Jeffrey Sharpe
3/30/2017
Humans in the Central Appalachians:
For this weeks reading, we read a document written by Steven Stephenson called the "Humans in the Central Appalachians." One thing that I was surprised about was left by the "Spanish were devastating diseases such as measles and smallpox, which decimated Native Americans and created a population vacuum that could be exploited by later European settles" (pg. 202). It just goes and show how careless Europeans were while on a conquest of taking over the world. In addition, the Europeans did not really cared for the well being of the Native Americans and let them suffer. It's just amazing how people are willing to harm other humans and simply do not care what happens to them. You even she that in todays society where people do not care for others, as well as others from foreign nation.
A Child with Smallpox in the early 1970s.
(Author: CDC/James Hicks)
Later in the 1700s, the European settlers were continuously moving westward in to Indian country, which meant they were on Indian land. Which in "July 1755 the settlement of Draper's Meadow was destroyed and at least five settlers killed by a raiding party of Native Americans" (pg. 203). Demonstrating that the Europeans did not care about the Native Americans and were willing to move onto their land without permission. Which would lead to violence and bloodshed. Strengthening the hatred between the Native Americans and European settlers. And it would only grow worse later in history.
Mary Draper Ingles (survivor of the Draper's Meadow Massacre)
(Author: Unknown).
Photo Location: https://www.wikitree.com/photo/jpg/Draper-900-2
Another statement that surprised me was that the "there are no really large cities in the Central Appalachians" (pg. 214). The only city that is mention was Roanoke Virginia, which is roughly 100,000 people in it (pg. 214). Which is surprising to me. Primarily that you would think that region would hold a lot more people since the regions discovery in the 1500s. By now, you would think more people would have colonize the Appalachian mountains and possibly exceeding other major cities of the United States. By having such a relatively small population in the region, you can tell how hard it is to live in the region. And it reserve for those who are able to take care of themselves.
Location of Roanoke, Virginia
(Author: Seth Ilys)
Photo Location: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:VAMap-doton-Roanoke.PNG
Citation:
Stephenson, S. L. (2013). A natural history of the central Appalachians. Morgantown: West Virginia University Press.
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