Visual Source: Theodor de Bry, Engraving of cannibals (1590)

European Exploration, Perception of the Other, and the Columbian Exchange

How did Europeans perceive the new people they encountered and how were they in turn perceived?

Theodor de Bry created this image, an engraving of supposed acts of cannibalism in the New World, as part of a series called “America” that was published in Frankfurt in 1590. It was based on descriptions given to him by explorers rather than his own experiences since he never traveled to the New World.

. What is occurring in the first engraving?

The native people are having a celebration of the Europeans' arrival.

The native people are roasting and eating human flesh.

The native people are shown in their daily life in ways that look similar to European daily life.

. How might such an image have shaped public perception of native Americans?

This would cause the Europeans to feel pity for the native Americans who had so little food to eat.

This would encourage Europeans to see the native Americans as just like them.

This would reinforce preconceived notions of them as unnatural and alien to Europeans.

Visual Source: Theodor de Bry, Engraving of cannibals (1590)

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