Colonization of the Americas

European history prior and during the age of discovery has had a strong influence on the colonization of the New World and on attitudes adopted on the American continent during the era. Christopher Columbus' arrival in the New World in 1492 marked the beginning of a period of cultural exchanges between the two continents. European cultural values slowly but surely pervaded American communities both because some were appealing and because European colonists took on aggressive attitudes in order to have natives acknowledge their power.

The Crusades and the spread of Christianity influenced many European colonists to believe that it had been their mission to promote Christian values in the New World. Some even saw parallels between natives on the American continent and individuals that Crusaders interacted to as they attempted to convert them to Christianity. Roman Catholics in particular took on the mission to promote Christianity on the American continent and nations like Portugal, Spain, and France played a particularly important role in introducing Christian ideas onto these lands.

Europe had gone through a series of significant events both prior and during the period in which the American Continent started to be colonized. The Black Death had played an important role in influencing individuals in Europe to want to colonize diverse areas from around the world. Consequent to the malady's disappearance, population levels went up significantly and improved European commerce. Individuals wanted to have access to new products and monarchs in particular were determined to finance expeditions that were likely to generate a great deal of benefits.

It was difficult and almost impossible for the colonies to remain isolated from the European continent in terms of cultural values. The Renaissance movement itself had convinced many colonists to perceive themselves as belonging to a privileged community -- one that provided them with the authority to promote values that they believed in to individuals on the American continent. To a certain degree, one can go as far as to say that this was one of the most significant clashes of cultures in the history of mankind. Many colonists promoted their cultural values in the New World precisely because they did not want to lose their already fragile connection to the European continent. Many ideas that pervaded the American society during the colonization period can still be observed today and one can easily find parallels between cultural values promoted in certain areas on the European continent and cultural values presently respected in America.