Russell Shorto
Island at the Center of the World
In early 17th century, Manhattan was not a village anymore. fourty five thousands people lived on the island. In the beginning the cohabitation between natives and settlers went well. Certainly because they depended on the natives’ knowledge of the land, agriculture and fur trade. Moreover the micro-society of Manhattan was based on a religious tolerance and thus the population was tolerant of different cultures – the Lenape were certainly seen as one of the many ethnicities that were around. Most of all, the idea that diversity enhances business sustained the status-quo among the inhabitants.
All this societal ideas are coming directly from the Dutch culture of that time. As early as 16th century (yes 500 years ago), life in Amsterdam was one of cultural diversity and possibility for all t succeed was offered. New Amsterdam was then thought on this ideas.
All was good and well for the populace before Kieft arrive. The city was indeed a bit chaotic, with taverns at every corner and an idle population. However prosperity was not completely compromised. Then settled on the island a very determined man: Willem Kieft. He came to New Amsterdam with the firm idea that power can only be expressed in an authoritarian way through the power of life and death.
What was latter called the bloody war or Kieft’s war came about only because of this man. He persuaded his population that natives should not be trusted and persuaded natives that they should not trust the other tribes but their own. Pushing everyone against an “other” who is considered to be evil is a traditional way to start a conflict.