When evaluating the contribution of Christopher Columbus in the “conquest of paradise” it is debatable whether he was personally responsible for the failure of two cultures’ ability to interact successfully, and if he does really deserve the title of “discoverer of America.” Previous social and political conflicts play a crucial role in the modern day debate about Columbus. With these conflicts come arguments that side in favor of Columbus’ findings and some that side against them. Named after Saint Christopher, Christopher Columbus(1446-1506) in hopes of soon setting sail to find the Orient traveled to Portugal in 1476 to learn about the Portuguese way of shipbuilding and sailing. Columbus had believed that he could reach the Orient by
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This was perhaps one of the reasons Columbus was responsible for the failure of two cultures to successfully interact. Christopher Columbus and his men enslaved many native inhabitants of the West Indies and exposed them to extreme brutality and violence. Columbus took ownership of the lands he found despite the natives already living there. When they reached the island of Guanahani the admiral told his men, “ to give their faith and witness to the fact that he, in the presence of everyone, was taking, and in fact had taken, possession of that island for his lords” (). Many times the islanders did not object to his claims mainly because of the language barrier that separated them. With the spread of Christianity also been one of his goals Columbus on his first journey approached an island and to the people he gave some of the treasure he had however in a letter he wrote he claims, “I did this in order that I might the more easier conciliate them , that they might be led to become Christians”(). In some cases Columbus used violence such as in Jamaica where he believed he would find gold. They arrived at the island and the people on the island “greeted [them]… and at that point [they] immediately killed 16 or 17 of them with crossbows and five or six with …show more content…
He didn 't discover anything but a route across the Atlantic Ocean nor did he have and intention on discovering anything but wealth. It is clear from his logs and letter that he set sail with the clear goal of finding the orient, which contained the luxuries of Asia, and spreading Christianity. Columbus had no intention of discovering land instead he only had visions of his own personal wealth in mind. He knew the world was round and he could sail west in order to get to the Far East. Columbus had no idea the continent of North America even existed, or that he had stumbled into a “new world”. He instead decided to cling onto the image of the world he had imagined. However his misconception would soon lead other voyagers to prove hime wrong. He thought he had found Asia, the land of the orient. If Columbus were worthy of being called a “discoverer” he would have known where he was at all times during his voyages, but he didn’t. For example when he arrived in what he thought was Asia he was actually in the Caribbean. “Columbus never believed that he had found a new continent, instead insisting that he had seen islands of the orient—proof of all his theories” (). Though Columbus was not responsible for the discovery of America, what he was responsible for was genocide, slavery, and religious arrogance. “Rather than bring progress, he brought small-pox, and the natives that survived were
This was perhaps one of the reasons Columbus was responsible for the failure of two cultures to successfully interact. Christopher Columbus and his men enslaved many native inhabitants of the West Indies and exposed them to extreme brutality and violence. Columbus took ownership of the lands he found despite the natives already living there. When they reached the island of Guanahani the admiral told his men, “ to give their faith and witness to the fact that he, in the presence of everyone, was taking, and in fact had taken, possession of that island for his lords” (). Many times the islanders did not object to his claims mainly because of the language barrier that separated them. With the spread of Christianity also been one of his goals Columbus on his first journey approached an island and to the people he gave some of the treasure he had however in a letter he wrote he claims, “I did this in order that I might the more easier conciliate them , that they might be led to become Christians”(). In some cases Columbus used violence such as in Jamaica where he believed he would find gold. They arrived at the island and the people on the island “greeted [them]… and at that point [they] immediately killed 16 or 17 of them with crossbows and five or six with …show more content…
He didn 't discover anything but a route across the Atlantic Ocean nor did he have and intention on discovering anything but wealth. It is clear from his logs and letter that he set sail with the clear goal of finding the orient, which contained the luxuries of Asia, and spreading Christianity. Columbus had no intention of discovering land instead he only had visions of his own personal wealth in mind. He knew the world was round and he could sail west in order to get to the Far East. Columbus had no idea the continent of North America even existed, or that he had stumbled into a “new world”. He instead decided to cling onto the image of the world he had imagined. However his misconception would soon lead other voyagers to prove hime wrong. He thought he had found Asia, the land of the orient. If Columbus were worthy of being called a “discoverer” he would have known where he was at all times during his voyages, but he didn’t. For example when he arrived in what he thought was Asia he was actually in the Caribbean. “Columbus never believed that he had found a new continent, instead insisting that he had seen islands of the orient—proof of all his theories” (). Though Columbus was not responsible for the discovery of America, what he was responsible for was genocide, slavery, and religious arrogance. “Rather than bring progress, he brought small-pox, and the natives that survived were