Christopher Columbus: Report of the First Voyage In 1493, Christopher Columbus writes the “Report of the First Voyage” (Perkins 28). In this letter to the King Ferdinand and Queen Isabella, Columbus explains the events that took place during his first exploration of the New World. The significance of Columbus’s letter to Ferdinand and Isabella was that it set the tone for how writers described the New World. The historical impact of the “Report of the First Voyage” is insurmountable as it paved the way for future settlers, writers, and explores of the New World. Once published, Columbus’s letter to the King and Queen enabled all of Europe with a destiny to head towards the New World in search of exploration, conquest, and settlement. The …show more content…
He states “in the first island which I found, I took by force some of them in order that they might learn [Castilian] and give me information of what they had in those parts” (Columbus 29). Columbus painted an image of conquest that persuaded others in Europe, not just Spain and Rome to send their own explorers into North America. Europeans then went with goals to increase their power and wealth for their own selfish reasons. Eventually as a result of Columbus’s letter, the French, Spanish, and English started to explore the North America’s, many Indians were conquered and killed in the conquest of gold and …show more content…
Originally when Columbus had convinced the Ferdinand and Isabella to fund his exploration, it was with promises of Christian conversion in India. Subsequently, Columbus discovered North America first and developed dreams of Christianity in the New World. Columbus spreads that idea throughout his writing speaking of how easily they received him. As his letter was received all throughout Europe, many conquest were sent out with a common goal: the spread of Christianity. Erik Seeman, author of Death in the New World: Cross-Cultural Encounters writes “Indian deathways would be crucial to the success of Christianization, and the Christian afterlife would be one of the Europeans’ greatest selling points” (46).
The historical impact of Columbus’s description of the Indian religion led others to believe that the Indians were capable of conversion to Christianity. In the years to come, European nations sent missionaries and armies to conquer the Indians in hopes of ensuring the survival of Christianity throughout all the lands. Although Columbus was not directly responsible, it was his literature that paved the way for those future events that took place in the New
The Columbian Exchange occurred after the voyage of Christopher Columbus. It was the process of the exchange of culture, food, ideas, animals, disease, and religion from the rest of the world to America and more. The Native Americans suffered vastly from the Columbian Exchange and their death rates rose immaculately. Europe, Spain, and Portugal all interested in the goods that the Americas had to offer, made several voyages passing on not only goods, but their religion.[ "Colombian Exchange." Silvia, Joseph. (accessed February 16, 2014). http://ezinearticles.com/?Columbian-Exchange&id=2323785 ] There were many attempts to convert the native people to some form of Christianity. Some efforts were successful and some were not. The conversion of the natives to new religions changed the values and culture of a people and the idea only traveled and expanded over tim...
The Roman Catholics were one of the first Europeans to disembark in the New World. In addition, there were the Spanish Catholics. There were two missionary efforts of the Spanish that attempted to convert the Native Americans to Christianity. One of their attempts revolved around the priests and their ability to spread the faith. This attempt did not work for several years, until finally, in 1595, the Franciscans were able to progress with their plans. Furthermore, another attempt was when the Spanish used force to enforce their Christian belief. They were outnumbered by the Indians and therefore brought weaponry and soldiers to keep them at bay. Their reason behind the missionary efforts was that they were ordered to spread Christianity to the Native Americans by a holy spirit.
Reading both passages of the two explorers, Christopher Columbus and Álvar Núñez Cabeza de Vaca, gives a great description of how the world was back in the 1500s. Now, although both were Spaniard explorers, each had different experiences and discoveries. One of the differences is how they approached exploring the new world. For instance, Columbus went to find new land in the west, while Cabeza de Vaca went as an expedition to already found lands. In addition, Columbus had a lot of success, while Cabeza de Vaca since the beginning, because of Narváez, “endured many disasters” (Baym, et al., 2013, p. 28). Furthermore, Christopher Columbus considered most important to find more land, and especially the route to reach Asia.
Washington Irving, Voyages and Discoveries of the Companions of Columbus (New York: Frederick Unger Publishing Company,) 323.
In 1492, Christopher Columbus was a self-made man who worked his way up to being the Captain of a merchant vessel. He gained the support of the Spanish monarchs, Ferdinand and Isabella, for an expedition to the Indies. With the support of the Spanish monarchy, he set off to find a new and faster trade route to the Indies. Upon the arrival of his first voyage, Columbus wrote a letter to Luis de Santangel, a “royal official and an early supporter of his venture,” in February 1493 (35). The epistle, letter, entitled “Letter to Luis de Santangel Regarding the First Voyage” was copied and then distributed in Spain before being translated and spread throughout Europe. The Letter is held in such regard with the people as it is considered the first printed description of the new world. Through his description of the nature of the islands, Columbus decided the future fate of the islands. His description of the vast beauty of the nature around him, declares both the economic and nationalistic motivations for colonizing the new world.
This voyage and all that Columbus wrote seems to have been done in greed. Columbus flattered the King and Queen repeatedly to win them over for his desired future endeavors. The first letter written to the King and Queen of Spain began immediately with overly exaggerated praise. In this matter, he could have directly addressed them with one endearing term rather than “Most Christian, High, Excellent, and Powerful Princes, King and Queen of Spain” (Halsall). He then describes his intent to “perform the embassy…discharge the orders… [and] keep an account…Sovereign Princes” as he prepares to write his journal. With this in mind, the demand of writing a journal and keeping track of his journey will keep him from sleeping and cause “many trials” all for “Your Highness.” When land was found, Columbus was the one who “bore the royal standard” when he went to shore and “took possession…for the King and Queen.
Web. 19 Aug 2013.Holmgren, Virginia C. "The Unheralded Story of Columbus." Sea Frontiers. Feb. 1992: 34-41. SIRS Issues Researcher. Web. 19 Aug 2013.
In the mid 1400’s Spain and Portugal began to take separate routes of discovery. Prince Henry of Portugal, in reaction to the shortage of bullion in Western Europe, was interested in sending his captains to the African coast in search of gold. As a result, many Portuguese ports were established along the African coast and “The Portuguese were able to exploit at least a part of the African caravan trade they had sought.” (p.340) While Portugal was focused on expansion along the African coast; the Spanish were the first to discover the “new world” despite the lack of geographical knowledge the Spaniards and Columbus in particular possessed. This “new world” wasn’t quite what Columbus had though it was, however; as Columbus maintained to his death that he had reached Asia. He hadn’t, “He had landed at one of the Bahaman Islands, San Salvador.” (p. 342) Columbus’ distorted reality proved to...
In 1492, Columbus, the first of the Spanish explorers, sailed the Atlantic Ocean for the purpose of converting the inhabitants of the land he arrived on (thought to be Asia) to Christianity. He wanted to use them, according to Taylor’s writings in American Colonies, “to recruit their bodies and wealth to assist
After reading the two letters written by Christopher Columbus in the midst of his many voyages, I have found many similarities and differences between the two. The first letter was written to Luis de Santangel on February 15, 1493 at sea. Ten years later, the second letter was written to Ferdinand and Isabella. This letter, regarding his fourth voyage, was written on July 7, 1503. The tone in this letter compared to the first letter was abysmal. Some did not believe it was written by the same person. This makes what happened in that ten year gap become very important. It is what happened during that time that will lead one to discover the changes in attitude made by Columbus between the two letters he wrote.
In 1492, Columbus sailed the ocean blue. However, even after centuries later, little is truly known of the mysterious voyage and findings of the new world.1 By examining “Letter from Columbus to Luis Santangel”, one can further contextualize the events of Columbus' exploration of the New World. The letter uncovers Columbus' subtle hints of his true intentions and exposes his exaggerated tone that catered to his lavish demands with Spain. Likewise, The Columbian Voyage Map read in accordance with the letter helps the reader track Columbus' first, second, third, and fourth voyage to the New World carefully and conveniently. Thus, the letter and map's rarity and description render invaluable insight into Columbus' intentionality of the New World and its indigenous inhabitants.
Be not dismayed at all For scandall cannot doe us wrong, God will not let us fall. Let England knowe our willingnesse, For that our work is good; Wee hope to plant a nation Where none before hath stood. (Morison, pg. 89) Originally, when Christopher Columbus landed on the shores of America en route to Asia, he was not interested in discovering new lands. Most Europeans at the time were looking for a way to get at the oldest part of the Old World, the East Indies.
Although this essay is historically accurate it lacks important details, which might paint a different view of Columbus. Boorstin writes favorable of Columbus and depicts him as a heroic and determined figure who helped shape history, but he neglects to include Columbus’ unethical acts committed in the world that was not supposed to exist, the Americas. When Columbus first discovered the New World, he took care that the royal standard had been brought ashore and he claimed the land for Spain in front of all, including the indigenous population who had been sighted even before Columbus made landfall. According to the medieval concepts of natural law, only those territories that are uninhabited can become the property of the first person to discover them. Clearly this was an unethical act. Thus, the first contact between European and non-European worlds was carried out through a decidedly European prism, which ensured Spanish claim to the islands of the Americas. Faced with a colony in an inhospitable area, the Spanish soon inaugurated the practice of sending regular military parties inland to subdue the increasingly hostile natives. Members of the indigenous population were captured and enslaved to support the fledgling colony. The object of Columbus’ desire changed from exploration and trade to conquest and subjugation.
De Las Casas observed that the Indians he had encountered were very acquiescent of the religion. He depicts the Native Americans as “very ready to accept, honor, and observe the Christian religion and correct their sins (as experience has taught) once priests have introduced them to the sacred mysteries and taught them the word of God.” This also correlates with what Columbus observed of the Native Americans in the West Indies. Christopher Columbus believes that “the conversion of these people to the holy faith of Christ, to which indeed, as far as I (Columbus) can judge, they are very favorable and well-disposed.” Both historic men recognized the ease it would take to convert the natives due to their open-mindedness and willingness to
This is an analysis of Christopher Columbus’s Letter on His First Voyage on page 381. Christopher Columbus wrote a letter to his King and Queen of Spain, while he was in the West Indies. He wrote this letter in February 1493 reflecting on his voyage across the Atlantic in 1492. After reading this letter, I can tell that Columbus felt like he was better than the native people of the different islands he journeyed and that a lot of things they did were very strange to him. I can also tell that the world was a lot different to him and to people in 1492, than it is to people in 2014 because he referred to the native people of the various islands he traveled to as Indians, whereas most people in 2014 know that India and Latin American are not the