Today, social issues and their problems are discussed in every corner of the globe, whereas before, perhaps, no particular importance was attached to this phenomenon. The problems of relationships with people in our time have their roots in the distant past. This is why discrimination, violence, misunderstanding, murder, injustice, and other crimes cannot disappear. The difference is that people of ancient times did not have a unique understanding that the aforementioned social problems arose precisely because of their improper relationship with people. The interaction of the French with the indigenous people of North America describes not only lifestyle and difference in their social status but also the life and culture of people in the whole society of the world and the existing problems for everyone. This document teaches historians that the attitude of the peoples of North America and the French is the prehistory of existing social inequalities and the culture of human nature.
To begin with, The Jesuit Jean de Brebeuf, being a Frenchman and describing the life of the Hurons, makes it clear to historians the social problems existing at that time. In addition, the French professed the Christian religion, while the Hurons had no faith. The French call the Hurons “barbarians,” which means that the French feel superior to the Indians (Rushforth et al., 2016). The word “barbarian” or “savages” is quite offensive; therefore, discrimination is already happening here. The French present themselves as a high society with a religion; thus, according to them, they do not prefer to be in a place where they will not be recognized as preachers of Jesus Christ (Rushforth et al., 2016). The document is crucial for historians regarding the existence of higher societies and their relationship to the lower stratum of society. Feeling superior to the Indians and despising them for not knowing anything, the French demonstrate that they separated people from themselves with a status lower than themselves.
Further, the lifestyle and culture of each society are of no minor importance to historians, which in turn is demonstrated in the document. Exposed to different living conditions, people, depending on this, have other behaviors and views on particular situations. Firstly, the Indians, the “barbarians,” do not know how to distinguish good from evil and do not think about the future (Rushforth et al., 2016). The Hurons explain this has no religion, meaning there is no punishment or reward after death. That is why they commit various “outrages” in their lives. They have an almost similar lifestyle to animals. The Hurons are very vindictive, but if they have a good impression of a person, they do not cause harm. In addition, the Hurons have such quality hospitality. Any person who will seek shelter from them can be content with their warm welcome. It suggests that the Hurons have no ambition and arrogance.
Consequently, people who have not been subjected to civilization and race for social status do not have such qualities as meanness and self-esteem. Secondly, unlike the Hurons, the French emphasize that they are from high society and that their way of life is not as “ugly” as the life of the Hurons (Rushforth et al., 2016). It suggests that the French are arrogant, and their human nature has been influenced by society.
In conclusion, this document should be of great importance to historians, with the help of which crucial outcomes can be drawn. One of these conclusions made in the paper is that high society has always felt its superiority over the lower stratum of society, which is why there are social problems at the moment. In addition, people’s lifestyle affects their perception of the world and their nature as a whole.
Reference
Rushforth, B. & Mapp, P. W. (2016). Colonial North America and the Atlantic World: A History in Documents. Routledge.