Christopher Columbus Voyage Summary

509 Words2 Pages
bulb-icon

Recommended: European exploration of the new world

This account by Christopher Columbus was written in 1492. Columbus wrote this diary on his maiden voyage in attempts to find a sea route to the Indies. The purpose of this writing was to record what he discovered during the aforementioned voyage for Queen Isabella and King Ferdinand. Columbus was sailing to the Indies in order to convert the people to Catholicism. However, conversion was not his only goal. Columbus was searching for riches and glory. In the text the crew was expressing their displeasure and impatience about the length of the voyage. The Admiral, Columbus, encouraged them by “representing the profits they were about to acquire”. Columbus also stated that the people of the newly discovered land seemed to be “intelligent and would make good servants”. He planned to deliver six of the indians to his Highness so that they may learn the Spaniard’s language. Columbus …show more content…

Christopher Columbus expressed his desire for his eldest son to succeed him with riches and so on as generations pass. The importance of power to europeans was also revealed in this document. Columbus believed that “with 50 men all of them can be held in subjection (conquered) and can be made to do whatever one might wish”. Columbus noted that the indians had no weapons, only mere sticks. They had no iron and cut themselves when they grabbed the blades of swords given to them by the Europeans. This personal diary from Christopher Columbus provided insight to how the europeans thought as they discovered new land and people. The Europeans focused on glory, riches, and power. They traded with the indians receiving items to trade in Europe, discovered the weaknesses of the indians, and learned about gold they could acquire from a nearby king. Through a personal narrative of the events in the Indies the Europeans importance at the time was

Show More
Related

  • How Did Christopher Columbus's Relationship With The Spanish Crown Change Over Time?

    706 Words  | 2 Pages

    One question posed by the authors is “How did Columbus’s relationship with the Spanish crown change over time, and why?” In simple terms, Columbus’s relationship with the

    Read More

  • What Fundamental Factors Drew Europeans to The Exploration, Conquest, and Settlement of the New World?

    1072 Words  | 3 Pages

    Toward the end of pre-colonial times in Europe, due to the fall of Constantinople, many European nations felt the need to find an alternate route to the East Indies. The trade of rare goods such as spices, rice, exotic fruits and silk fabrics were much in demand, but came at extreme prices. In the beginning of the ‘Age of Exploration’, Portugal was in the forefront with the early explorers Henry the Navigator, Zarco and Tristao Vaz Teixeira, and Diogo Silves discovering the Madeira Islands, the Azores, and the exploration of Africa respectively, but King John the II of Portugal was unconvinced by Christopher Columbus’s pleas to fund his plan to sail West to the East Indies. Columbus made many demands for self-profit, including ten percent of any riches with which he returned, and even an ‘Admiralty’. Subsequently, Columbus took his plans to Queen Isabella of Spain. Spain acquiesced, and Columbus set off on his fateful journey. The Roman Catholic Church was very interested in expanding the Christian faith during this time and applied its influence on the monarchy. Religion also played a large personal role as Columbus truly believed that God spoke to him, and guided his hand. Additionally, at this time in Europe, land and food were at a premium. The monarchs of the era were fully aware that the acquisition of more land, slave labor and possible natural resources would greatly increase their power, prestige and subsequent wealth. After learning of Columbus’ successful return and the Treaty of Tordesillas (which divided the New World between Spain and Portugal), King Henry VII of England threw his hat into the ring and sent John Cabot sailing from Bristol on an attempt to find a shorter route to the ‘Indies’. Not to be left out in ...

    Read More

  • Christopher Columbus Essay

    722 Words  | 2 Pages

    Columbus described the people as being timid and unfitted to use weapons. He wrote, “They have no iron or steel or weapons, nor are they fitted to use them. This is not because they are not very well built and of handsome stature, but because they are very marvellously timorous.” Columbus described them as though they will not provide any resistance because they do not have the skill to use weapons, and that they very timid people. However, as shown in the first quote, Columbus wrote that they did not put up any opposition; he later wrote in the letter that he took some of the natives by force. If the natives did not put up any opposition to Columbus, why would he need to take them by force? Columbus also notes that they had been very serviceable, and would very much be open to evangelization. An important note, Columbus wrote more and provided more detail about the vast islands he had “discovered” compared to the indigenous people, of which he wrote, “ In all these islands, I saw no great diversity in the appearance of the people or in their manners and language.” In the end, Columbus’s description of the Indigenous people was that are serviceable people would make adequate slaves. Columbus’s letter paints a good picture into his imperialistic mind, as opposed to providing information about the

    Read More

  • Analysis Of Christopher Columbus's Letter To Luis De Santangel

    1096 Words  | 3 Pages

    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.

    Read More

  • The Writings of Christopher Columbus and John Smith

    1381 Words  | 3 Pages

    Columbus appears to be a dreamer. His goals were selfish and his true knowledge weak. He was deceitful and egotistical and knew how to manipulate others. Throughout his writings he refers to the things that ‘he’ accomplished, as if he had done them alone. He lied almost daily to the sailors according to his journal when he stated “less than the true number” (Halsall) of leagues travelled each day was reported to them. He spoke of an abundance of gold he found in the islands when he wrote “the majority [of rivers]…contain gold” (Belasco and Johnson 82). According to his journal entries, he only observes the existence of gold two times and both times it is seen hanging from a man’s nose. For example, on October 17 he encounters a man that had “hanging at his nose a piece of gold half as big as a castellailo” (Halsall), about a half pound in weight. Although he was told about gold and searched for gold, he never procured any. Additionally, he had a very high opinion of himself and was not hesitant in letting others know this. In his initial Journal writing he announces himself to be “Don” (Halsall), that’s like saying ‘I’m the head man.’ Furthermore, he let the King and Queen know that his proclaimed distinction was to be passed to his oldest son, including governorship of islands and lands he finds on his journey. He appears to think that what once belonged to native islanders, will belonged to him.

    Read More

  • Debunking the Mythical Hero: Christopher Columbus

    735 Words  | 2 Pages

    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

    Read More

  • Columbian Exchange

    2028 Words  | 5 Pages

    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...

    Read More

  • Christopher Columbus: The Hero

    913 Words  | 2 Pages

    It is thought by many that Christopher Columbus was a skilled sailor on a mission of greed. Many think that he in fact did it all for the money, honor and the status that comes with an explorer, but this is not the case entirely. Columbus was an adventurer and was enthused by the thrill of the quest of the unknown. “Columbus had a firm religious faith and a scientific curiosity, a zest for life, the felling for beauty and the striving for novelty that we associate with the advancement of learning”. He had heard of the legendary Atlantic voyages and sailors reports of land to the west of Madeira and the Azores. He believed that Japan was about 4,800 km to the west of Portugal. In 1484, Columbus wanted support for an exploratory voyage from King John II of Portugal, but he was refused. In 1485, Columbus took his son Diego and went to Spain to get some help.

    Read More

  • Christopher Columbus and the Definition of America as Booty by Beatriz Bodmer

    1172 Words  | 3 Pages

    ...he understood, by caveats of : “ he understood that”, “ it seemed to him”, or “ he believed that” , this made what he heard as irrelevant, since this provided no effect on the ultimate message (Bodmer, 34-35). The consequences represented in Columbus’s writings is presented as objective and comprehensive rather that subjective and biased and he would use literary privileges to create America using his imaginary model as he saw fit (Bodmer, 36.37). Columbus’s use of imaginary models provided him two functions, one personal that allowed him to validate his theories and prove accuracy to his plan, and confirms in his own estimation that he as God’s chosen agent and second to justify his ventures and establish his prestige (Bodmer, 39). Columbus’s representation of American was that of imagination but would be viewed by historians and “the civilizing of America”.

    Read More

  • Comparing The Spanish And English Colonization Of The Spanish And Native Americans

    883 Words  | 2 Pages

    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

    Read More

  • Christopher Columbus: Discoverer or Invader?

    821 Words  | 2 Pages

    There have been circular arguments,internaionally, concerning whether Columbus discoverd or invaded the west Indies. through this essay I will explore all counter arguments for this particular topic. Its complex yet simple, one step at a time.

    Read More

  • Christopher Columbus: The True Importance Of Christopher Columbus

    1258 Words  | 3 Pages

    In our personal lives we consider our past forgotten, however in our history everyone affects how they see themselves. "history repeats itself " is gradually long time we know manipulated and deceived us the wrong information, books, learning in school, the "biased" report before the newspaper, radio and television. Let us move on and we just solemn pray for that will prosper in our country. I noticed that there have been distortions in our history. It’s sad because it seems like we have forgotten the sacrifices of those who died during the time of dictatorship. This tragedy cannot continue. We should stand up for someone’s rights today. Times have changed. More sooner than later, they will take power into their hands by all and whatever

    Read More

  • What Is The Letter To Christopher Columbus Santangel

    1002 Words  | 3 Pages

    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.

    Read More

  • Christopher Columbus A Hero Essay

    719 Words  | 2 Pages

    Although Columbus had the opportunity to work out an agreement and exist peacefully with the Native Americans, he was focussed on his mission to “find riches and conquer new lands.” The three main sources of controversy involving Columbus's interactions with the Native Americans are “the use of violence and slavery, the forced conversion of native peoples to Christianity, and the introduction of a host of new diseases that would have dramatic long-term effects. . .” These topics have been debated and mulled over for over five hundred years by many different historians.

    Read More

  • An Analysis Of Christopher Columbus's Letter On His First Voyage

    1136 Words  | 3 Pages

    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

    Read More

More about Christopher Columbus Voyage Summary

Open Document