Laurence Bergreen, Columbus: The Four Voyages (New York:Viking Penguin , 2011) 423 pp.
Christopher Columbus, the man who “discovered” America is one of the most controversial people in world history. With his adventurous self and crew, they arrived on numerous amount of islands which determines Columbus as a brave and so-called heroic explorer. Laurence Bergreen, a historian and biographer wrote,“Columbus: The Four Voyages” which analyzed Columbus’s actions and decisions during his travels. Turns out Columbus isn’t as heroic, courageous and honorable as everyone thought. He used people for his needs, pressured them about Christianity, enslaved many and most importantly, genocide.
The rulers of Spain, King Ferdinand of Aragon and Queen Isabella of Castille sent Columbus and his crew to find the riches out in the new world. In 1942, he sailed the ocean blue with the Santa Maria, Pinta and Nina. Columbus set sailed from Spain and planned to make it to Asia because he’s heard that’s where all the gold and spices are, but landed west of his intended location. He was actually …show more content…
He included quotes from Columbus’s journey from his travels and also incorporates viewpoints from people Columbus had encountered with. The entire book isn’t all about Columbus, Bergreen will take perspectives from Ferdinand, Mendez, Diego and Ferdinand (Columbus’s sons) and Caonabo. One of Columbus’s promises to Ferdinand and Isabella was to spread Christianity and speaking of the religion, he said, “They would easily be made Christians, because it seemed to me that they belonged to no religion” (14) about the Spaniards. Not only did he try to convert them to Christianity, he even had thoughts about enslaving them, “They ought to be good servants (4).” Bergreen depicts bits and pieces from Columbus’s journey and correlates it to what he experienced while exploring to support his
Christopher Columbus, the man who “discovered” America is one of the most controversial people in world history. With his adventurous self and crew, they arrived on numerous amount of islands which determines Columbus as a brave and so-called heroic explorer. Laurence Bergreen, a historian and biographer wrote,“Columbus: The Four Voyages” which analyzed Columbus’s actions and decisions during his travels. Turns out Columbus isn’t as heroic, courageous and honorable as everyone thought. He used people for his needs, pressured them about Christianity, enslaved many and most importantly, genocide.
The rulers of Spain, King Ferdinand of Aragon and Queen Isabella of Castille sent Columbus and his crew to find the riches out in the new world. In 1942, he sailed the ocean blue with the Santa Maria, Pinta and Nina. Columbus set sailed from Spain and planned to make it to Asia because he’s heard that’s where all the gold and spices are, but landed west of his intended location. He was actually …show more content…
He included quotes from Columbus’s journey from his travels and also incorporates viewpoints from people Columbus had encountered with. The entire book isn’t all about Columbus, Bergreen will take perspectives from Ferdinand, Mendez, Diego and Ferdinand (Columbus’s sons) and Caonabo. One of Columbus’s promises to Ferdinand and Isabella was to spread Christianity and speaking of the religion, he said, “They would easily be made Christians, because it seemed to me that they belonged to no religion” (14) about the Spaniards. Not only did he try to convert them to Christianity, he even had thoughts about enslaving them, “They ought to be good servants (4).” Bergreen depicts bits and pieces from Columbus’s journey and correlates it to what he experienced while exploring to support his