Eurocentric Views of Indigenous Peoples
…Presently many inhabitants of the island assembled... It appeared to me to be a race of people very poor in everything....They neither carry nor know anything of arms, for I showed them swords, and they took them by the blade and cut themselves through ignorance.HTMLBREAKThey should be good servants and intelligent, for I observed that they quickly took in what was said to them, and I believe that they would easily be made Christians, as it appeared to me that they had no religion, our Lord being pleased, will take hence, at the time of my departure, six natives for your Highnesses that they may learn to speak.
The excerpt reflects a Eurocentric perspective characteristic of the period by…
A
Asserts Columbus sought equal exchange with the natives.
B
Assumes indigenous people lacked culture and needed conversion.
C
Suggests a mutual respect for cultural differences existed.
D
Implies Columbus valued native knowledge over European practices.
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