Christopher Columbus Portrayal Of The Natives

On page 1 of “A young person’s history of the United States,” the text says: “They (the Indians) would make fine servants.” (excerpt from Christopher Columbus’ diary) This shows that, upon meeting the Native Americans, Columbus only had cruel things in mind, and he had no interest in making peace with them. In the 2nd paragraph of the website ‘historyisaweapon.com/defcon1/zinncol1.html,’ (in website list on newwestus.com) the text states: “As soon as I arrived in the Indies, on the first Island which I found, I took some of the natives by force in order that they might learn and might give me information of whatever there is in these parts.” (another excerpt from Christopher Columbus’ diary) At this point, Christopher Columbus only had two things in mind: slaves and gold. His diary proves that he would do anything to get these things. After capturing them, Columbus realized that Native Americans provided a very inefficient workforce, and this led the way for African slaves and the rapid increase in the

Both Columbus and Smith present very different descriptions of the New World 's landscape. This was most likely due to the fact that they were describing two completely different sections of the Western Hemisphere. For Columbus, this section was not only the tropical based Island of Hispaniola, but also the Islands that surround it. According to his description this location was a paradises of rivers, mountains, “large tracts of cultivatable land", trees and birds "of a thousand kinds" including nightingales and "there is honey" (Columbus, “Letter to Luis” 33). However, there are a number of problems with

Columbus greatly affected the Taino and their way of life in a cruel way. Before Columbus discovered the Taino land, on the Caribbean Island, they were happy with their way of life. They were skilled and creative people. One admirable thing they created was a hammock, which the Taino used for a comfortable night’s rest. They also were involved in trade. Many Taino were excellent sailors, canoe makers, and navigators.

In his search for the expected gold, Columbus first encounters the Arawaks who he describes as remarkable for their hospitality and then decides that they would make fine servants. However, due to the lack of gold, Columbus takes some of them as prisoners to lead them to Cuba, where he built the first European military base. Just as he had reported about the Arawaks, the indians in Cuba as well were naive and offered to share with anyone. Because of these successes, Columbus was later sent off with more ships and men. After learning that there was no more gold to be found, the only resort was to turn the natives into slaves. When this method as well showed no signs of improvement, the slaves were forced to supply a certain amount of gold, or they were subjected to death.

In 1492 Christopher Columbus sailed the ocean blue. We all know this catchy tune right? But what we don’t know, is what Columbus thought when he arrived in the North America or what he though of the Native Americans he met. In fact, we don’t know much about all the explorers after Columbus and what they thought. Each explore had their own view of the Native Americans, and three great examples are Columbus, Juan Ginés de Sepúlveda and Bartolomé de Las Casas

Christopher Columbus did more than explore the new world. His punishments to the native people included “hacking off hands, noses and ears if the natives protested their forced enslavement to work in gold mines” (Murphy). According to Columbus, if the Native Americans refused to follow the “superior” Europeans’ orders,

“On the thirty-third day after leaving Cadiz I came into the Indian Sea, where I discovered many islands inhabited by numerous people. I took possession of all of them for our most fortunate King...no one making any resistance” this is part of the letter he wrote this means that when he discovered the Americas he found the natives and they all became friends article A backs this evidence up because they talk about how Columbus was happy to see Indians in the new land and how he was brave and cool but it wasn’t always like that.

“Columbus, the Indians, and Human Progress”, chapter one of “A People’s History of the United States”, written by professor and historian Howard Zinn, concentrates on a different perspective of major events in American history. It begins with the native Bahamian tribe of Arawaks welcoming the Spanish to their shores with gifts and kindness, only then for the reader to be disturbed by a log from Columbus himself – “They willingly traded everything they owned… They would make fine servants… With fifty men we could subjugate them all and make them do whatever we want.” (Zinn pg.1) In the work, Zinn continues explaining the unnecessary evils Columbus and his men committed unto the unsuspecting natives. The argument that seems to be made (how Columbus

Christopher Columbus, was a traveler best known for his discovery of the americas. Before he did so, however, he often spoke out about converting “heathen” cultures to christianity in order to save them (“74 interesting..). This most likely leads to one believing that Columbus’ main goal was to convert all natives and he may have had their best interest in mind. His journal, however, shows a different perspective.

On the first island he reached, he took a few natives by force because they might know things about what there is in that area. Also, the Arawaks, the first natives Columbus met, wore tiny gold ornaments in their ears, so Columbus forced them to show him where they found the gold. As his journey continues, he forces a group of natives to make a trade where they gave him many more bows and arrows that they wanted to. Additionally, at that time, the main religion in Europe was Christianity, so when Columbus reached land, he forced all the natives he came across to convert into Christianity. Columbus also thought that the natives would make good slaves because they were very generous and didn’t argue with you much. On Columbus’s later expeditions, one thing he promised the king and queen of Spain was “as much gold as they need”. Since he couldn’t find that amount of gold, he forced the Indians to do the labor for

This makes it appear that they are easy to take advantage of, but this is probably due to the language barrier. Neither side has a full understanding of the other. This makes Columbus’ statement of that they “believe I come from heaven” less credible. It is hard know whether this is a valid statement, if they believe that he actually came from heaven as in being a holy, good man, or if they just think he is foreign enough to come from a place such as heaven. However, Columbus reads this statement as their willingness to convert and makes it his job to convert them. He also sees the land as his “possession” now that he sees their willingness to subject to his power as he is from heaven to them. What is interesting about this is that there is no Indians voices within this letter, it is all from Columbus’ perspective. This lessens the accountability of his claims because he could be twisting the words so it flatters him as an explorer. It is important to note that this was made to help persuade the

He described America as a land full of great rivers and excellent waters, a land that contained mines of gold and many spiceries. He described America and the Arawak as simple people, with no weapons, completely naked, or if wearing something, just a couple of leaves. In his essay he states that Native American will never say no to whatever Columbus asked to get from them, but if Native American get something as exchange they will give their heart and their support, in other words, they will be loyal to you. This was something really important when trying to spread Catholicism because he got their affection, and since the Arawak believed that the power and goodness came from the sky, Columbus made them believe that he and his ships were sent by the sky, which they completely believed. Columbus described them as a well-organized society, especially with their land and food, which was for everyone. America, according to Columbus, was a refreshment and profit not only for Spain but for the

The letters from Columbus and Casas share both likenesses and contrasts. They both depict the indigenous as a serene and giving individuals, whom would be probably not going to hurt the Spaniards. De la Casas and Columbus both appear to trust that the indigenous require sparing from i punishment and that the teachers need to be of flawless help. Columbus is sticking to his past endeavor at monetary profit even as far as religion. This requirement for monetary benefit is shown in the accompanying, "in the turning of such a large number of people groups to our sacred confidence, and a short time later for material advantages (Columbus 4)." Even the words "awfulness" and "wonderful", utilized as a part of the titles of the pieces, inspire two

This included brutally murdering the Native Americans. He also caused a mass suicide by requiring the natives to become his slaves. Loewen states, “Occasionally a hundred have committed mass suicide. Trie women, exhausted by labor, have shunned conception and childbirth . . . Many, when pregnant, have taken something to abort and have aborted. Others after delivery have killed their children with their own hands, so as not to leave them in such oppressive slavery” (53). Columbus required the natives to become his slaves in order to do things for him which resulted in mass suicide. In addition, as a form of punishment towards the natives for not following the rules that Columbus had set their ears or noses were severed. Loewen states, “To ensure cooperation, Columbus used punishment by example. When an Indian committed even a minor offense, the Spanish cut off his ears or nose. Disfigured, the person was sent back to his village as living evidence of the brutality the Spaniards were capable of” (54). Columbus made these specific things required and if they were not followed the natives would be punished in the way that Columbus believed, cutting off their ears and noses. Columbus cutting off the ears and noses of the natives was one of many things he was responsible for. He also helped with the decline of their entire

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). Columbus also found out that the Taino were easily able to convert to Christianity, in the mist of all things he wrote in his journal and saying that the natives “would easily be made Christians because it seemed to me that they had no religion” (dairy). Without the despite the locals disapproved his action. In one of his journal entries it said that "Shortly after landing, many of the island 's inhabitants assembled on the beach and Columbus gave those gifts of red hats and beads. The natives reciprocated with gifts of parrots, cotton and other goods. In describing the Taino natives, Columbus wrote: "They go as naked as when their mothers bore them, and so do the women, although I did not see more than one girl. They are very well made, with very handsome bodies, and very good countenances."(Christopher Columbus Discover America, 3). Through this discovery, Columbus thought in