Christopher Columbus: Hero or Villain?
By: Pooja Chinnakotla
1.Colombo, Cristoforo, and Clements R. Markham. The Journal of Christopher Columbus (during His First Voyage, 1492-93) and Documents Relating to the Voyages of John Cabot and Gaspar Corte Real. Cambridge Univ. Press, 2010. Web. 13 Feb. 2018.
SUMMARY: In his letters, Columbus describes his experiences with the natives and the observations he made. He said that they did not speak the same language, and this made them easily convincible. He also mentioned that their land was blooming with crops that Spain did not have. Since the natives were kind and innocent, Columbus found it very easy to cheat them.
STATEMENT: Knowing that the natives did not speak the same language as the spaniards made it very easy for Columbus and his men to cheat them. They took advantage of their innocence and made the worst possible deals with them. He took advantage of their kindness and robbed them of all their wealth. These actions make Columbus a villain.
2. Schuman, H., et al. “Elite Revisionists and Popular Beliefs: Christopher Columbus, Hero or Villain?” Public Opinion Quarterly, vol. 69, no. 1, 2005, pp. 2–29., Web. 13 Feb. 2018.
SUMMARY: Christopher Columbus is viewed in both a positive and negative light. Native Americans believe that because of Christopher Columbus, they lost everything. Not only did he take their land, he also brought disease, slavery, and death. We however, view him as a hero not because we don’t know what he’s done but because we’ve been primed by our surroundings and our history. We cerebrate him and his achievements even though they might not be something to be proud of.
STATEMENT: Although Columbus was once viewed as a hero, the passage of time is revising peoples’ beliefs regarding him. Columbus Day which was once a day has now become a day which reminds us of all the pain and suffering Columbus has caused. He caused slavery and a genocide of sorts in the Caribbean Islands and he did this all knowingly. The fact that he took advantage of innocent people and their land makes him a villain.
3. Tinker, George E., and Mark. Freeland. “Thief, Slave Trader, Murderer: Christopher Columbus and Caribbean Population Decline.” Wicazo Sa Review 23.1 (2008): 25-50. Web. 13 Feb. 2018.
SUMMARY: This essay looks at whether or not Columbus was a thief, slave trader, or murderer. It studies how the population and way of living changed in the Caribbean Islands during his rule. Now in many countries, Columbus is not celebrated and neither are his achievements. He is revolted against.
STATEMENT: When Columbus explored the Caribbean Islands, he brought with him diseases from Europe that the natives had never seen. This caused many deaths. Although it could be argued that Columbus did not know the diseases would have a negative effect, it was still wrong of him to settle in a land of his that was not his own. He not only settled in the Caribbean Islands, but he also took advantage of everyone around him. He took the land of the natives, which resulted in major deforestation and soil erosion, and started slave trade. This is yet another reason that Columbus is a villain.
4.Perdue, Theda. “Columbus Meets Pocahontas in the American South.” Southern Cultures 3.1 (1997): 4-21. Web. 13 Feb. 2018.
SUMMARY: This article discusses how there was a difference in how the Native Americans and Spaniards viewed sexuality. This difference in how sexuality was viewed affected how the Spaniards treated the Natives. They treated more like animals like humans because the Natives dressed primally.
STATEMENT: Columbus and the Spaniards did not speak the language of the Natives nor did they know anything about their culture. Instead of trying to learn about it they made their own assumptions. The Spaniards were used to their women being conservative and keeping their sexual nature hidden. Since the Native woman walked around naked almost all the time, it was sexual paradise for the Spanish men. Instead of controlling themselves, many of them ended up raping the Native woman. Hence another villainous act.