Christopher Columbus was Scottish

[macwilkin]

As did the whole "superior armaments" thing that the Europeans had going for them.

Yes and no. Remember that Native Americans quickly realised that Europeans could prove to be very important allies in tribal conflicts, and soon made alliances with them in hopes that the latter would be able to defeat enemies -- witness the willingness of a number of tribes in the central valley of Mexico who were all too happy to see Cortes and his men and help them defeat the Aztecs.

Regards,

Todd

[Bryan]

Yes and no. Remember that Native Americans quickly realised that Europeans could prove to be very important allies in tribal conflicts, and soon made alliances with them in hopes that the latter would be able to defeat enemies -- witness the willingness of a number of tribes in the central valley of Mexico who were all too happy to see Cortes and his men and help them defeat the Aztecs.

Regards,

Todd

Very true!

[macwilkin]

Information:

http://www.oup.com/us/catalog/genera...=9780195340129

Calloway has some very interesting comments about modern-day Highland games in North America, btw, in a similar vein to Celeste Ray's Highland Heritage: Scottish-Americans in the American South.

Regards,

Todd

[TNKiltedWolf]

Very, very, cool book sir!! This will have to go on the must read list. Thanks for the reference!

Information:

http://www.oup.com/us/catalog/genera...=9780195340129

Calloway has some very interesting comments about modern-day Highland games in North America, btw, in a similar vein to Celeste Ray's Highland Heritage: Scottish-Americans in the American South.

Regards,

Todd

[macwilkin]

Very, very, cool book sir!! This will have to go on the must read list. Thanks for the reference!

You're most welcome -- I'm always happy to share titles of good books.

Check out Fernec Szasz's Scots in the North American West 1790-1917 (Oklahoma U Press, 2000) for another good read.

T.

[Brother Falldown]

Yes and no. Remember that Native Americans quickly realised that Europeans could prove to be very important allies in tribal conflicts, and soon made alliances with them in hopes that the latter would be able to defeat enemies -- witness the willingness of a number of tribes in the central valley of Mexico who were all too happy to see Cortes and his men and help them defeat the Aztecs.

Regards,

Todd

I recall reading somewhere that the Aztecs with thier slings and clay pellets were far more effective both in rate of fire and accuracy that Cortez's muskets.

[macwilkin]

I recall reading somewhere that the Aztecs with thier slings and clay pellets were far more effective both in rate of fire and accuracy that Cortez's muskets.

Could very well be. The Aztecs certainly got the jump on Cortes on La Noche Triste.

T.

[Bryan]

I recall reading somewhere that the Aztecs with thier slings and clay pellets were far more effective both in rate of fire and accuracy that Cortez's muskets.

Much like the plains tribes early in the 19th century with their bows. Muskets used up into the 19th century were mostly smooth-bore, single shot muzzle loaders. Very inaccurate. It wasn't until the advent of the repeating firearm that things really changed.