Final answer:
Native Americans had diverse reactions to European contact, ranging from initial friendliness to eventual resistance due to violence and disease introduced by Europeans. The power imbalance was clear from the beginning, as exemplified by Columbus's encounters, leading to significant cultural and societal disruptions for indigenous populations.
Step-by-step explanation:
The experiences of the Native Americans during the period of European exploration and contact varied widely. Initial feelings towards Europeans were often of curiosity and tentative friendliness, but as encounters led to violence, enslavement, and the spread of diseases, fear and hostility grew among indigenous populations. Columbus's 1492 encounter, where he remarked on the natives' timidity and lack of familiarity with weapons, reflects the dramatic power imbalance. Despite initial peaceful exchanges, like the gift-giving described by Columbus, the introduction of European beliefs, property notions, and diseases led to the profound disruption of Native American societies. The Columbian Exchange brought about new foods, plants, animals, and diseases, dramatically reshaping life for Native communities. They attempted to resist colonization, but despite their efforts, they could not stop the European expansion. Events like the Encomienda System in Spanish colonies exemplify the harsh realities of European conquest and the natives' resistance, emphasizing the complexity of the contact experience.