Over 400 years ago, the Powhatan Indians inhabited a place called Jamestown, Virginia. Their every-day life was disrupted, though, when, in 1607, a ship carrying men from England came to claim their land, making Jamestown their new capital. This could have been seen as a bright opportunity for both parties: the Powhatan Indians could have shared their knowledge of the land they occupied, and the English could have shared some of the skills and technology brought over with them. But, of course, the two groups found that they had many differences. They had a hard time sharing and trading because of how different they were, such as in their belief systems, materials and resources, and their living environments to name a few.
As stated before, the Powhatan Indians and the English had different belief systems. For example, the English, much like many Americans today, were monotheist, believing in only one god.
English: "The Coronation of Powhatan," by the Amer...
Indian massacre of 1622, depicted in a 1628 woodcu...
Location of Jamestown, VirginiaThe Natives, on the other hand, believed that there were many gods. There were not only differences in their religious beliefs, though. For instance, the Powhatan Indians honored their women and treated them with a high respect. They believed that women were the "giver of life" in society, therefore they were greatly valued. The Colonists, on the other hand, believed that women were property. Land ownership was a conflict as well. While the Indians believed that the land was something that was Mother Earth's and could not be owned, the English claimed land as theirs every chance they got.
Another difference between the Powhatan Indians and the Settlers was resources and how they were used. The Natives, for example, used hand-made weapons and tools that were made of stone. With the English, though, came their knowledge of metal, meaning that they had more advanced tools and weapons made...