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Consequences of colonization in America
The European social impact on the indigenous people
Consequences of colonization in America
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With the conquest of the new world, diverse consequences emerged worldwide. In the end, which were the benefits and the consequences for conquering of the new world? What was what motivated these people to explore a new continent? Many came because they thought America was filled with jewels and gold. Others came to the new world to convert Indians into Christians. Some were looking for a fertile land that could be exploded to manufacture goods, crops, and raise animals. Others were brought to the new world against their will, like black slaves, to work on plantations and do other arduous tasks. The benefits as well the consequences are keys to determine why Europeans decided to conquer and stay at the new world.
As European states, Spain
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was looking for gold in the Indies; however, a journey by sea to Southeastern Asia was long, dangerous, and expensive. The Indies was known for having a rich land and sources like gold, silks, spices, and other goods.
Evidently, European countries like Spain were looking for reliable men capable of finding and bringing back the treasures of the new world. But nothing was accomplished until 1492, when an Italian explorer called Christopher Columbus requested the king and queen of Spain to pay his expedition. The kings condition was to bring back gold and spices from the new world, and literary, the kings were ordering Columbus to conquer in their names territory of the new world. Without hesitation, Columbus accepts the conditions and he sets sail on August 3, 1492 from Palos de la Frontera on “La Nina, La Pinta, and Santa Maria” to the new world ("Christopher Columbus"). Even though he did not achieve his main goal during the first voyage, which was to find and bring gold to Spain, he was still determined to exploit the land and people from the new world. Columbus ultimately disobeyed the crown of Spain and returns to the new world. Historians believe that while Columbus and his crew explored for the first time the New World, Columbus stared to realize that the people would be a good source of slave labor and the land of …show more content…
the new world was fertile enough to grow crops. Indeed, Columbus return lead to a deeper exploration of the new world and this was a starting point in the history of cultivation of new crops and production of livestock in the new world, which in essence, contributed equally in the development of America and the Afro-Eurasian hemisphere. However, Columbus aims now were achieved in a darker way. If he didn’t obtain tributes from the aborigines, Colombus second choice was to enslave the aborigines to make them their servants and work in mines and plantations to obtain profits.
Columbus knew the Native Indians were easy targets and easy to subjugate for they didn’t have the weapon technology or armor but spears made of cane. Columbus knew that he only needed few Europeans to defeat and enslave the Native Indians. For that reason he starts to emigrate more Europeans to the new world to build new settlements and have more control and power over the aborigines of the new world. When Columbus started to enslave native Indians in the Caribbean islands, it was a time were international slave trade was starting to get more demand in the European continent. Columbus and his crew seized and enslaved Natives from the West Indies who were imperiled to extreme violence and brutality. Moreover, he passed policies of forced labor which required natives to work in hazardous conditions so so he could obtain profits. Later on, Columbus dispatched thousands of Taino Indians from the island of Hispaniola to Spain to be traded. Many died in their way to Europe and the ones left in the new world were forced to search for gold in mines and work on plantations. Within 60 years after Columbus landed, around hundred Taino Indians of 250,000 were left on their islands. Because of native’s discontent and rebellion, Columbus ordered a cruel clampdown in which many
natives were executed. In an attempt to stop further revolt, Columbus ordered to display the mutilated bodies as a warning for those who wanted to reveal in a future. Besides subjugation and a violent reign, Columbus also introduces European diseases in the Americas, but because Indians were not immune disease devastated the native’s population leading to their almost extinction. Many historians believe that the exchange of plants, animals and others goods between the East and West, Columbus initiated, is not something to be proud about. Once introduced the plantation systems in the new world, British, French, Portuguese, Dutch, as well the Spanish began to grow different crops in the Caribbean with slave labor from Africans. It was a demanding task, and the unfavorable conditions in which African slaves worked only caused the death of many. As a result, Africa lost many of its population. Then, cattle ranching, crops, and resources only found in the new world only attracted millions of Europeans to the new world; as a result, this immigration almost destroyed Indians beliefs, ideas, culture, but most off all, their populations. Unfortunately this was a pattern repeated through the Americas leading to the nearly extinction of this culture and community.
Columbus and Champlain were both devoted to the success of their expeditions; however, Columbus had far more selfish intentions. Columbus was an Italian who sought aid for a journey that would travel across the Atlantic Ocean in search for riches in the East. His support did not come easy as he was rejected by the courts of Portugal, France, and England. Ultimately, Columbus was able to gain authorization and funding for a voyage to begin in 1492 by the Spanish monarchs King Ferdinand and Queen Isabel. After starting the long awaited expedition in April, Columbus was able to reach the West Indies by October of that year. Upon encountering the New World, Columbus immediately claimed the land along with its natives for his Spanish sovereigns.
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.
It is important to remember that Columbus was only the man who gave the orders, they were actually carried out by his men. Even after hearing people like Father Bartolomé de las Casas plead on behalf of the Tainos, Columbus’ men still decided to follow orders and torture, enslave, and murder millions of Tainos. Father de las Casas’ writing says that the Tainos are “gentle lambs” and when Columbus’ men attack the Tainos, they “tear the natives to shreds, murder them and inflict upon them untold misery, suffering and distress, tormenting, harrying and persecuting them mercilessly.” Father de las Casas writing is reliable because he witnessed these horrible actions firsthand. Christopher Columbus, when writing to the King and Queen, even says, “Of these [weapons] they do not dare to make use, for many times it has happened that I have sent ashore two or three men to some town to have speech with them, and countless people have come out to them, and as soon as they have seen my men approaching, they have fled, a father not even waiting for his son.” Columbus was on the island of Hispaniola and knew firsthand that his men had no reason to kill the Tainos because there was no way that they would fight back or stand a chance against them. Because Columbus’ men chose to follow Columbus’ orders and attack and kill the Tainos when they had
Columbus' original plan was to prove that early geographers were wrong and that the world was larger than computed (William Howarth). He had sponsorship from the King and Queen of Spain who were finally convinced by Columbus by his belief that he was a divine missionary, ordained by God to spread Christianity (P. J. Riga). When he got to the New World he had found that there was the possibility that there might be an abundance of gold, and gold was the commodity Columbus pursued with obsessive zeal (William Howarth). It would seem to be an item that he had a lust for more than anything. An elder on Tortuga described "within a hundred or more ...
It led Columbus to take Arawak Indians as prisoners on his expedition to search for gold. He sailed across islands capturing Indians along the way. He captured 1,500 Arawak men, women, and children sadly but gratefully for them they died on route so some didn’t have to endure the horrible condition that Columbus put them through. However, those that survived were fully naked and treated as animals because that is how whites saw them. Those that survived had to find gold, which was almost impossible wistfully those that didn’t find anything had their hands cut off and bled to death. Due to this inhumane treatment some tried escaping but were unsuccessful and they were hunted like dogs and killed. In addition, the prisoners were forced into war against the Spaniards who were well armed so they had no chance at being victorious. It leads me to believe that the savages were Columbus and his crew. The Arawak’s could take no more heartless and inhumane treatment that they committed mass suicides. To them they’d rather be dead by their own hands then be treated as animals. Columbus atrocious actions “in two years through murder, mutilation, or suicide, half of the 250,000 Indians…were dead” (Zinn 1980:107). What is even more barbaric is them thinking they can do it all over again. When Most of the Arawak Indians were killed they ran low slaves so needed
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...
I believe many of the motivators for the Europeans to move to and colonize North and South America was due to material gain and religious freedom. First I would like to talk about several of the material gains that were either made or expected to be made in the move to explore North and South America's. When the plans were being set out for the new colonies and the different propels that were laid out some of the ideas that were look at heavily were the material gains. One gain was the level of workload in some areas. It was believed that by moving to the United States that farming living conditions and making a living for themselves would be made much easier. An example of this was the Holland plantation. The settlers of that area could see their lives and the life of their colony decreasing severalty due to the heavy amount of work required and only made harder by area that they lived in. They finally made the decision to leave Holland for the United States after seeing that a lot of their children were becoming decrepit at a young age because they had to take on their own work load but also that of their parents which was too much of a burden for most of them to handle. The also had a problem with their youth for several different reasons would decide to leave their colony and peruse their own goals or just move into a larger city usually getting into trouble and going against most of what they were taught by their parents and their families. The situation that this colony was in though was not felt by most of settlers that chose to explore and colonize the Americas. Some of the other material gains that were looked at and therefore a driving force for some people moving to the Americas were farming. It was known that unlike in most of the other regions at the time land was amply in the Americas at that time. With a lot of the new settlers being farmers this was a great thing for them because it gave them a great chance to buy a large enough piece of land for them to sustain themselves as well as a family at the same time being able to look ahead to their children's future knowing that they would be able to do the same and not have to worry about being able to get land.
Christopher Columbus was a renaissance explorer in 1492. he was sent by queen Isabelle and king Ferdinand of Spain to look for a trade route to east Asia
Columbus discovered the New World (America) in 1492, soon after, many other European colonies followed and expanded. One Spanish conquistador stated, "that he and his kind went to the new World to serve God and his Majesty, to give light to those who were in the darkness, and to grow rich, as all men desire to do" (Parry, p.33). The majority of Europeans that would follow, desired the same. In order to achieve this goal the Europeans murdered, starved, enslaved, stole land, and brutalized people for centuries to follow. During Columbus second voyage to the New World, he had captured 1600 Native Americans, and enslaved 550. At this point, the Native Americans lives were changed forever. The Spaniards continue to explore the new world, leaving a wake of death and destruction in their path. Along with the Europeans came diseases that th...
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?
The Europeans brought with them not only a desire and will to conquer the new continent f...
Before the most famous historic voyage to the Americas Christopher Columbus had no support to go on his expedition. Christopher Columbus tried to get support from the King of Portugal John II, but he was turned down. Spain finally agreed to sponsor his voyage in 1492 across the Atlantic Ocean. By agreeing to sponsor Christopher Columbus voyage they believed they would have gained leverage in what they were trying to do in Spain. The Reconquista made the Spaniards very powerful. By Christopher Columbus finding new land with people and gold it convinced King Ferdinand and Queen Isabella to continue to support his voyages. Even though the king and queen believed that allowing him to go on the voyages benefited them it actually allowed Christopher
The discovery of the new world brought the Europeans resources, money, and people. Discovery of the new was such an impact on the European exploration because of land. Countries would now have more land in their name with lots of resources. Discovery the new world made the European come up with the ideal of slavery. This was a negative for the people who lived on the land because they were either killed, brought into slavery, or kicked off the island (3). Crops and resources was another reason why the discovery of the new world was important. Exploring the world gave the Europeans resources that were very convenience. Gold was the greatest convenience resources found during the European exploration (3). When the Europeans were traveling across they weren’t just looking for land and money. They also learned from the Indians and others about their culture (3). Learning about another culture made the explorers bring back some of their culture and share it with the old world. The explorers found lots of resources and crops that they didn’t have, they also found out that the Indians didn’t have things they had, and this is what lead to the Columbian
Christopher Columbus was an explorer who discovered the New World of the Americas in the year of 1942. His voyage ended up taking him five weeks to complete. Throughout his journey, Columbus and his crew experienced the struggle of hunger and disease. However, Columbus had the skills to be able to remain strong and make it through the hard things that he faced. He had great survival and navigation skills. However, Columbus needed support to finance his mission. It took him two years to convince the Spanish courts to support his mission. He first went to the Portuguese with his proposal, but they were not in favor of supporting his voyage. King Ferdinand and Queen Isabella in Spain were the ones who ended up helping Columbus. The marriage of
Christopher Columbus was an explorer, colonizer and navigator born in the Republic of Genoa. Under the auspices of the Catholic Monarch of Spain four (4) voyages were completed by him across the Atlantic Ocean that led to the awareness of the American continents in the Western Hemisphere. These voyages were part of his plan to establish permanent Spanish colonies on the island of Hispaniola, commenced the process of Spanish colonization, which indicated the general European colonization of what became the “New World”.