Seeing Red: European
Perceptions of Native Americans
By William Miskinis
I. Stereotypes
• What is a stereotype?
I. Stereotypes
• A stereotype is a broad generalization of a
particular group of people. The
generalization is usually negative.
II. Savages
• During the sixteenth and seventeenth
centuries, Europeans made first contact with
Native Americans.
• Many Europeans, both in Europe and North
America, considered the Native Americans
to be savages.
• What do you think is meant by the word
“Savage”?
II. Savages
• Europeans stereotyped Native Americans as
savages who were lazy, ignorant and
violent.
III. Noble Savage
• Some Europeans had a different stereotype
for the Native Americans.
• They considered them to be Noble Savages.
III. Noble Savages
• When Europeans considered Native
Americans as Noble Savages, they thought
all Native Americans were ignorant and
technologically backwards, but pure of
heart and law abiding.
III. Noble Savages
• This perception was in part encouraged by
Thomas Harriot, an Englishman who
wanted to convince his king to support
colonization of the New World.
• He wrote A Briefe and True Report of the
New Found Land of Virginia
III. Noble Savages
• The following images, engraved by a man
named Theodor de Bry, are taken from
Harriot’s book.
• Keep in mind Harriot’s purpose as we
examine the images!
IV. Why Stereotype?
• But WHY did Europeans stereotype Native
Americans either as savages or noble
savages?
IV. Why Stereotype?
• If Europeans thought that Native Americans
were savages, it gave them justification to
be prejudiced against them, to steal from
them, even to harm them.
IV. Why Stereotype?
• If Europeans convinced other Europeans
that Native Americans were Noble Savages,
then Europeans might support colonization
as a way to trade with Native Americans.
Review
• 1. What was the Savage Stereotype?
• 2. What was the Noble Savage Stereotype?
• 3. Why did Europeans create these
stereotypes?
• 4. Do these stereotypes still exist today?