European history prior and during the age of discovery has had a strong influence on the colonization of the New World and on attitudes adopted on the American continent during the era. Christopher Columbus' arrival in the New World in 1492 marked the beginning of a period of cultural exchanges between the two continents. European cultural values slowly but surely pervaded American communities both because some were appealing and because European colonists took on aggressive attitudes in order to have natives acknowledge their power.

The Crusades and the spread of Christianity influenced many European colonists to believe that it had been their mission to promote Christian values in the New World. Some even saw parallels between natives on the American continent and individuals that Crusaders interacted to as they attempted to convert them to Christianity. Roman Catholics in particular took on the mission to promote Christianity on the American continent...
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