Analysis Of The Book ' The Genovese Explorer Christopher Columbus '

The letter Christopher Columbus wrote back to Spain to report his findings in the New World sparked intrigued me and sparked my imagination. Why I have been so absorbed in this letter I can not explain. This letter is supposed to be about describing an unknown land, a land that has not been seen by anyone besides the natives, but it seems that there is more to it than that. Columbus is known in elementary schools as the man who found the New World, and is regarded as a hero. To the contrary, historians who have done more research on Columbus say that he was driven by fame and fortune and that he was tyrannical in his ways with the indigenous peoples of the places that he came to find. I feel that the contradictory tones Columbus uses

     In addition to opening up a New World to Europe and inspiring a spirit of adventure, Columbus’s experience also showed the importance of diversity. Columbus was an Italian, but he learned to sail from the Portuguese, and his trip was funded by the Spanish. He needed the help of several different countries to accomplish what we now know him for today. Conversely, Columbus’s confrontation with the Natives shows how cultures conflict when they do not understand each other. Columbus and his troops massacred thousands of

During his fourth voyage, Christopher endured many hazards, like imprisonment, which triggered him to compose a letter filled with his many accomplishments that he believes went unnoticed. Columbus had hopes that this will generate some sort of pity from the monarchs.

The Journal of Christopher Columbus is the day to day journal/diary writing of Christopher Columbus. He started taking notes of his journey starting the year of 1492. This took place mostly on his voyage over the Atlantic Ocean on his way to the Indies, and also on the lands he discovers on the way to his destination. He wrote every day of his journeys as a journal to the king and queen of his discoveries.

It is thought by many that Christopher Columbus was a skilled sailor on a mission of greed. Many think that he in fact did it all for the money, honor and the status that comes with an explorer, but this is not the case entirely. Columbus was an adventurer and was enthused by the thrill of the quest of the unknown. “Columbus had a firm religious faith and a scientific curiosity, a zest for life, the felling for beauty and the striving for novelty that we associate with the advancement of learning”. He had heard of the legendary Atlantic voyages and sailors reports of land to the west of Madeira and the Azores. He believed that Japan was about 4,800 km to the west of Portugal. In 1484, Columbus wanted support for an exploratory

Christopher Columbus and Cabeza de Vaca were both well experienced explorers of the New World. They both traveled to the New World to find out what was out there and if what they would find, could help them and their country. In the narratives, “Letter of Discovery” by Christopher Columbus and Castaways by Alvar Núñez Cabeza de Vaca, they exemplified the overall environment of the New World. Each explorer had quite the experience within the New World and interactions with the natives but they were not quite the same. Columbus’ journey consisted of learning about the new land and obtain resources to bring back to his country. Cabeza de Vaca also wanted to find resources and goods but mainly wanted to explore the land and try to understand if it was possible to create a society alongside the natives. As they went into the New World, they had found new discoveries but their purpose of the journey lead them down paths that would give off two different perspectives.

“Christopher Columbus Details His First Encounters with Native People” is a journal reflection in which he is reflecting his personal adventure as a traveler. This letter was published in the year of 1493 by Christopher Columbus written to Luis de Sant’ Angel who was known as an administer official who scrutinized Queen Isabella into financing the voyage.

To prevent possible death and punishment, he had to say what he did. It would also help later on with the Indians on any return trip if they had excellent relations with each other. His purpose of the narrative was the economic development of the new territory and to ensure his place in it. Not able to do it on his own, he needed to get more money from the king and queen of Spain. The reason he had to do that was Europeans had already traded with China and the Far East. However, they did not know anything of the New World other than what he and the rest of his crew had written. That is why Columbus had to sell them on the opportunities he discovered. That is why he ended his letter with, “In conclusion, to speak only of that which has been accomplished on this voyage. Which was so hasty their highness can see that I will give them as much gold as they may need if their highnesses will render me very slight assistance; moreover I will give them spices and cotton, as much as their highness shall command.” One could say that he was a land developer trying to sell the new world to the crown of Spain. It is now understandable now how he was able to secure funding for more voyages, and start the great exodus of explorers to the new world. Kupperman stated in her article “Reading Columbus's Diario, even in the imperfect form in which it has come down to us, is exhilarating; it allows us to participate in

In this find, he gained money, people, land, and respect from the other countries. One of the big things that Columbus got out of this voyage was resources.

People may try to argue that nobody would know about the Native Americans if Columbus did not “discover” them. If Columbus did not discover the Native Americans, more people would probably know about them because around 8 million of them would not have died. Though Christopher Columbus praised the nature he “worked so hard to discover”, he failed to mention the people there for obvious reasons. In his second letter to the king and queen of Spain, our preconceptions about what kind of person he was is confirmed. He acted entitled and somewhat rude towards the royals. If that was how he treated his superiors that funded his trip, you can only imagine how he spoke to the natives.

Hernan Cortes, the Spanish Conquistador (1482-1547) wrote his letter in 1502 when he discovered “The great city of Temixtitlan” (Mexico) and Christopher Columbus (1451-1506) the Italian explorer who completed four voyages across the Atlantic ocean, wrote his letter in 1493 when exploring for five months through Juana (Cuba) and Hispaniola (Santo Domingo).

He writes Española as a paradise for Spain, claiming that “In the interiors are mines of metals, and the population is without number. Española is a marvel” (Columbus 60). He also writes “Our Redeemer has given victory to our most illustrious king and queen, and to their renowned kingdoms, in so great a manner, for this all Christendom ought to feel delight”

Christopher Columbus’s successful voyage and discoveries are shown in great details throughout his First Letter to Luis De Sant Angel. Throughout this letter, we see from Columbus’s word choices the accomplishments he achieved through statements made such as “You will

In document A, it was made by Jean Marzollo. It’s also written as a poem. It was written in 1948. The poem was about when Christopher Columbus went traveling to different islands through the day and night and he met lots of kind people in an island. He had to bring treasure for his people too. The purpose was to prove people that he was a very good, brave, and a bright man for traveling and finding treasure for his people. The point of view in this poem or document is that Christopher was a brave and a kind man. This point of view is different from the others because this shows that it’s a peaceful and it has a few nice things about Christopher Columbus. The best difference is between this source and source C. In source three it shows negative and violent things for what Christopher Columbus did.

Another passage in this text which shows the idea of America as paradise is "In it there are many harbors on the coast of the sea, beyond comparison with others which I know in Christendom, and many rivers, good and large, which is marvelous." This excerpt from Columbus about the shore of the new world describes how the inlets of the coast make for great harbors. This was an extremely important detail for explorers during that time in history. Sea ports and inlets allowed explorers and the people of the land trade and travel with ease. Columbus knew that harbors were a very significant aspect of land as a territory and as a central reason why an area should be described as marvelous. Another quote from Columbus' letter that is significant is "All are most beautiful, of a thousand shapes, and they are accessible and filled with trees of a thousand kinds and tall, and they seem to touch the sky." This quote describes the mountain ranges which Columbus discovered. He wrote that the curves of the range are beautiful and that they are filled with life. The next line from Columbus tells of the significance of the mountains being overwhelmed with trees. "And I am told that they never lose their foliage, as I can understand, for I saw them as green and as lovely as they are in Spain in May, and some of them were flowering, some bearing fruit, and some in another stage, according to their nature." This passage compares the