Interactions with Europeans

Definition

The term "interactions with Europeans" refers to the encounters, exchanges, and relationships between Native American populations and European colonizers during the colonial period. These interactions encompassed various aspects such as trade, warfare, culture clashes, disease transmission, and land dispossession.

Related terms

Trade networks: Refers to the exchange of goods and resources between Native American tribes and European settlers through established trading routes.

Disease epidemics: Describes the devastating impact of Old World diseases (such as smallpox) on Native American populations due to their lack of immunity.

Cultural assimilation: Describes the process by which Native Americans adopted European customs, language, religion, or social structures under pressure from colonization efforts.