The initial interaction of Europeans and Americans is the focus of Chapter One, Three Old Words Create a New, in NortonÆs (et al., 2000) A People and a Nation. In the first thirty pages of this text, Norton (et al., 2000) contends that the invasion and colonization by Europeans in the Americas represented a wholly one-sided relationship. As Norton (et al., 2000) writes, ôThe initial impact of Europeans on the Americas proved devastating. Flourishing civilizations were, if not entirely destroyed, markedly altered in just a few short decadesö (p. 30). This theme unfolded as Europeans exploited the human and natural resources of the Americas, imposed their religion on indigenous cultures, and enslaved natives and imported slaves.
The theme of the devastation wrought on cultures and civilizations of the Americas by Europeans will be analyzed according to the following categories: 1) importance of the matter, 2) data, statistics, and quantities, 3) unanswered questions, 4) objectivity, 5) relevance, 6) sources, 7) readability, and 8) completeness.
The importance of the exploitation of indigenous cultures in the Americas by European cultures cannot be underestimated. This is true from a standpoint of the shaping of the modern Americas, an evolution highly influenced by Europeans. It is also true from the standpoint of the decimation of indigenous civilizations through imperialism, military force, exploitation and disease. As Norton (et al., 2000) argues, Europeans, particular the Spaniards who were most successful in colonizing and exploiting the Americas, employed a three-pronged model that would be adopted by future European nations: 1) The Crown maintained tight control over the colonies, imposing a hierarchical government, 2) Most of the colonists sent were male, and 3) The coloniesÆ wealth was based on the exploitation of both the native population and slaves imported from Africa (p. 23).
The significance of this mod...