For hundreds of years, Christopher Columbus has been hailed a hero for his exploration, ambition, and intelligence; however, in recent years, opinions and further research have revealed that Columbus’ actions are not as benevolent as the world once thought. Due to the common misconceptions of Columbus’ exploration, many people are unaware of the extent of malevolence and villainy how we went about achieving his goals.
Starting in our early childhood education, we are taught rhymes and stories about Columbus’ exploration that are glorifying and gallant. For example, in picturebooks read by and taught to children, it is written that Columbus sought the New World for the sake of humanity and growing the intelligence of the world as a whole. In honor of Columbus’ 500th Anniversary in 1992, many historians took a deeper look into the journey across the ocean blue, particularly into the impetus of the famous explorer. They found that the picturebooks and stories we all know are not entirely accurate, which has been shown through the dissection of his diaries from his experiences on sea, on the new land, and in rallying funds for the journey itself. Columbus sought out funds from every place possible, including the King Ferdinand and Queen Isabella of Spain. While the journey was seen as desirable for many investors looking to broaden their horizons into new investments, Columbus saw the opportunity to be famous throughout the world, become rich, and, most importantly, to show off his intelligence. He wanted to prove to the world that he was so intelligent that he could figure out how to travel the seas that have never before been crossed, thus, they were not yet mapped. He wanted to prove that his education, some of he taught himself, was so great that he could do what had never been done. Being the first to travel untouched seas was a highly desired title for Columbus, but he reveled the idea of being seen as the “most intelligent man alive” or “the man who was intelligent enough to find new lands across dangerous seas with no navigation tools besides a compass and a spyglass.” This intention is ambitious, yes, but it is also selfish and vain. He sought these things solely for himself, not even for his country or in the name of his family. In this selfish desire, Columbus is considered a villain by many because he begged people for many for his own personal gain and when he reached the lands he immediately wanted to know what he could gain from the lands and the people. He never offered or thought to give back or event trade with the native people, he only took from them the only home they had ever known.
Upon arriving, Columbus was an easygoing guest and kind to his hosts who worked through the language barrier to help these new peoples learn about the land the natives treasured so dearly. They gave him tours of the land and explained certain products that were foreign to Columbus. What interested him the most, was the value of these foreign things. The natives set no price on them, but he could only imagine what his people would pay for anything on this island. The natives taught Columbus and his shipmen how to harvest certain fruits or gather other treasures. Once he knew how to collect these things himself, he began to create a market for any products that were not available to the Europeans. The land was abounding with peculiar fruits, vegetables, plants, animals, and various things they had never seen, Columbus wanted to bring back these indigenous products and create the desire for them among his own peoples. In order to do this, however, he would need manual labor and a lot of it. Columbus attempted to persuade the native peoples to work with him on gathering these products, but the communication barrier caused too much confusion and inefficiency; thus, Columbus decided to bring in his own manpower from European colonies in Africa with help from investors who came from far and wide to gain whatever wealth they could from this new land. The people brought from Africa were used and treated as slaves in this new colony. Soon enough, investors started pouring in to reap the profits of the new land and were purchasing slaves to work it. What is now known as the Bahamas was deliberately taken from the natives in order for the land to be used for the benefit of the Europeans. The natives, generous at first, willingly shared the land, but by the time they realized the true motive of the newcomers, it was too late and the natives were forced to participate in the industry and economy created by the inconsiderate Europeans seeking wealth. Columbus encouraged this behavior himself as a part of his bribe to investors that they would earn a profit off his explorations, if it succeeded. Fortunately for Columbus and his investors, his exploration more than succeeded, it flourished. Their pockets were exploding from the weight of the money and gold gained from the sale of these products. Consequently, the lives of the natives changed drastically and became much more restricted on what they could and could not do as a result of the takeover by the Europeans.
During his lifetime, these actions did not necessarily make Columbus a villain because the wealthy only got wealthier from his actions, causing them to see the explorer as a hero. The natives, however, did not agree with this depiction of Columbus because he turned their whole world upside down and changed their lives forever. He also wrecked the lives of the slaves shipped from Africa to a land and a lifestyle they never knew existed. He caused many of these slaves, young and old, to be ripped from their families in Africa and as they were sold to different owners. Some also died from the heat and the amount of strenuous manual labor they were forced to do. The majority of the reason Columbus is called a villain is due to his connection to slavery that occurred on the lands he discovered. Modern opinion of slavery is astronomically different from the opinion commonly held in Columbus’ time. Now, most people look down upon it and considered especially heinous to ever own a person and strip them of all rights and freewill. In 1492, it was seen as a sign of wealth and prestige to own slaves, so naturally, everyone strove to reach that level of wealth. For the slaves, it was a way of life and most did not see a way out, so many sat quietly and endured the lifeless and passionless work of being a slave. Columbus was the first European to find this new land and the first to bring people from Africa who were then sold into slavery, thus the majority of the blame is placed upon him for starting the slave trade and all of slavery in the New Land that later became known as North and Central America.
Written by: Anna Waterkotte