Compare Christopher Columbus's letter to Santangel (1493) regarding the first voyage to his letter to Ferdinand and Isabella (1503) regarding the fourth voyage. Discuss the apparent differences in the motivation and purpose of each letter. Also discuss what the letters suggest about the relative value of kings and great cities, the power of Spanish explorers, or the relative importance of the "people without number" who already inhabit the islands. essay Columbus’s first letter talks about his successes and the lack of opposition from the inhabitants and how they fled immediately upon his arrival. Columbus sends out scouts to look for royalty or cities on the islands. Columbus sent men to look for a king or great cities but nothing of importance …show more content…
Originally, this system was to help “civilize” local populations as well as give them Christianity, which was viewed as a valuable commodity. Of course, this quickly devolved into what amounted to a prize system where those favored by the Crown would be given essentially governorship over large tracts of land, and were then expected to ensure that economically viable goods were returned to Spain in exchange. These groups were also typically given the task of town building as well, which incurred population growth in the region. This system, alongside what could easily be described as plagues ravaged the local populations and required that new slaves (typically African in origin) be found, further pushing forward the slave trade as early as 1501 (Baym 6). Alongside physical destruction of populations, as a result of the often religious pretext and hard labor, many traditions and cultural history of local tribes were wholly dismantled, leaving Native populations without a viable history or tradition, a curse shared with African slaves as …show more content…
While his early encounters were similar to almost anyone of the time period, in the fact he didn't consider much of subjugating the local populations while benefiting greatly from it. Having ample supplies and food while local populations barely survived and no consideration or equality had entered his mind until after becoming a priest, he began to see this as what it was; Heresy by disregard for the human spirit and well being. After returning to a seat of power, he argued vehemently against the use of the now perverse Encomiendas system (Baym 39). This resulted in heads of state and religious orders to abolish such practices, but proved to be but one step in this challenge. Casas (and his allies) now also had to deal with people who had directly benefited from this system in the New World, which proved rather
There were arguments whether Christopher Columbus was a hero or a villain if he truly discovered land for the first time. Columbus wrote in his journal from August 1492 all the way through October 1492 that took place in Spain. Throughout his writings he mentions “the king” as if it was his
Another of Equiano’s descriptions is of a sailor who took pity on him and his curiosity. The nearest similarity in Columbus's journal is his run in with the natives. Columbus tells of them sharing with him to fulfill his curiosity about the various other islands around the caribbean. These descriptions have once again shown what is important to the authors to Columbus it is the funding that he thinks he should receive, and to Equiano it is help for him and his enslaved
There are two journeys that everyone is surely to be acquainted with: the Christopher Columbus voyage to America and Charles Lindbergh’s flight across the Atlantic Ocean. There are similarities that are very visible to the basic mind. However, there are also major contradictions, differences, and changes that took place within the 400 year time gap. Christopher Columbus’ voyage to the “new world” changed the world dramatically, opened a doorway of discoveries, and changed mankind forever. Accomplishing this feat was almost impossible for the desperate Christopher Columbus.
Christopher Columbus is a man who is known in society simultaneously as a hero and a villain of his time. What if the world had to pick only one, what would it be? Many new studies and scholars believe that Columbus was the villain of his story not a hero as past information would lead us to believe. Past documents were all written from the Europe’s point of view, this would lead to extremely biased documents because Europe was the side to profit unlike the Native
He authored a four-book biography of Columbus and portrayed him as a brave American hero. “Columbus was a man of great and inventive genius. His ambition was lofty and noble, inspiring him with high thoughts and an anxiety to distinguish himself by great achievements. His conduct was characterized by the grandeur of his views and the magnanimity [nobility] of his spirit.” Instead of writing, that Columbus was devastating to the newly found nation and that he sought to take over, cultivate and civilize the Natives.
President Thomas Jefferson commissioned the Corps of Discovery to have the Lewis and Clark expedition find a waterway that could connect the United States for transportation because he had aspirations to expand to the Pacific and Northwest making the expedition important to his agenda for the United States. (The Corp of Discovery, 2016). Another reason for the important expedition was to create a relationship with the American Indians, and the American fur trade, while learning the North American topography and geography of the land which was also important to the exploration (Corps of Discover, 2016). Thomas Jefferson was important to the Lewis and Clark expedition because he organized the journey, sought funding and made Lewis and Clark head
The source, Christopher Columbus’s Journal, is a personal written account by Columbus of his time sailing to the New World and exploring it. Columbus's original Journals were lost. The original copies were sent to the King and Queen, however the parts that are left are from Bartoleme de Las Cases, one of the first men to come to the New World. He did not agree with Christopher Columbus’s way of treating the Indians, so it is certainly possible that the remaining parts may be tweaked to make Columbus look bad in the eyes of the people. (The Expansion of Europe and Rise of the Atlantic World, Enter Christopher Columbus)
Bartolomé De Las Casas had a huge impact on the horrible treatment of the Indians. Las Casas was a Spanish friar from the Catholic Church. Las Casa believed that the Indian people should not be treated the way they did. However, Bartolomé De Las Casas did not think this at first, but the opposite. Incidentally, Las Casas changed his point of view on Indian slaves and aviated to end the slavery of the Indian people.
Christopher Columbus Hero or Villain ? Christopher Columbus is a Villain. On some accounts he can be a Hero. But on many other accounts he's a vicious Villain. Yes he discovered America ;
According to Columbus the Caribbean is a much better island than any other island he has visited. Columbus describes the Caribbean to have a variety of many trees, mountains, rivers and mines of metal along with a great number of inhabitants. Along with the great scenery description, Columbus includes that the Caribbean is very welcoming because of its inhabitants even though they are very timid at first. Las Casas, in his account, lets us know that the island Hispaniola was known as the largest and happiest before the Spaniards took over. The way that Las Casas describes the island during the time that the Spaniards were taking action to take over, includes only destruction, brutality and struggles for the indigenous people and their land.
Christopher Columbus was one of the greatest explorers known to man. Columbus had many different reasons for his explorations. Later, the main reason for his explorations was selfishness. Just like many other explorers before Columbus, he wanted land, he wanted power, and he also wanted gold. The reason for his very first voyage to what he thought was India, but later was found out to be Central America, was to get land for Spain.
In the fifteenth century, Spain had the indication of traveling to the New World, which consisted of present-day South America along into parts of North America. The noted explorers, Columbus, Cortés, and Las Casas each had the confidence of fulfilling this expedition to the New World. Along the way each explorer encountered different experiences with the indigenous people including their values and beliefs. The explorers’ eyes were open to a new world and experienced many hardships. However, the explorers came across great colonization’s of the New World, including trading routes and goods, along with the discovering of new plants and animals.
Christopher Columbus sailed the ocean blue in fourteen hundred ninety-two. When one hears the name Christopher Columbus, they tend to think about his discovery of America. What they don’t consider is how his discovery changed and affected America. First of all, Columbus’ discovery provided the start of a long term colonization, which created what we know today as America. People, who immigrated from another country, traveled all over the world to make it to America in hopes of getting land in “The New World”.
In the year 1519, Spain set sail to be the first ones to circumnavigate the globe. Under the leadership of Ferdinand de Magellan, they were able to accomplish this monumental task by the year 1522, even though Magellan died before they journey was complete. In the article titled “Ferdinand Magellan 's Voyage Round the World, 1519-1522”, we are able to recall the accounts transcribed from the paper-book of a Genoese pilot who wrote detailed accounts about the events that transpired throughout the journey. Around 55 years after Spain’s voyage, the English set out to circumnavigate the globe under the leadership of Sir Francis Drake in the year of 1577. An article titled “Sir Francis Drake 's Famous Voyage Round The World, 1580” was written by Francis Pretty, who was one of Drake 's Gentlemen at arms.
During his journey he found an air passage that will help transport goods to the new world, he also found that the trip west took longer than anticipated and Columbus lied on the distance they traveled so the crew does not worry ( eyewitnesstohistory.com). Once Columbus crew found out that he had lied to them he promised them and if they don 't see land in the next two days they will turn back and head home (eyewitnesstohistory.com). That next day Columbus and his crew had spotted land and all of the crew members were anxious to set foot and discover what they have found (eyewitnesstohistory.com). Once they got close to land Columbus knew that he did not find Asia but instead he found the Caribbean islands (eyewitnesstohistory.com). After meeting the locals or the Tainos they encountered that they had gold, silver, pearls, and salves (history.com).