America in the Eyes of Europeans and Europe in the Eyes of Americans: "Changing Shoes"

At the end of the 15th century, it was almost impossible to reach Asia by land from Europe. The route was long and difficult and it was necessary to avoid encountering hordes of enemies. Portuguese explorers solved this problem by traveling through sea.

Christopher Columbus proposes to reach India by going west from the Atlantic instead of traveling through Africa, but with miscalculations, he crosses the Atlantic Ocean under the Spanish flag and sets foot on the North American continent. Believing that he has reached the East Indies, he thinks that the natives he sees here are Indians – because they are naked and do not use metal weapons. Considering that they do not belong to any religion, he defines them as "Christians of the future". According to him, the natives are easily deceived and they are primitive. Then he gives some gifts to the natives, and Columbus thinks that the natives love the newly arrived Europeans - they were very friendly and even got on the ship - but the natives are very poor and ignorant of European civilization. The population is also quite young – their lifespan may be short due to their way of life – and they are unfamiliar with weapons. They don't use iron, they use wood. Exploring to reach the riches of the East and to spread Christianity wherever he went, Columbus thought the natives were Indians when he arrived in America. In general, he thought that the natives were rather primitive and friendly.

Cortes, who took part in the invasion and capture of Aztec lands by the Spanish, is known to the Mexicans as the opportunistic religion bearer and the man who enslaved the peoples of Central America. The arrival of Hernando Cortes, according to the Aztec calendar, is greeted with enthusiasm by the Aztecs when the future of the Gods conforms to the date and shape—in shiny armor, on animals, from the east—and the Aztec people describe Cortes as “respected guest” despite the massacres he inflicted. So much so that the Aztec king Montezuma gives Cortes his throne to sit on and welcomes him "like the gods". Cortes' soldiers leave no stone unturned in Aztec, and Cortes is free to enter and leave the palace he chooses. Women and children are killed. This behavior causes the Spanish Velazquez, like himself, to oppose him, and Cortes, as a Spaniard, to fight with the troops sent by Velazquez - that is, the Spaniards - and the Aztec revolt that started at the same time - before Montezuma's murder. After Montezuma's death, the Spaniards were driven from the city. Later, Cortes gathers his troops and has a new Mexico City built on the ruins in Mexico. This city is a Spanish colony and paved the way for the birth of Spanish America. Upon the colonization of the Westerners, the natives suffer great losses due to reasons such as smallpox from the West.

Pedro, who describes himself as "the first chronicler of the Indies" and was born into a Jewish family, is tolerated after the Jews are outlawed in the Spanish colonies for helping the Spaniards capture Peru and the Incas during the Geographical Explorations. His chronicle, which he wrote on a wide range of subjects such as the social life, communications, civil wars, and economy of the Incas, sheds light on our day.

The Law of the Indies, which encompasses all the laws that the Spanish Queen has enacted for America, regulates the life of the natives in all areas. It is considered to be too pro-Native, but it is a tool to spread Christianity in America. Natives who do not know the concept of law - the Indians - are given a definition of law as prescribed by the Spaniards and prohibitions and freedoms are determined. War is not brought to the fore by suggesting observance of customs. There is talk of revolts and it is said that the natives cannot be enslaved – still misunderstood as Indians. The will of the natives is protected, severe punishment is prevented, and European culture is tried to be imposed.

As you can see, Europe discovered America while trying to go east, and the Native Americans thought they were Indians. Christianization of the natives, imposition of culture, and conquest are at the center of all colonization efforts. The aim of Europe, which wants to benefit from the blessings of the East, becomes this time to benefit from the blessings of America. This current, led by Christopher Columbus, sees different reactions depending on the person who made the conquest movement. When Christopher Columbus noticed the natives, he described them like the others as primitive and poor. However, since Columbus did not have a destructive attitude, the locals approached the Europeans very warmly. Columbus then realizes that the natives are easily deceived and irreligious. This makes Columbus think that the natives were inclined to accept Christianity. Cortes acted for the same purpose, but in different ways. Columbus is an explorer, while Cortes wants to be ruler. Cortes also finds the natives primitive, poor, and deceitful because the Aztecs thought they were gods. This is how he differs from Columbus. The natives treat Cortes as their god, and Cortes' political power grows stronger, as does his cruelty. This causes the locals to lose their respect for him in the future and to rebel. He is so cruel that Velazquez, a fellow of his own race, tries to stop him. In his letter to King Charles, Cortes talks about the social and glorious life of the Aztecs. Their respect for their king, their life in abundance and their natural resources are the main subjects of the letter. Introducing the Aztec culture, Cortes specifically mentions the sources. Pedro, a great historian, respects the civilization where he goes. He describes with admiration the Inca Civilization, even after they were lost by the Spanish. Unlike other explorers, Pedro does not mention Christianity and colonization. Although his explorer attitude is similar to Columbus, Pedro writes exactly what he sees and describes his social life in detail. He did not mention the attitude of the natives towards him, but he attaches great importance to their culture. The laws enacted by the Spaniards were criticized for being too pro-Native at the time. However, I think this soft point of view is to impose culture more easily and to make Christianity – even though it is Catholic – more lovable. Because the law prohibits slavery, but it also legitimizes it in a way. He says that explorers, governors, and high-ranking officials cannot own slaves, but accepts that natives, Indians, and blacks are protected "under the Spanish crown." Still, it is aimed to prevent deaths and the justice of Europe is wanted to be distributed to America. Why did the people, defined as primitive and poor by all explorers, suddenly become so valuable?

As it is seen, all explorers and notables regarded the American Indians as inferior to themselves. With its oppressive structure, Europe colonized the areas it discovered and caused the disappearance of cultures that had existed for centuries. Although some approach it softly, the result has not changed, civilization has changed hands and cultures have melted. Huge Aztec, Inca civilizations, American civilization met “justice” in the hands of Europeans.

CEREN AKTAŞ