5 - Human Sacrifice, Ritualised Violence and the Colonial Encounter in the Americas

Summary

This chapter presents several arguments concerning native and European colonial violence focusing on its ritual forms. Firstly, while Amerindian cannibalism and human sacrifice – particularly suited to the justification of conquest and colonial domination – were strongly reproached by the Europeans, some of their own behaviours resembled these practices more than they would admit. Secondly, while colonial discourse tended to construct a relatively homogeneous colonial ‘other’, native ritual violence differed considerably between and among the stratified and the egalitarian indigenous societies, that is, those without institutionalised forms of inequality beyond age and gender differences. Thirdly, Amerindians were differently affected by European conquest and colonial rule depending, among other things, on their form of political organisation. Fourthly, native and European (ritual) violent practices influenced each other to a certain extent. Finally, while Europeans condemned native ritual violence such as human sacrifice or the treatment of war captives as barbaric, their dealings with people considered inimical to the secular and godly order were by no means more humane. Given the umpteen variety of Amerindian cultures and colonial encounters, only some general trends and a few empirical examples can be discussed.