One of the strengths of Captivating History books is the emphasis on 'why.' To really understand history, we must understand why something was done. This book dedicates a lot of ink to explaining the motivation of the different parties who met in conflict in the New World. The Puritans saw themselves as battling Satan when they met the American Indians and failed to get them to be baptized. Coexistence and tolerance were not attitudes the Europeans valued. These Europeans believed wholeheartedly in their own moral superiority and wanted to press it on others, no matter the cost. Thus, these groups were destined to fight.
A valuable insight into the Indians' mind was stated on p. 10: The Pequots were not interested in material gain. "..Pequots lived in the community and only used what natural resources they needed to survive." In comparison to other groups, the Pequots were considered to be wealthy. The Pequots did fine trading with the Dutch; who had no interest in converting them. However, the later Europeans had different goals.
Unfortunately, the Europeans brought illnesses that native tribes had no immunity against, and whole villages and tribal clans disappeared quickly. This truly scared the native tribes; they decided that Europeans were using the illnesses to get them off the land the Europeans coveted.
In the early pages, the author mentioned the Mashantucket Pequot Reservation, North America's oldest Indian reservation, located in southeastern Connecticut. I was shocked to see that there was a reservation created that early (in 1666) and looked on the Internet for more information. After a discussion of the Pequot and King Philip's Wars, the author returned to Pequot Reservation issues today.
This particular book does a wonderful job of explaining the 'why' of the European colonists and the various Indian tribes, then moving to 'what happened,' moving to the results of their altercations, and finally, looking at the Pequot people today. Great information and fascinating reading.
A valuable insight into the Indians' mind was stated on p. 10: The Pequots were not interested in material gain. "..Pequots lived in the community and only used what natural resources they needed to survive." In comparison to other groups, the Pequots were considered to be wealthy. The Pequots did fine trading with the Dutch; who had no interest in converting them. However, the later Europeans had different goals.
Unfortunately, the Europeans brought illnesses that native tribes had no immunity against, and whole villages and tribal clans disappeared quickly. This truly scared the native tribes; they decided that Europeans were using the illnesses to get them off the land the Europeans coveted.
In the early pages, the author mentioned the Mashantucket Pequot Reservation, North America's oldest Indian reservation, located in southeastern Connecticut. I was shocked to see that there was a reservation created that early (in 1666) and looked on the Internet for more information. After a discussion of the Pequot and King Philip's Wars, the author returned to Pequot Reservation issues today.
This particular book does a wonderful job of explaining the 'why' of the European colonists and the various Indian tribes, then moving to 'what happened,' moving to the results of their altercations, and finally, looking at the Pequot people today. Great information and fascinating reading.
