Christopher Paolini

Christopher Columbus (1451-1506) was an Italian explorer who proposed reaching Asia by means of a westward route across the Atlantic Ocean, and instead discovered and explored the Caribbean, as well as parts of Central and South America. Initially sponsored by King Ferdinand (1452-1516) and Queen Isabella (1451-1504) of Spain in 1492, Columbus is popularly believed to have been the first European to land and therefore discover the "New World" of the Americas. He is also credited with opening…

In 1492, Christopher Columbus did what no other explorer dared attempt, sail west on the Atlantic in order to reach the rich lands of Asia. A radical idea if proven true would reserve his name in the history books. Columbus succeeded in leaving his mark on history, but not for the reason he expected. As time passes and attitudes change, history is constantly being rewritten. Modern historians have deeply analyzed Columbus 's hold on history and have come to the conclusion, that he was not in…

Imagine leaving a simple comfortable life behind to go live out in the snow. Now, on top of being completely alone imagine having little knowledge on how to survive. Sound fun? Well, this is exactly what Chris McCandless did. McCandless traveled into Alaska with rice and a small amount of knowledge on poisonous berries, told from the story. Although Chris tried to act as though he was doing something great he actually was causing harm to himself and everyone he actually cared about. Chris…

exceptionalism influences how Americans perceive American history because they think that the United States is superior to everyone else. In the colonial era there are many versions of the same experience. For example there were different accounts of Christopher Columbus and his exploration,…

The discovery of the Americas and the reformation of Europe had major impacts on Western Civilization. Columbus set out to find the Americas in order to find riches. In North America, the French set out to find a new passage way to China. In 1492 Columbus first reached the Americas. Amerigo Vespucci, led the voyage across the Atlantic, which ultimately led to the naming of Americas after Amerigo. Fifteen years after Ferdinand and Isabella expelled all Jews from Spain and the last Muslims out of…

Native Americans, and after them were the European settlers and explorers. When the white settlers came, they were friendly with the Native Americans and vice versa. At least, it looked like that on the surface; secretly, the Europeans, including Christopher Columbus wanted to enslave the Native Americans. Native Americans were tortured and killed, treaties were violated, and fights and raids broke out. Was exploration of the Americas worth the casualties and deaths on both sides? What was the…

Imagine yourself stuck in a cramped, dark room for four months straight. Now imagine leaving your home where you grew up your whole life and not knowing if you would ever return. This is what every settler endured when they embarked on this treacherous journey. The people that sailed on this journey were only the beginning of what was to become one of the most powerful countries on earth. Jamestown, Virginia became the first successful British colony in the new world because of the…

For over four hundred years, the classic, yet tragic love story of Romeo and Juliet has been loved and adored by people all over the world. Romeo and Juliet, written by William Shakespeare in 1591, has been transformed numerous times throughout the course of its existence, but particularly by Baz Lurhmann in 1996 and again in 2013 by Carlo Carlei. All three of these versions were able to effectively portray act 5 Scene 3, also knows as ‘The Death Scene’ through their own perspectives while still…

“The Passionate Shepherd to His Love” by Christopher Marlowe and “The Nymph’s Reply to the Shepherd” by Sir Walter Ralegh express ideas on love and time. However, Sir Walter Ralegh approaches the concept more realistically by using the nymph’s outlook on these topics, while Marlowe describes them in a more a dream like state through the shepherd’s view. Through the carpe diem theme, Marlowe conveys the shepherd’s views of love and time, whereas Ralegh more practical and naturally articulates the…

In Jon Krakauer’s renowned book Into the Wild, the highly acclaimed outdoorsman and rock climber receives a large volume of mail from readers who read about Christopher McCandless’ great Alaskan adventure from an outside magazine. The widespread reaction among the readers was of McCandless being insane enough to venture out into the brisk Alaskan wilderness alone, -which ultimately caused his “foolish, pointless death” (Krakauer 71). For instance, the hamlet at the head of Stampede Trail saw…