Cultural Differences Between Natives and Europeans Spirituality The Europeans who came to North America were all Christians. Whether Catholic or Protestant, they believed that Natives, too, should become Christians. In the European point of view, all non-Christians were inferior. Although Native spirituality was complex, Europeans often tried to understand Native beliefs in Christian terms, assuming for example that Natives believed in a god and a devil. They interpreted Native feasts, dances, and other spiritual practices as heathen rituals.  Land By the beginning of the 17th century, European monarchs had staked claim to the entire east coast of North America, from Labrador to Florida. European colonists arrived soon after, believing they had the right to settle on land that was already inhabited by Native people. For many colonists who came to New England, a critical component of owning land was “improving” it: clearing and fencing it, and either planting crops or grazing animals. Since the land appeared unoccupied to them—it did not resemble a farmscape—colonists believed that no one owned it. But in fact, Native people did improve the landscape in ways that suited their own needs. Controlled burning of underbrush, for example, created a habitat that attracted deer for hunting, and encouraged berry bushes to grow.  Technology Native people were impressed by European technology, in particular metal objects such as kettles, knives, guns, and farm tools. Native people also marveled over European books, and the ability of Europeans to communicate with people far away through written language. Europeans took advantage of this awe to assert their superiority—in the words of one voyager, to make Natives “love and fear” them. Although Native people made use of many European items, exchange of technology also went from Natives to colonists. Colonists adopted a few Native inventions that they deemed useful, such as dugout canoes and snowshoes. Shelter Native and English structures differed in an essential way: their permanence on the landscape. Native people moved seasonally, or their villages were moved every few years, and wigwam coverings could be taken down and transported. In any case, wigwams were only meant to last about 20 years. By contrast, colonists built framed houses with heavy timbers intended to last indefinitely. To Europeans it seemed that Native shelter was not permanent, and they misinterpreted this to mean that Natives did not own the land they occupied.   Clothing Natives and Europeans each took careful note of the other’s clothing.  For Europeans, the quality and design of a person’s clothing corresponded to his or her social status, and they assumed that this also held true in Native society. Europeans often commented on how Native styles of clothing were specific to men or women, or signified age, marital status, or rank. Similarly, Natives identified Europeans by their clothing—one tribe’s name for colonists translated as “Coatmen.” Neither Europeans nor Natives, however, wanted to adopt the other’s clothing. Europeans considered their own clothing a mark of civilization—a jacket and breeches for men, and a bodice and skirt with petticoats for women. Native people, accustomed to breech clouts and skins draped around their shoulders, disliked fitted European clothing because it restricted movement.