To What Extent Was Christopher Columbus Selfish

In Europe during the fourteen hundreds there was a large demand for spices however, by the time the spices had traveled all the way up from India their price had reached large levels. As time went on and merchant empires became prominent in Europe, Europeans became more and more frustrated with the price of spices that had become a large part of daily life. To cut out the middleman they sailed to India to get the spices themselves. Christopher Columbus, who was a long time sailor, claimed that he knew of a shorter way to India. Columbus, an Italian explorer who had a major contribution to the colonization of the Americas, was a persistent, intelligent, and selfish individual.

Christopher Columbus displayed persistence in his effort to find a quicker route to India. Despite Columbus’ high hopes in John II for funding, the Portuguese leader turned

Columbus had written to Ferdinand and Isabella telling them he had reached the India, which had “many spices and great mines of gold and other metals.” This was a lie (McNeese 121). Columbus thought nothing about lying, especially if it meant he would return to Spain a wealthy hero. On October 12, 1492 land was spotted by Rodrigo de Triana, a fellow crew member of Columbus. As a reward for being the first to spot land he would receive a reward from Spain, however Columbus claimed he saw land first and kept the reward for himself (McNeese 93). Columbus claiming the reward displays he is his self serving with little respect from his fellow crew. He also established a system of slavery that required every male native over the age of fourteen to present several ounces of gold to him every three months or they would be punished (McNeese 128). Columbus did not think twice about the health of the native people, as long as he got what he wanted from them. Because of these actions Columbus today is looked at as a man who brought about racism and genocide