Christopher Columbus: Hero or Villain?
By: Kelly Heck
1). Churchill, Ward. “Columbus and the Beginning of Genocide in the ‘New World.’” MIT, 1994, Web. 16 Feb. 2018
Note: “Columbus did not sally forth upon the Atlantic for reasons of “neutral science” or altruism. He went, as his own diaries, reports, and letters make clear, fully expecting to encounter wealth belonging to others. It was his stated purpose to seize this wealth, by whatever means necessary and available, in order to enrich both his sponsors and himself.” Basically, Columbus did not voyage with the best intentions. He was planning on getting rich and gaining wealth and resources by whatever means necessary.
Abstract: As described above, Columbus had different intentions than most people thought, and these intentions are written out in his journal. This may have contributed to the ways he took advantage of the Native Americans that he encountered on his voyage.
2). Sanders, Alexandra. “Christopher Columbus: Hero or Villain?.” New Haven Register (CT), 09 Oct. 2012. EBSCOhost, Web. 16 Feb. 2018
Note: “When he got to the Americas he did everything he could to get those resources — that meant massacres and torture. That really resulted in about 80 percent annihilation of indigenous people and set the tone for the African slave trade.” Columbus was sent on a voyage to Asia, but came across the Americas by mistake; therefore, he was not the first person to “discover” the Americas. When he got here, he was looking for resources to take back with him to Spain, but he took advantage of and killed many Native Americans along the way.
Abstract: This article goes into detail about some of the bad things Christopher Columbus did while on his voyage. This article posed an argument for why Columbus Day probably shouldn’t be celebrated in the United States because what Columbus did is not as glorious as some make it out to be.
3). Fernandez-Armesto, F. “Columbus–Hero or Villain?.” History Today, vol. 42, no. 5, May 1992, p. 4. EBSCOhost, Web. 16 Feb. 2018
Note: “he had an implacable temperament which could never be satisfied, and an unremitting ambition which could never be assuaged.” Basically, Columbus had a bad temper that nobody could calm. This could and probably did result in very poor treatment of the Native Americans. Later on in the article it reads: “there was the issue of Columbus’ activities as a slaver.” Columbus enslaved the people who were there before him: the Native Americans.
Abstract: This article highlights some aspects of Columbus’ personality that may have contributed to his poor treatment of the Native Americans. It also points out that facts that Columbus did enslave and mistreated people. One “myth” this article puts to rest is when people try and relate Columbus’ actions to a genocide. What Columbus did was not right, obviously, but it nowhere compared to Hitler’s actions and these two events are not comparable.
4). Howarth, William. “Putting Columbus in His Place.” Southwest Review pg 153-165. Literary Reference Center. Web. 16 Feb. 2018
Note: “it was not ‘wonderful’ that Columbus found America, for how on earth could he miss it?” This quote highlights an idea that Columbus’ stumble-upon America is nothing impressive, after all, people did already live there.
Abstract: This book essentially highlights the sketchy parts of Columbus’ voyage. For example, the language barrier. This caused problems with trade, and the book points out an example to which Columbus may have had possession of goods that he should not have had.