Jack Poore
HISTU102-02-FALL-2017: Introduction to World History II
8/28/17
Was Christopher Columbus a hero?
In My opinion, No.
Christopher Columbus was not a hero. He was a leader of genocide and he enslaved a lot of indigenous natives. Mainly, the Taino people. Columbus explored the coast's of Hispaniola (Present day Haiti, Cuba, The Dominican Republic and The Bahamas.) and The East coast of Central and South America. He never stepped foot on North America's soil and many people today think he did.
When Columbus and his crew first met the Taino people and other natives they traded items and showed acceptance in one another. The Taino people were known for being peaceful individuals. Everyone got along fine but over time Columbus
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seeded some ideas in his head and wrote his thoughts in his diary during his expeditions. He wrote that the Tainos were healthy, tough, strong, good looking human beings that would serve well as servants. Soon enough, Columbus ordered his crew to torture the living hell out of these natives and enslave them. According to this source/website called biography.com, Taino’s were getting brutally beaten up, losing their limbs and/or get executed if they didn't collect enough gold that day. A portion of that gold would go straight to Columbus himself and he was getting a large amount then needed. He deserved none of it, the natives did his dirty work. The Taino’s population was diminishing quickly, mass murder, torture, and enslavement really devastated their community.
But, It was the deadly diseases and other illnesses that these Europeans had brought over to Hispaniola, Central American's Eastern coast, and South America's Eastern coast that really inflicted the damage. This was the icing on the cake. This went on for a few decades …show more content…
on. A couple expeditions more and Spanish Monarchs started hearing about Columbus and his men committing serious crimes against the Taino people. He only lost his position as governor. Lucky for him, he got away with something that would never be able to fly by today, in any court room, anywhere on the planet. I looked up two websites defining the term; hero and discovered that both the websites I looked up all had something similar with the meaning of a hero.
The act of being courageous. If you're courageous that means that you are also brave. Christopher Columbus could have been considered brave by many. He did cross the treacherous Atlantic Ocean, risking his own life and his own crew. In desperation for finding unknown riches but, It still does not make him a true hero.
When I think of super heroes, I think of people like superman, or batman. Those two super heroes help restore justice and bring back order. They make sure their people are safe and at peace. Superman would never go torture peaceful aliens on another planet, that did no harm what so ever, and then enslave them. It doesn't sound like something courageous or brave Superman would do? That sounds like a villains job.
The more I read about Mr. 1492, the more I realize he sat on his lazy behind, while his crew and the Taino’s did everything they could to please him. He was nothing but a greedy scumbag.
He should never be called a hero.
Jack Poore
http://www.easybib.com Christopher Columbus Work cited page/ sources ——-The definition of a “hero”——— a·non·y·mous. “Hero.” Dictionary.com, Dictionary.com, www.dictionary.com/browse/hero. “Hero.” Merriam-Webster, Merriam-Webster, www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/hero. ——-Reasons and the only reasons/examples needed to prove Columbous fully didn't meet hero criteria———- Myint, B. “Christopher Columbus: Hero or Villain?” Biography.com, A&E Networks Television, 5 Oct. 2016, www.biography.com/news/christopher-columbus-day-facts.
Ransby believes “Columbus 's image has been scrubbed clean and sanitized by many generations of American historians so that he can now be offered up as a sterling example of the glorious era of discovery.” (Ransby, 1992/2015, p.14). Objective evidence is also a major component in this article. Columbus’s journal proved he wanted to exploit, and enslave the Indians. A population of 300,000 dwindled to a mere one by 1540. (Ransby, 1992/2015, p.12). Many scene of rape, murder and beating were also described in journals of sailors that travelled with
As we all know from the memorable song, in 1492 Columbus sailed to find the New World, commonly known as the Americas. Many idolize Columbus for his accomplishment in colonizing the Americas and starting the Columbian Exchange. The Columbian Exchange is the sharing of plants, animals, diseases, human populations, technology, and ideas between the Western and Eastern Hemispheres as a direct result of Columbus’ arrival to the Americas. However, we often oversee the downfalls of the Columbian Exchange. Some consequences of the exchange are the spread of disease to the Native people and settlers, the destruction of the Native population, and the disappearance of the Natives custom’s, beliefs, and way of life.
Who is Christopher Columbus? You may already have prior knowledge of him, but if you do not, Christopher Columbus was a Spanish explorer who made four voyages to the Americas. His voyages led to the Columbian Exchange and colonization. Many cultures, ideas, technology, and foods were spread between the Americas, the “New World,” and Europe, Africa, and Asia, the “Old World”. Even though many great things were exchanged between the Old World and the New World, many diseases from Europe were introduced to the Natives. Does this make Christopher Columbus a hero, or a villain? The answer is not that debatable. A closer look must be taken at Christopher Columbus 's life to be able to judge such things. This essay will take a look at his life,
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.
A hero is considered to be any man noted for feats of courage or nobility of purpose;
Christopher Columbus was a cruel, delusional, and self-centered man who does not deserve high praises 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
Although, Columbus may have done some bad things to America, he helped England, Spain, and all people to this day. When he discovered America he made it known, allowing people to travel there and begin a new life. Lots of countries honor Columbus, especially Spain. For his discovery we wouldn’t be where we are now, we might have still believed the world was flat. From the author of “Sail On!” he says “Columbus’ voyage made America known to the people of Europe. This truly changed the world. It is why Columbus is honored.”He will be honored for the good things we don’t need to ponder on the
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.
...icas. “{There} can be no doubt that when Christopher Columbus made landfall in the West Indian islands in 1492, he set in motion some of the most pivotal developments in human history” (Foner 1). He braved the inconceivable task of sailing across the Atlantic for an undetermined length of time without certainty that he would ever return. In today’s age, getting on a plane and venturing to a foreign country is brave. Joining the military and fighting for your country is brave. Was Christopher Columbus brave or just a mad man? I believe he was both. Sometimes you need to be a little crazy to do “great things”.
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.
Everyone has heard the story of how Christopher Columbus discovered America. Almost every child is taught to think this from kindergarten. There's even a day every year dedicated to him. The thing is, not everyone knows the whole story. Christopher Columbus isn't quite the hero people make him out to be. He is responsible for almost all of the deaths of the 1-3 million Taínos Indians. Columbus was the one to ask for the money to explore. He was the one to claim the land for Spain. It was him who gave to order to kill everyone. He's obviously completely guilty, right? Well, not exactly.
Heroism entails several things; a selfless act, courage, or the accomplishments of bold and daring expeditions. A hero can also mean courage in the face of death. Others may view this type of hero as stupid, or a martyr. Every hero has faults and these faults along with heroic deeds make the man or woman; a hero, heroine.
... encountered the Taino is dependent upon the understanding the religious and historical backgrounds of both. One must understand that the mythology of the Taino, the expectations of the Spanish, and the appearances of both played a major role in the reactions of these two cultures when they collided.