This term describes the initial encounters between indigenous peoples living in America before Columbus arrived and Europeans who began exploring and settling in North America thereafter.
Related terms
Columbian Exchange: The widespread exchange of goods, crops, animals, diseases, and ideas between Europe and the Americas after Columbus' arrival.
Treaty Negotiations: Diplomatic discussions where Native American tribes negotiated agreements with European settlers regarding land rights and tribal sovereignty.
Cultural Assimilation: The process in which individuals or groups adopt the cultural practices of another group or society. In this case, it refers to Native Americans adopting aspects of European culture due to their interactions with Europeans.