Indian vs. Native American

[SEVERUSMAX]

These are both great cultures, so don't think that I am putting either down. Nevertheless, they are as different as British and Chinese. How the hell Columbus got them confused is beyond me.

Similarities:
ruins of ancient cities and towns mysteriously destroyed
a desire for mystical union with a Cosmic Soul or Spirit (Brahman/Great Spirit)
a belief that all of the Cosmos is ultimately one
reverence for ancestors and sacred animals
willingness to fight for land and protect it
an overall preference for peace
some great architechtural achievements
disdain for excessive materialism
occasional ascetic tendencies
respect for spiritual figures (Brahmin/medicine men)
some great historical figures (Asoka and Gandhi/Geronimo and Tecumseh)
some gruesome and shocking religious practices (thuggee/Aztec human sacrifices)

Differences:
communal economy (Native American) vs. capitalistic trading system (East Indian)
matriarchal or egalitarian social structure (Native American except for the Algonquian tribes) vs. highly patriarchal society (East Indian)
hunting as a major cultural and economic practice (Native American) vs. a tendency toward vegetarianism and veganism (East Indian)
almost no facial hair (Native American) vs. serious facial hair that one is sometimes forbidden to shave (East Indian)
Mongoloid origins (Native American) vs. Indo-European (East Indian)
generally more mobile society where even slaves can become free and attain higher standing (Native American) vs. elaborate and rigid caste system (East Indian)
religion based mostly on oral tradition and outdoor ceremonies (Native American) vs. indoor rituals and sacred texts (East Indian)
fairly democratic political arrangements (Native American, for the most part) vs. mostly monarchical regimes (East Indian)

those are just some examples of each

 

[Stella_Omega]

research is so much fun, isn't it?
I go off on these tangents too- my last one enrolled me in an actor's workshop

 

[SEVERUSMAX]

research is so much fun, isn't it?
I go off on these tangents too- my last one enrolled me in an actor's workshop

Neat.

 

[3113]

These are both great cultures, so don't think that I am putting either down. Nevertheless, they are as different as British and Chinese. How the hell Columbus got them confused is beyond me.

I don't think Columbus did his homework In fact, he barely did his homework when it came to geography...he kinda got the size of the world wrong there, so no suprise if he confused Indians and Native Americans. It's not like he'd ever seen either before he went off in search of one and found the other.

 

[SEVERUSMAX]

I don't think Columbus did his homework In fact, he barely did his homework when it came to geography...he kinda got the size of the world wrong there, so no suprise if he confused Indians and Native Americans. It's not like he'd ever seen either before he went off in search of one and found the other.

True.