More handpicked essays just for you.
The Columbian exchange as an interwoven process with unforeseen consequences
The Columbian exchange as an interwoven process with unforeseen consequences
Lasting impact of the columbian exchange
Don’t take our word for it - see why 10 million students trust us with their essay needs.
Now in days, Christopher Columbus is seen as a hero, an important person in the American history. Because of his famous voyage he is seen upon a hero, a man who tried nothing but good to his country. Although he discover America, he is also consider as a horrendous villain who was guilty of doing atrocities against the Indians. There are important questions that we have to analyze before stating the status of Christopher Columbus: (1) who was he? (2) what were his intentions in the new land? , and (3) why is he consider a villain or a hero?
Christopher Columbus was simply a skilled sailor and navigator, who was also an opportunist. He was born in 1451, in the Republic of Genoa, Italy. After being rejected by the Portuguese king, he took his plan to Genoa first, and then Venice but they rejected the plan also. His last option was to go with the Spanish monarchy of Ferdinand of Aragon and Isabella of Castille, they agreed to finance the expedition. So in August of 1492, Columbus left Spain with three ships: the Niña, the Pinta and the Santa Maria. He discover America on October 12, 1942. (“Christopher Columbus”).
…show more content…
The goal of Columbus was to explore the ocean, to get to the India for gold, he never planned in discovering a new continent.
He told a lot of lies to queen Isabella, telling that the Indians would share the gold and species with anyone, he also stated that he reached Asia instead of America, he told this lie to save himself, making him also a selfish man (“Christopher Columbus"). His discovery led to the Colombian Exchange, eventually the colonization, and finally the emergence of America. Although, he did kill and torture the natives when he got to the New World, but on October 12 we don’t celebrate him, we celebrate his accomplishment of taking such risks at that time, and venturing into the ocean in search of a land which the location was
uncertain. Christopher Columbus was definitely not a villain but he didn’t reached hero status either. He sets things into motion. His discovery in 1492 had negative, and positive consequences. The Colombian exchange greatly impacted the world allowing goods for each side of the worlds: products introduced to Europe from America involved corn, potatoes, peanuts, tomatoes, peppers, chocolate, and medicinal drugs (Foner 21), these new items provided a “culture shock” to the Indians and many didn’t know how to deal with the change; meanwhile, to the new world rice, sugar cane, wheat, horses, cattle, sheep, and pigs were introduced. But, he did not only brought good things into the new world, the Indians had to suffer for this discovery. He held massacres against them, used them as slaves or servants, and introduced them to unknown diseases such as smallpox, influenza, and measles (Foner 22). “The fact of the matter is that regardless of whether he was or not a moral man, or his estimates and predictions were correct, or if his intention were evil or good, he is still the explorer that opened up the America to the Europeans. Quite simply, American history would not have been possible without Christopher Columbus discovery of the Americas, the freest nation that the world has seen, it would never have had the opportunity to exist, it would be quite different if someone else would discover or, beside, sooner or later it was going to be discover and the Indians could have been treated differently, and our America would be different as how is known it today.
Many consider Columbus a Hero, others believe he was selfish and self centered. Myint author of “Christopher Columbus: Hero or Villain?” and Ransby author of “Columbus and the Making of Historical Myth.”, are faced with the same dilemma. From a young age children are taught about Columbus and his greatness, but the books fail to document the atrocities committed in the process. Most of the books use biased language; little evidence and vague language is used to hail Columbus as a great hero. Myint provides a more objective stance, while Ransby condemns Columbus entirely. However, both suggest to consider Columbus a hero is a mistake.
Christopher Columbus does not deserve to be honored as a hero with his own holiday. Close to 500 years, people have praised Christopher Columbus and also celebrated him as though he was the one who truly founded America. Teachers teach students that he was a great man, also how he found treasures and land known as America. Students are also taught about the names of his three ships he used on his first voyage. However, they did not teach us the truth about Christopher Columbus, and his so called “discovery”.
A great hero from Europe or a man with only himself and his people in mind? Many people believe that he was a hero whose discoveries lead to the possibilities we have in America today, while many other condemn him for the deaths of many Native Americans that occurred to make it possible to live in America today. What would someone like me see in Columbus’ discoveries and enslavements? He introduced the Europeans to new products and ways of financial expansion. Even though Columbus gave us a head start to a better life here in America, what lengths did he go to make such a life possible? He brought over diseases to the natives and also grazing animals to eat up the vegetation. These deaths would have never occurred if not for the countries that funded the exploration. Columbus and the Europeans would never have come to the Americas when they did and so many natives would not have died.
In 1492 Columbus sailed the ocean blue. And, when he reached his destination he killed, raped and enslaved innocent natives. Was Columbus a villain? The answer to that question, in my opinion, would be yes. Christopher Columbus was a cruel, self-centered, delusional man who does not deserve to be praised for the discovery of America.
Christopher Columbus is a mythical hero or in other words, not a true hero. The story of Christopher Columbus is part of the many myths of Western civilization. Also the story of Christopher Columbus represents the power of those that are privileged and in most cases white European men that have written this mythical history. Zinn (2009 exposes the truth about Columbus through eyes of the people who were there when he had arrived which were the Native Indians (p.481). Columbus had kept a personal journal for his voyage to describe the people and the journey. What was evident throughout his journal was the Native Americans were very nice, gentle and kind hearted people (Zinn, 2009, 481). As Zinn suggests Columbus spoke of the Native Americans as” they are the best people in the world and
For more than five centuries Americans have lifted Christopher Columbus to heights of greatness and god-like. We celebrate his life as though he was a man that had done us a great favor. In resent years Christopher Columbus has come under scrutiny, his life and works being questioned more than celebrated. There have be many great men and women that contributed to the building of our great nation but they do not receive anywhere as much recognition as Columbus. When a person begins to study the actual accounts of the "finding of the New World" they begin to wonder if Columbus should adored or hated for his actions. As a child I was taught that Columbus was a great man that had accomplished great things for the sake of humanity, but in reality his agenda was not to better humanity but to better himself. He found the Americas by mere chance and he did not even know of what he found. We give him credit for "finding" the Americas but history tells of the people, that he called Indians, already inhabiting the foreign land. So you decide whether or not Christopher Columbus should be revered a hero.
Christopher Columbus was a famous navigator and explorer who was born in 1451 in Genoa, Italy. Columbus wanted to claim land for Spain so he could be rich and spread religion. He originally set out to find the East Indies for many reasons. One was that he hoped to establish trade routes and colonies in order to gain wealth. Another was that there were now bigger guns that could be strapped on ships so he felt that his voyage had more of a chance of being successful. The main reasons for his exploration was that he wanted to find a western route to Asia to find the riches that Marco Polo talked about in his book. So basically he was not courageous, he was just greedy. He intended on arriving in Japan on his first voyage, but instead, he arrived at the Bahamas archipelago. He ended up making numerous voyages and claiming the lands he visited for the Spanish Empire. Columbus continued voyages creating the first lasting European conta...
To determine if Christopher Columbus is a hero or a villain, one must first consider his background. He was born sometime between August 26 and October 31, 1451, in Genoa, Italy (Flint). From the age of twenty-five to his death, Columbus spent his whole
My personal opinion? Villain. Christopher Columbus was a nasty man who was motivated by greed. “The information that Columbus wanted most was: Where is the Gold” (Zinn 4)? He logged in his journal his first encounter with the Arawak people, stating “As soon as I arrived in the Indies, I took some of the natives by force in order that they might give me information of whatever there is in these parts” (Zinn 4). Their crime? “They wore tiny gold ornaments in their ears” (Zinn 5). Columbus would stop at nothing to gain what he most desired. Horrible as he was, he ultimately paved the way for America as we know it. All things happen for a reason, right?
Christopher Columbus, was he a hero, or villain? For about 500 years, people have praised him and celebrated his life as though he was someone who did good for us. Schools teach students that Columbus was a great man, found gold and pearls, and discovered new lands. Students are even taught the names of Christopher Columbus' three ships he used on his first voyage. However, they grow up not knowing the truth about Christopher Columbus, what he really did to 'accomplish' his tasks. I simply believe that schools should show both sides of Columbus' story, so that students can be aware of the facts behind the 'discovery' of Early America.
the myths of his voyages begin with himself. For it was he who reported to
...us brought America to the attention of the civilized world, to the growing, scientific civilizations of Western Europe. The result, ultimately, was the United States of America. It was Columbus’ discovery for Western Europe that led to the arrival of ideas and people on which this nation was founded on. The voyages of Christopher Columbus contain one of the great adventure stories of all time. His first journey across thousands of miles of unknown ocean, in the middle of the rebellious grievances and tensions of his crew, was not only one of the most significant achievements of recorded human history, but was also a demonstration of Columbus's dominance as mariner and navigator. For a while he had faults and defects, which brought turmoil to his personal life, but there was no flaw, no dark side to the most significant of all his qualities, of course his seamanship.
[2] Columbus is a mainstay of American patriotism. He is the patron saint who planted the seeds of our nation. Our culture has been lulled into his heroic myth for hundreds of years and has celebrated this man with much pomp and circumstance. Columbus’ worthiness has been the subject of much controversy and is now being linked to such un-heroic terms as mass murder, holocaust, and genocide.
Christopher Columbus was one of the most legendary sailors and explorers of all time. Christopher Columbus , an italian explorer, was born in the year of 1451 in the Republic of Genoa. Christopher Columbus was a teenager when he first set sail the ocean in 1465. He became a sailor in 1476 and started to travel many places before going on his largest voyage in 1480. In 1492, Christopher Columbus exploration to the New World linked Europe and the Americas. His discoveries enlightened the globe and started a new age of exploration. His standards and morals changed the history of the whole globe. He was known for traveling for all types of reasons for many foreign monarchs. But why would a monarch from one country be interested in employing an explorer from a foreign country to complete such an important task?
A cold-blooded killer has developed into a national hero and celebrated on Oct 10th each year. Christopher Columbus is the name of the man, who has been developed into a national figure and hero because of his discovery of the new world. Most Americans are taught in the fifth grade that Christopher Columbus was the man who sailed the ocean blue in 1492. That, however, is not the whole picture. His accomplishments do not discard his past or everything else that made him the man he was. His discovery of the Americas does not sugarcoat the fact that he was a cold blooded man who carried out acts of genocide and caused a great deal of suffering for the native people, in order to obtain lands he believed were his. He is responsible for the deaths of many innocent lives.