Difference between revisions of "Christopher Columbus"
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==The Legacy of Columbus== | ==The Legacy of Columbus== | ||
| − | [[Columbus Day]], is a national holiday in the [[United States]], was proclaimed so in 1937 by President [[Franklin D. Roosevelt]]. The observance of Columbus Day remains controversial, due to shifting views about European colonialism, as well as the decline of indigenous populations after the arrival of Europeans in the new world. There may be disagreement about what exactly took place in the interaction of Columbus and his crew with the local populations he encountered, but it is widely accepted that the Columbus did return to Spain with a number of slaves, and that slave labor was used in his quest for gold. Native populations were also susceptible to new diseases, while diseases from the New World also arrived in Europe. | + | [[Columbus Day]], is a national holiday in the [[United States]], was proclaimed so in 1937 by President [[Franklin D. Roosevelt]]. The observance of Columbus Day remains controversial, due to shifting views about European colonialism, as well as the decline of indigenous populations after the arrival of Europeans in the new world. There may be disagreement about what exactly took place in the interaction of Columbus and his crew with the local populations he encountered, but it is widely accepted that the Columbus did return to Spain with a number of slaves, and that slave labor was used in his quest for gold. Native populations were also susceptible to new diseases, while diseases from the New World also arrived in Europe. <ref>http://www.history.com/content/columbusday/holiday-history History of Columbus Day</ref> |
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==Columbus and Liberalism== | ==Columbus and Liberalism== | ||
| − | However, in recent decades controversy has emerged regarding Columbus and his legacy. As a result of revisionist, liberal thinking which tends to overidealize the lifestyle of Native Americans before their contact with Europeans. Second and third-hand accounts of actions taken dozens, if not hundreds of years before, judged by more contemporary standards and accepted practices in another geographic area alltogether, is risky. The controversy can be summoned up as liberal hypocrisy. In an effort to diminish America as righteous, liberals attack Columbus while ignoring their fellow Democrats were slave owners and slave traders. In the not too distant past, these same Democrats were for the segregation of populations by race. | + | However, in recent decades controversy has emerged regarding Columbus and his legacy. As a result of revisionist, liberal thinking which tends to overidealize the lifestyle of Native Americans before their contact with Europeans. Second and third-hand accounts of actions taken dozens, if not hundreds of years before, judged by more contemporary standards and accepted practices in another geographic area alltogether, is risky. The controversy can be summoned up as liberal hypocrisy. In an effort to diminish America as righteous, liberals attack Columbus while ignoring their fellow Democrats were slave owners and slave traders. In the not too distant past, these same Democrats were for the segregation of populations by race. |
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== See also == | == See also == | ||
*[[Ibn Battuta]] | *[[Ibn Battuta]] | ||
Revision as of 20:50, June 1, 2009
Christopher Columbus (1451-1506) was a Genoese explorer who explored the West Indies for Spain from 1492 to 1502. His discovery resulted in Europeans exploring and settling the Americas.
Contrary to popular belief, Columbus did not prove that the world was not flat. Europeans had known for centuries that the world was round. Columbus's disagreement with the experts was that he thought that the Earth was much smaller, and that he had enough supplies to sail to India.
First Voyage
He went to Queen Isabella and King Ferdinand of Spain to ask them to finance his journey to the Far East (China and Japan); his plan was to sail west to get to the east: contrary to popular misconceptions, it was well known at the time, that the world was round - however its true circumference was unknown, so it seemed feasible to Columbus, to be able to sail from Europe to Asia within a reasonable amount of time. His first appeal to the king and queen was disappointing but the second time they furnished him with three ships (The Niña, The Pinta and The Santa Maria). Leaving August 3 1492, from the port of Palos, he sailed for months without sight of land while his crew was becoming increasingly disillusioned with the voyage believing themselves to be sailing towards their deaths; they began plotting mutiny.
Finally they came to land in the West Indies (October 12, 1492). When they explored a little they found the natives to be friendly and they found many new things that no European had ever seen before. Columbus thought he had landed in India, so he called the native people "Indians" - a designation which remains common to this very day. As they prepared to return to Spain the Santa Maria ran aground on a coral reef and could not be repaired. Columbus saw this as a sign from God and established a trading outpost he called Navidad (after the Christmas holiday).
However he still had the Nina and Pinta, and so he took most of his crew up the Windward Passage and onwards to Spain. The king and queen were amazed by the colorful birds and strange foods that Columbus brought with him. Columbus was then called Admiral.
Second Voyage
When Columbus sailed back to the new world in 1493, he found no sign of Navidad or of his crew. It is unknown what became of the crew, but one widely believed theory is the local Indian population grew tired of being harassed for gold and killed the sailors. Columbus then built a new settlement called Isabella (after the queen), then left it in the charge of his brother Diego and went exploring. He was puzzled that his maps of the east did not match with what he had seen. When he reached modern day Cuba he believed that this was the mainland and forced his crew to swear that it was. He also discovered Jamaica shortly afterwards. On his second voyage Columbus was able to sail back exactly to the same place as on his first voyage, despite poor navigating techniques of the time period. Some attribute this fact to divine providence.
Third Voyage
In 1498, Columbus left Spain with 17 ships carrying 1,200 colonists. He explored Trinidad, Tobago, Grenada and the coast of Venezuela.
When he returned to Isabella he found it in a state of confusion that he was unable to control. Because there was no gold he sent 500 Indians to Spain as slaves against the will of the king and queen. This brought much ridicule on Columbus. He sailed back to Spain to defend himself and the king and queen refused to furnish him with the necessary ships for continued exploration for three years.
Fourth Voyage
When rumors of the confusion in Isabella reached Spain the king and queen sent Francisco de Bobadilla to investigate. Bobadilla arrested Columbus and his brother in the name of the crown, took charge of Isabella forcefully and sent them back to Spain. Columbus begged for one more chance to explore “Asia”. They gave him four broken down ships. His fleet was beaten with storms and he was forced to give up his last journey. He started back for Spain, but his ships were on the verge of collapse and he was forced to stay at Jamaica. He sent one of his crew to Isabella in a canoe to get rescue ships. Seven months later the ships came and took him back to Spain.
Death
Columbus died a prosperious man (for the age) in Spain at the age of 55. He still believed he had reached Asia at the time. In more recent times stories have been dispersed of Columbus dying in poverty and relative anonymity, which is a myth.
The Legacy of Columbus
Columbus Day, is a national holiday in the United States, was proclaimed so in 1937 by President Franklin D. Roosevelt. The observance of Columbus Day remains controversial, due to shifting views about European colonialism, as well as the decline of indigenous populations after the arrival of Europeans in the new world. There may be disagreement about what exactly took place in the interaction of Columbus and his crew with the local populations he encountered, but it is widely accepted that the Columbus did return to Spain with a number of slaves, and that slave labor was used in his quest for gold. Native populations were also susceptible to new diseases, while diseases from the New World also arrived in Europe. [1]
Columbus and Liberalism
However, in recent decades controversy has emerged regarding Columbus and his legacy. As a result of revisionist, liberal thinking which tends to overidealize the lifestyle of Native Americans before their contact with Europeans. Second and third-hand accounts of actions taken dozens, if not hundreds of years before, judged by more contemporary standards and accepted practices in another geographic area alltogether, is risky. The controversy can be summoned up as liberal hypocrisy. In an effort to diminish America as righteous, liberals attack Columbus while ignoring their fellow Democrats were slave owners and slave traders. In the not too distant past, these same Democrats were for the segregation of populations by race.
See also
References
- http://www.eesd.org/Matsumoto/TM30/history/Explorers/colom.html
- http://www.italian-american.com/columbus.htm
- http://www.mariner.org/educationalad/ageofex/columbus.php
- http://www.history.com/content/columbusday/holiday-history
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- ↑ http://www.history.com/content/columbusday/holiday-history History of Columbus Day