Indigenous peoples of America are considered to be small Indian tribes. This name is due not only to the fact that they were the first to inhabit and master this territory, but also to the fact that the American Indians were able to preserve their age-old traditions, passing them on from generation to generation. And this is not just an expression of respect for one's past, it is a real spiritual connection with the spirits of ancestors and the great heritage of the times.
The official date of discovery of the American continent is October 12, 1492. But only a century later, the English conquerors were able to subjugate the local lands to their power, for almost a century they had to dispute their rights with the Spanish troops. The beginning of active development of the territory and rapid colonization is considered to be 1620, when the famous ship called the May Flower landed on the shores. The next historical milestone is the struggle of the new state for independence.
Throughout all these stages, the attitude of the conquerors towards the Indians remained approximately the same. The cruelty of the Spaniards is still legendary,they say that many of them preferred to feed the dead bodies of local residents to their dogs, and it is a generally recognized fact that in the life of one Spanish lord he killed at least a hundred Indians. The famous Columbus introduced a truly titanic gold tax, which was beyond the power to fulfill, hunger and disease came to local settlements.
The American Indians also suffered from the British. Those are ruthless, de alt with them, burning entire villages, often with living people, connected them to the struggle for independence, mercilessly soldered and exchanged them in battles.
At the end of the 16th century, the struggle with the local population gained its greatest scope. People were forcibly baptized into a foreign faith, moved to undeveloped territories on reservations, and hunted animals were exterminated.
Such cruelty is noted only by the conquerors. The American Indians treated the first settlers with all the breadth of their souls. No wonder their hospitality formed the basis of one of the most beloved holidays in the United States, namely Thanksgiving Day.
On the territory of two continents lived more than one tribe of American Indians. In total, there were more than two thousand peoples who spoke more than five hundred different languages.
The nature of their activities differed depending on the geography of residence. The main occupations were hunting, fishing and gathering. Primitive art also developed. A number of peoples were widely known for clay modeling, othersengaged in weaving and woodworking.
The Indians of South America are in many ways different from their northern counterparts.
The most famous are the tribes of the Incas, Maya and Aztecs. The Incas lived in what is now Peru, Chile, and Ecuador. Their culture was based on the worship of the sun. The Maya Indians are world-famous for the legendary calendar that predicted the end of the world. Astrological cults and the worship of heavenly bodies also played a huge role in their culture. The Aztecs worshiped various planets, in particular the cult of Venus was developed.
American Indians today are still a distinctive people. The laws of the United States do not apply on the reservation. They observe traditions and worship the earthly elements. They sincerely believe that the land does not belong to people, but people belong to the earth. Unfortunately, not everything is as rosy as it might seem, most Indians do not have a permanent job, education and comfortable housing. The main sources of income are gambling allowed on the reservations and government subsidies.
