The exploration of the New World by European explorers in the late 15th and early 16th centuries marked the beginning of a new era in world history. Among the most significant figures of this period were Christopher Columbus, whose voyages are documented in his "Journal of Christopher Columbus, 1492," and Bartolomé de las Casas, who described the exploitation of Indigenous peoples in "Bartolomé de Las Casas Describes the Exploitation of Indigenous Peoples, 1542." These documents offer contrasting perspectives on the encounters between Europeans and Native Americans, influenced by the authors' backgrounds, intentions, and racial beliefs. This essay explores these differences, the importance of critical reading of historical documents, the inhumane …show more content…
Furthermore, this divergence in perspectives underscores the importance of critical reading in historical analysis. By examining the texts through a lens that considers the complexities of the historical context, readers can better understand the multifaceted nature of early European-Native American encounters. This not only enhances our comprehension of the past, but also informs our understanding of the legacy of these events and their impact on contemporary discussions about colonization, conversion, and the treatment of indigenous peoples. The biases that affect critical thinking can significantly impact the validity and interpretation of both primary and secondary sources in historical research. Primary sources, such as Columbus's journal, offer firsthand accounts of historical events from the perspectives of those who directly experienced them. However, these sources are not immune to personal biases, which can influence the portrayal of events, peoples, and …show more content…
Furthermore, secondary sources depend on the availability and accuracy of primary sources. Misinterpretations or selective use of primary sources can compromise the reliability of secondary analyses. Moreover, secondary sources are often written well after the events they describe, which means they are influenced by the historical and scholarly context of the author's own time. Over time, the availability of primary sources can diminish, or new information can emerge that was not available to earlier historians. This evolving landscape of evidence and interpretation means that historical narratives are subject to revision and debate. An example of how new information can reshape historical understanding is the reevaluation of figures like Columbus himself, who was once uncritically celebrated as a hero but is now also critiqued for his role in the colonization and exploitation of indigenous peoples. In conclusion, the contrasting perspectives of Christopher Columbus and Bartolomé de las Casas on the encounters between Europeans and Indigenous peoples of the New World reveal the complexities of this historical
It is common knowledge that the Europeans came to the Americas and that Native Americans did not seek out exploration in Europe, making the term “encounter” inaccurate. (Axtell, 98). Native Americans did eventually travel overseas to Europe, but in the beginning, as slaves, followed by Native Americans going to learn the language and culture, (Axtell 103), and finally few went to plea with the courts when conditions grew dangerous in the 1700’s.(Axtell, Native Americans were merely a variable element in a changing world that would have to adapt to
Historians use a variety of evidence, such as written accounts from primary sources, in an attempt to reconstruct and understand the true events of history. Primary source accounts are a type of firsthand evidence made by a person at that specific time. Historians think of these accounts as the closest source to the origin of idea under study. When a historian reads A Conquistador Arrives in Mexico, 1519-1520 written by Bernal Díaz and The Diario of Christopher Columbus’s First Voyage to America written by Christopher Columbus, he or she can look at both accounts to verify their accuracy and to find comparisons when considering the Aztecs. The Aztecs were believed to be unorganized, unfriendly, and in need of conversion to people that did not take part in the conquest. When both Díaz and Cortez wrote these accounts they proved that this early American society was indeed not related to the ideas listed above, but in actuality was quite the sight to see. Historians can use these documents to infer that the Aztecs, an early American society, were mistakenly categorized and falsely accused of being uncivilized.
Howard Zinn writes from the perspective of the minorities who whites mistreated while Larry Schweikart and Michael Allen write from the more traditionally historical perspective, that of the explorers and settlers. Zinn dives deep into the injustice of the way whites treated minorities while Schweikart and Allen opt to equally explain both points of view. Neither author writes a more correct book and people need both sides to completely understand the history of the United States. Zinn sets out to give a voice to those minorities who historians often glaze over. He attempts to shock the reader with the harsh reality of what transpired in the early days of America’s settlement. Zinn effectively backs up his information with credible primary and secondary sources about the time period, including writings from Columbus himself. The perspective he takes helps to illuminate the unfairness, and some may argue evil, of early American history. However, Zinn focuses primarily on the negative aspects of exploration and rarely mentions the good things Englishmen did, or the positives to their exploration. Schweikart and Allen attempt to balance the perspective of American history in their book. They, also, provide evidence from history to support their claims, and use facts to argue their point. They focus on
Some of the problems when studying history are the texts and documents that have been discovered are only from perspective. Furthermore, on occasion that one perspective is all there may be for historians to study. A good example of this textual imbalance can be found from the texts about the discovery of the New World; more specifically, the letters of Christopher Columbus and Pêro Vaz de Caminha during their voyages to the New World. Plenty of the text from this time is written from the perspective of the Europeans, as the Indigenous population did not have any written text. What this means is that it provided only one perspective, which can drastically hinder how history is interpreted. Columbus’s letter of his first voyage to the Caribbean
This text was created to bring to light the hardship Natives went through during the Age of Exploration. The populous, who only hear rumors and short stories from all territories west of the Atlantic Ocean, cannot grasp the tough and difficult task that is at hand in the Americas. From these short blurbs of what is said about the west, they make inferences of what it is like, and how it is possible for another land mass to be unknown to many for so long. But for those who do know what is past the Atlantic, know that this Agenda of the King and Queen must be fulfilled and to do so would be to claim land for Spain for it to be settled upon. On top of that is to further collect the riches of the Americas to benefit Spain in the conquest of the Americas.
In Thomas King’s novel, The Inconvenient Indian, the story of North America’s history is discussed from his original viewpoint and perspective. In his first chapter, “Forgetting Columbus,” he voices his opinion about how he feel towards the way white people have told America’s history and portraying it as an adventurous tale of triumph, strength and freedom. King hunts down the evidence needed to reveal more facts on the controversial relationship between the whites and natives and how it has affected the culture of Americans. Mainly untangling the confusion between the idea of Native Americans being savages and whites constantly reigning in glory. He exposes the truth about how Native Americans were treated and how their actual stories were
The article, “Native Reactions to the invasion of America”, is written by a well-known historian, James Axtell to inform the readers about the tragedy that took place in the Native American history. All through the article, Axtell summarizes the life of the Native Americans after Columbus acquainted America to the world. Axtell launches his essay by pointing out how Christopher Columbus’s image changed in the eyes of the public over the past century. In 1892, Columbus’s work and admirations overshadowed the tears and sorrows of the Native Americans. However, in 1992, Columbus’s undeserved limelight shifted to the Native Americans when the society rediscovered the history’s unheard voices and became much more evident about the horrific tragedy of the Natives Indians.
In a lively account filled that is with personal accounts and the voices of people that were in the past left out of the historical armament, Ronald Takaki proffers us a new perspective of America’s envisioned past. Mr. Takaki confronts and disputes the Anglo-centric historical point of view. This dispute and confrontation is started in the within the seventeenth-century arrival of the colonists from England as witnessed by the Powhatan Indians of Virginia and the Wamapanoag Indians from the Massachusetts area. From there, Mr. Takaki turns our attention to several different cultures and how they had been affected by North America. The English colonists had brought the African people with force to the Atlantic coasts of America. The Irish women that sought to facilitate their need to work in factory settings and maids for our towns. The Chinese who migrated with ideas of a golden mountain and the Japanese who came and labored in the cane fields of Hawaii and on the farms of California. The Jewish people that fled from shtetls of Russia and created new urban communities here. The Latinos who crossed the border had come in search of the mythic and fabulous life El Norte.
What he and his men did to the Indigenous people is told in horrifying detail by the Dominican priest Bartolome de Las Casas, “whose writings give the most thorough account of the Spanish-Indian encounter.” Las Casas witnessed firsthand Columbus’ soldiers stabbing Natives for sport, dashing babies’ heads on rocks, and sexually abusing Indigenous women. His testimony was corroborated by other eyewitnesses, such as a group of Dominican friars, who addressed the Spanish monarchy in 1519, hoping to bring an end to the atrocities. At the very least, Columbus was complicit in the actions of his men. He cared so little for the welfare of the Indigenous people that he let his soldiers commit reprehensible acts that would be considered crimes against humanity in the present day. Christopher Columbus’ actions suggest he had no issue with serving as an enabler of the horrifying actions committed by his men against the Indigenous
Bartolomé de Las Casas was born in 1484 AD in Seville and died in 1566 in Madrid. In the ending of the 15th century and the beginning of 16th, he came to America and become a “protector of Indian”. In 1542, most based on his effort, Spain has passed the New Law, which prohibit slaving Indians (Foner, p. 7). In 1552, he published the book A Short Account of the Destruction of The Indies.
In A Short Account of the Destruction of the Indies, Bartolomé de Las Casas vividly describes the brutality wrought on the natives in the Americas by the Europeans primarily for the purpose of proclaiming and spreading the Christian faith. Las Casas originally intended this account to reach the royal administration of Spain; however, it soon found its way into the hands of many international readers, especially after translation. Bartolomé de Las Casas illustrates an extremely graphic and grim reality to his readers using literary methods such as characterization, imagery, amplification, authorial intrusion and the invocation of providence while trying to appeal to the sympathies of his audience about such atrocities.
The Black Legend and White Legend: Relationship Between the Spanish and Indians in the New World
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.
The history of Native American and European colonial relations is wrought with conflict driven by cultural isolation. The isolation from the European view constituted an affirmation of their own beliefs and an association of “othering” of the native inhabitants. This detachment produced a hostile treatment of Native Americans that eventually led to a period of violent displacement and other deliberate genocidal acts. The act of "othering" is prominent in the works of Christopher Columbus and John Smith. This paper aims to explore how instances of "othering," as seen in commercial, religious, and personal accounts, have contributed to the dehumanization of Native Americans.
A common theme for the play Los Vendidos can be achieved and supported through elements of plot, as well as the background of the playwright. The primary aspect in supporting the theme of a play can be through plot elements. Essentially, theme is defined as the general message or lesson the author conveys to the audience, whereas plot is defined as the main events that occur during the sequence of time within a particular play.