Survival in the 'New World' required skills acquired not only in Europe but that which was learned from the Native Americans. The first well documented European settlers of North America were Spanish explorers, landing in the Atlantic Southeast. It is not surprising that they were followed by English settlers in the Northeast.
European culture at the time of English migration was questionable while Spanish loyalty in the time if the conquistador was strong. Large scale exploration of the America's began in the 15th Century with the well known Columbus.However, little is written about the 15th/16th century exploration of North America. During this time, and centuries following, Native Americans were considered 'Savages' and 'Beasts'. There are very few accounts written that shine a somewhat positive light on the Natives. Two specifically would be that of Cabeza De Vaca and Captain John Smith.
Both Cabeza and Smith experienced captivity and near death at the hands of Native Americans. However, survival was not secured solely by European methods, but by an adaption of their European customs and that of the Native Americans.Conquerors, or settlers, without this skill were doomed to fail. However, settlers born with a sense of perseverance and a natural skill to survive were granted a homestead on this under-civilized land.
Native Americans are believed to have come from Asia in the midst of a frozen period in one of the many Ice Ages, the specific Ice Age is up for debate; it may have been over the course of multiple ages. Nevertheless, there is no debate on the migration of European settlement to the Americas in the 16/17th centuries. Notably the conquests of Cabeza De Vaca and that of Captain John Smith.
