savagery" is merely a difference in cultural manners and suggests that Native society is actually more orderly and respectful than the political systems of the British.
What does the text conclude about the "denigration" of indigenous culture?
The author concludes that such denigration was often a defensive mechanism used by European societies to justify their own failures and to suppress the appeal of the "free and natural" lifestyle of the indigenous peoples.
- Quote paper
- Franziska Höfer (Author), 2002, Indian perceptions - From 15th century to Benjamin Franklin´s "Remarks Concerning the Savages of North America", Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/19868
