Connor Day
English 1110.01, MWF 10:20 — 11:15
Instructor: Cathy Ryan
Assignment: Christopher Columbus Annotated Bibliography
February 15, 2018
Christopher Columbus: Hero or Villain?
- Fernandez-Armesto, F. “Columbus–Hero or villain?.” History Today 42, no. 5 (May 1992): 4. Academic Search Complete, EBSCOhost (accessed February 16, 2018).
Quote: “Until recently, Columbus managed largely to avoid implication in the sins off his successors. Las Casas revered him, and pities, rather than censured, the imperfections of his attitude to the natives.”
Summary: While Columbus is a significant historical figure, his actions— especially to the native peoples of America— were wrong and inhumane. In the past people have overlooked these actions and only pointed to his accomplishments. However, in our modern day and age it is almost impossible to overlook these shortcomings.
- Hart, Jeffrey. 1990. “DISCOVERING COLUMBUS.” National Review 42, no. 20: 56-57. Academic Search Complete, EBSCOhost (accessed February 16, 2018).
Quote: “This was a man both of the medieval world and of the dating world of the renaissance, a hero of human consciousness indeed” “In retrospect, Columbus helped inaugurate an enormous westward European expansion, surely the greatest demographic movement in history.”
Summary: Columbus was an extremely important figure in the westward expansion of Europe. While he did have some shortcomings, the humongous nature of his actions and discoveries far overshadow some of his shortcomings.
- Columbus, Christopher. 2017. “Discovery of the New World.” Discovery Of The New World 1. Academic Search Complete, EBSCOhost (accessed February 16, 2018).
Quote: “Let us also rejoice, as well on account of the exaltation of our faith, as on account of the increase of our temporal prosperity, of which not only Spain, but all Christendom will be partakers.”
Summary: These letters penned by Columbus gives us insight into his mindset at the time of his discoveries. He appears to be blinded by his unwavering and overpowering Christian faith to justify his questionable and objectable actions.
- Bartosik-Vélez, Elise. 2002. “The Three Rhetorical Strategies of Christopher Columbus.” Colonial Latin American Review 11, no. 1: 33-46. Academic Search Complete, EBSCOhost (accessed February 16, 2018).
Quote: “I have tried to demonstrate that his nationalist rhetoric about the reconquest, his prophetic rhetoric and his apocalyptic rhetoric must all be understood in relation to each other, as a series of discourses of increasing intensity.”
Summary: This source analyzes Columbus’ rhetoric on his voyages and prior to his voyages to analyze his actions and the consequences of his actions. By examining his rhetoric we can see how and why he justified his own rather villainous actions.