New World Woodcut Image
Native American, Indian, Savage, New World, Christopher Columbus
This is one of the first visual depictions of the New World with images of its natives. It is a German woodcut print by an unknown creator. The print is taken from the descriptions provided by early explorers of the New World and gives Europeans one of the very first visual images of how natives were thought to appear. In this scene natives are shown to be nude and participating in sexual acts openly in public. They are partially clothed in feathers which is somewhat accurate from descriptions, however, men are depicted with beards which is inaccurate. In the of the image, a human can be seen cooking over a fire which shows their barbequing methods as well as portraying the image of cannibalism. European ships are shown to be arriving in the background of the print while natives in the foreground go about their day. The image is more representational of natives and drawn from collections of descriptions so much of this image cannot be taken literally; however, to those who viewed it during the sixteenth century it would have most likely have been accepted as a picturesque view of reality.
Unknown
First Images of America: The Impact of the New World on the Old
University of Memphis
1505
University of California Press
Speech by Powhatan, as Recorded by John Smith, 1609
Chief Powhatan, Powhatan, John Smith, Native American, Indian
Powhatan was the paramount chief of 30 Algonquian speaking tribes of Virginia Indians that made up the Powhatan Confederacy. In the early part of the sixteenth century he maintained a somewhat civil alliance with the settlers of Jamestown. His famous daughter Pocahontas, according to Smith, plead with Powhatan to spare his life. Chief Powhatan in most accounts sought to create a peaceful alliance with colonists although both sides fell victim to mistrust. His speech, recorded by Smith, is most likely a product of their contact in January of 1609. Smith and other colonists were building Powhatan an English style home in exchange for food and supplies. Smith held Chief Powhatan at gunpoint after being abducted but was later released. It is possible his speech was part of this exchange, but could have been given at any time around this encounter as relations began to erode between settlers and Natives.
Chief Powhatan
<p><a href="http://www.smithsoniansource.org/display/primarysource/viewdetails.aspx?PrimarySourceId=1170">http://www.smithsoniansource.org/display/primarysource/viewdetails.aspx?PrimarySourceId=1170</a></p>
University of Memphis
1609
Written record provided by Smith, John
The Smithsonian Institution
The Smithsonian Institution
Edward Randolph’s Report of King Philip’s War in New England, 1675
King Philip, War, Chief Metacom, Metacomet
The letter written by Edward Randolph is a report to make clear misunderstandings or misinformation which explains possible causes for the King Philip’s war. King Philip’s war or Metacom’s War took place in the New England colonies between 1675 and 1676. The war was a result of growing tensions between the English colonists and Wampanoag tribe over cultural differences of religion, protection against rival native tribes, colonists’ invasion of Wampanoag land, and difficult trade alliances. Violent conflict first began after three Wampanoag were put on trial and executed for the murder of John Sassamon, a Praying Indian who served as an interpreter and translator between the two cultures. Natives murder colonists and burn their homes, villages, and towns. By the end of the bloody war over 3,000 Wampanoag and their allied tribes were killed alongside 1,000 colonists and native allies were killed. Countless homes and cities on both side were destroyed as well as the loss of property and disruption of trade. In Randolph’s letter he explanations for growing hostilities and identifies that much of the blame should fall on the English.
Edward Randolph
<p><a href="http://www.smithsoniansource.org/display/primarysource/viewdetails.aspx?PrimarySourceId=1175">http://www.smithsoniansource.org/display/primarysource/viewdetails.aspx?PrimarySourceId=1175</a></p>
University of Memphis
1675
The Smithsonian Institution
The Smithsonian Institution