Final answer:
Wild West shows led by Buffalo Bill turned Indian culture and cowboy life into a fictionalized form of entertainment, emphasizing thrilling dramatizations over historical accuracy.
Step-by-step explanation:
The Wild West shows, particularly those created by William "Buffalo Bill" Cody, transformed Indian culture and cowboy life into a form of show business that enthralled audiences in America and Europe. Buffalo Bill's shows presented a romanticized and simplistic portrayal of the West, with displays of horsemanship, sharpshooting, and dramatic reenactments of Indian attacks and cavalry heroism. These exhibitions, false in their inaccuracies, were the public's main source of information on the West, replacing authentic history with sanitized recreations of how it was "won". The truth of the West's hardships, including severe weather, disease, and economic challenges faced by ranchers and miners, was overshadowed by this enterprising spectacle.