More than five hundred years ago, in the year of 1492, the famed Italian explorer Christopher Columbus sailed across the Atlantic to the Bahama Islands and discovered the New World. This expedition required bravery, determination, and an open mind. Although he had these positive traits, he had antagonistic ones as well. Columbus’s character implied what Americans are like today. To begin, Columbus possessed positive and negative traits. One of his positive traits were his bravery. An example of his bravery is how he ventured across the Atlantic through harsh conditions, without knowing where he would end up. His determination is what drove him through his mission. He was determined to discover something new. Also, Columbus going on this expedition
Christopher Columbus is the all too famous explorer who is credited with accidentally finding the New World. Children have been taught throughout their lives that he is someone to look up to. Columbus’ heroism could easily be turned to villainy because he sold natives into slavery, murdered and brought disease to innocent people, and pushed them out and took their land.
Columbus 'accidently' discovered the New World, although, there were several who came before him. His discovery ultimately resulted in life as we know it today. However, in my opinion, he was not a hero, but a villain who removed the Natives from their home and infected them with diseases of which they had no immunity against. Although Columbus' voyage to the Americas eventually paved the way for the establishment of the New World, it came with a price. Unfortunately, the Natives were the victims of it all.
Columbus is a very controversial historical figure that today revolves around a Euro-centric perspective, White supremacy, and a part of the founding in today’s nation we live in. Multiple accounts have been taken during his time of his cruel legacy. Horrible descriptions of him raping women, mutilating Native bodies, enslaving who he considered his inferiors and many other atrocities are still looked over today. Not to mention the fact that he also helped to claim a nation that rightfully did not belong to the Europeans. Christopher Columbus left his dark past with us, from killing Natives, taking away the chastity of women, and enslaving the true ancient residents of this nation, all leading to him justly being
Christopher Columbus plays a highly controversial role in American history as citizens proudly celebrate Columbus Day, yet are exposed to the inhumane atrocities he inflicted upon native populations. Although Columbus may be glorified as the man who “discovered” America, in A People’s History of the United States, historian Howard Zinn records the monstrous side of Columbus, depicted by his overwhelming desire for gold and slaves, authority to dehumanize the Arawaks and other native peoples, and ability to annihilate civilizations for his own selfish wants. Zinn’s account is mostly believable as conquistadors were known for their brutality and determination to seek out riches and fame. However, it is difficult
In 1492, Italian cartographer and explorer, Christopher Columbus, set off on a mission from Spain in order to find a quicker, alternative route to Asia. With him, Columbus brought eighty-seven men and three ships, the Niña, the Pinta, and the Santa María, to sail across the large and vast Atlantic Ocean. Unfortunately for Columbus, a new route to Asia was never discovered by Spain that year because he had arrived in the Caribbean, which was found in North America. Thinking that he had just entered the Indies, he started to call the people of this land, “Indians”. These Indians were actually Native Americans who had lived on these lands for thousands of years prior. Immediately, letters from Columbus to the King and Queen of Spain were sent by boat back to Europe and soon Columbus was seen as the man who helped create a bridge of prosperous trading and riches between Europe and “Asia”.1 While this discovery proved that Columbus was a hero-like figure to Spain, it’s what he did within the new land that actually makes him one of the biggest villains to ever set foot on Earth. But what classifies this explorer as a villain? Columbus captured thousands of natives, many of which were sent back to Spain to live and work as slaves. Along with that, Columbus also forced the Christian religion onto them, spread diseases that killed thousands of lives, and used violence as a means of persuasion and control.2 Corrupted by his pursuit of riches,
Most children in the United States, grow up with the stories of the brave and heroic Christopher Columbus, who risked his life to connect the western and eastern hemispheres. There is even a day dedicated to his "good work" and "heroism". But the stories don't explore the whole truth. Since his discoveries led to the founding of America, history turns a blind eye to his immoral actions and the consequence of his deeds. Christopher Columbus is a villain because he enslaved, wiped out and manipulated the populations of the Native Americans in the Indies.
America has come to know many incredible and brave explorers over the years. Most people are familiar with Marco Polo, James Cook, Leif Eriksson, and Neil Armstrong. The most common is Christopher Columbus, but is this great explorer all that we thought he was? Brave, heroic, smart, tough, legendary, and resourceful would be the words that came to my mind when I thought about Christopher Columbus, but let’s dig a little under the surface and see if those still apply.
Throughout recorded human history, authors, leaders, and researchers, have documented the past from many different perspectives, and viewpoints. Not every historian has the same stance on a certain issue, therefore, differences in point of view occur in almost every writing. In the textbook The American Pageant, A People’s History of the United States by Larry Schweikart, and Michael Allen, and Howard Zinn’s A People’s History of the United States, the reader can see many different perspectives throughout each reading. The infamous explorer known as Christopher Columbus, has been documented in many different ways. Depending on the reading, Columbus has be called everything from a “[...]symbol of the new age of hope”, to an inhuman tyrant who captured Indians and turned them into slaves.
In the beginning of October, millions of kids are relinquished from school to celebrate a holiday dedicated to one man: Christopher Columbus, a man perceived as a valiant hero credited for discovering America in 1492. Generations of Americans have passed down the belief that Columbus was an amazing explorer, but tend to overlook the horrific deeds that Columbus committed. Despite his monumental accomplishments, Columbus was a historical figure closer to Hitler than to Martin Luther King on the morality spectrum. Due to his use of slavery, treatment of Native American slaves, and the tricks he used to deceive others, Columbus was not a hero but rather a villain.
All across the United States, students learn that Christopher Columbus sailed the ocean blue in 1492 and “discovered” North America. This common misconception creates a false narrative for Americans learning about Christopher Columbus’ legacy - and indeed about the country’s early post-European history. When Christopher Columbus came ashore, North America was already inhabited by hundreds of thousands of native peoples so the concept of Christopher Columbus somehow “discovering” what is now the United States of America is inaccurate. He did, however, set off a process of conquering the land and its people for the Western World. He did so through brutal tactics including forced labor, enslavement, violence, and widespread killing.
The world is a better place because of Christopher Columbus’ important discoveries in the New World. His explorations resulted in the vast expansion of property for Europe, the exchange of goods and cultures between countries and a change in the worldview of geography. Columbus’s explorations were the catalyst for unprecedented trade known as the Columbian Exchange, which started the exchange of goods and ideas that would last for centuries and change the world forever. His discoveries unearthed new perspectives and created a mix of diverse biology between Europe and the New World. These exchanges changed the world we live in today and will continue to fuel centuries of exploration and discoveries.
“In 1492, Columbus sailed the ocean blue”, these words are taught all around the states and are meant to help teach and remember the year that the now notorious Christopher Columbus went on his renowned exploration. Columbus was an Italian that was sent by the Queen and King of Spain to find riches in other lands, and during this voyage he stumbled onto the Americas. During his time in the Americas he enslaved the Native Americans, forced Christianity onto them and brought over diseases that would result in the eventual deaths of Native American. For a long period of time though, Columbus was known as the “man who discovered America”, nothing more. Now he is thought of as a murderer and a thief for stealing the land and lives of many Native Americans.
Christopher Columbus’s life was filled with adventures and new beginnings that would leave a remarkable impression throughout history. Born in 1451 in Genoa, Columbus from an early age would become well acclimated to sailing as he began his career aboard a merchant ship and later study mathematics, astronomy, cartography, and navigation. Growing up and experiencing new thing Columbus began to come up with a plan different from all others to set sail across the Atlantic instead of going around the African continent. With his ideas being turned away from both Portugal and England it was Ferdinand and Isabella who took sympathy upon him and financial back his voyage as they both had hopes of gaining fame and fortune. In 1942, Columbus began his voyages and would carefully document each experience in the form of letters that would have a lasting impact on the world. I believe with the dramatic change in tones we see between the first and fourth letters it gives us the reader a true insight into Columbus’s mental and physical emotions over the years. Furthermore, these letters allow us to explore a part of history that is considered monumental while gaining information of what took place over a ten-year journey.
Christopher Columbus was an explorer that discovered new land. His goal was to find a new trade route to Asia. Columbus had to find someone to pay for his trip. He asked many Kings and Queens finally, King Ferdinand and Queen Isabella of Spain paid for his trip. Columbus set sail towards Asia and landed in the present day country of the Bahamas. Columbus discovered new land for the Europeans and many celebrate him for the discovery. In recent years, some question how good of a person Columbus was. Christopher Columbus is not a good leader because of the poor choices he made.
Christopher Columbus was an Italian-born man that managed to win the favor and funding of the Spanish monarchy. With this funding, Columbus led the most well-known voyage in human history: the voyage to the New World in 1492. This voyage laid the foundation for future colonies and, eventually, many nations in the world. However, this voyage would not have gone past conceptualization if Columbus had not been supported by the Spanish monarchy. While a variety of factors affected the monarchy’s decision, the primary factors were Columbus’ experience in navigation, assistance Columbus received from Jewish supporters, and the capitulations laid out by Columbus himself.