Essay about The Image of Christopher Columbus - 2965 Words

The Image of Christopher Columbus Christopher Columbus is honored as the man who opened the doors to an Age of Discovery and exploration. Although he may not have been the first European to set foot onto the Americas, he did begin a wave of exploration in a new hemisphere. The time period of the age of discovery follows the end of the Middle Ages, which Columbus himself is a product. If it were not Columbus that brought European settlement to the New World, then it would have been some other explorer who probably started out with the same goals and ideas. However, there are many individuals who would disagree with the above statement. They would say that Columbus destroyed all that was beautiful in the New World with his thirst for†¦show more content†¦To fully understand the motives behind Columbus and his idea of sailing westward, you have to look at the time period in which he lived. He lived during a time when Europe was in great turmoil caused by disease, famine, and religious persecution. It was also the beginning of an era when finding a direct trade route to the Indies was important. He had the notion that by sailing westward he would find lands that he could claim in the name of Spain and spread Christianity to the people. The misconception behind the goal of Columbus’ voyages is that he was not out to attain wealth alone, â€Å"but to begin the final expansion of the Gospel that would usher in the end of time† (Royal 1). Columbus found truth in the Bible and believed that it was his duty to go out and spread the word of God (Royal 9). Columbus actually believed that it was his duty to spread Christianity to the Indians because when he encountered them he saw no form of worship or any idols that they prayed to for guidance. Columbus believed in the Bible and thought that when he reached this New World he had stumbled upon the entrance to the Garden of Eden. As young American children we are taught that â€Å"Columbus sailed the ocean blue in fourteen hundred ninety-two...† and that he is given fame as the man who brought Europeans to new lands known as the Caribbean Islands. For this reason there are numerous town, cities, and street names in his honor, including our nations capital which bears theShow MoreRelatedThe Difference between Myth and Reality about Christopher Columbus606 Words   |  3 Pages Christopher Columbus is a name known to nearly every American that has ever had an elementary education. He is imagined as the brave explorer that against all odds prevailed in his belief of a round earth. Credited with the discovery of America, Columbus has a holiday and even the Nation’s capitol and a powerful Catholic service organization are named after him. What isn’t as well known is the dark side of his arrival to the New World. Though he did make the first steps in founding modern AmericaRead MoreChristopher Columbus and His Discoveries702 Words   |  3 Pagesâ€Å"In 1492, Columbus sailed the ocean blue.† Have you ever heard of this famous quote? This quote is about Christopher Columbus and his discovery of the Americas. On the first Monday in October, we celebrate Columbus Day, based on the belief that he discovered the Americas. One might conclude that Christopher Columbus did not discover the Americas because the Native Americans, Vikings, and P hoenicians had already set foot there. First of all, when Christopher Columbus set foot in the Americas, heRead MoreEssay on The Mental World of Christopher Columbus911 Words   |  4 PagesWestern civilization 1 The Mental World Of Christopher Columbus Supported by Spain, seeking a water route to the spice islands in 1492 Christopher Columbus left Spain on his first voyage. After more then a month had passed, the crew started to loose all hope and the voyage seemed like a failure. Until on October 12, 1492 land was sighted. The land that was sighted was not what Columbus had originally intended to find. Columbus landed in the Caribbean Sea in the Bahamas, which was thousandsRead MoreChristopher Columbus and His Legacy: Positive vs. Negative Essay1435 Words   |  6 PagesAmerica will have learned about the famous maritime explorer and navigator, Christopher Columbus. Born in 1451, Columbus was a Genoese captain commissioned by the king and queen of Spain to find a route to the Indies. However, he sailed the opposite direction of his intended goal by crossing the Atlantic and landing in the Americas, resulting in the discovery of the New World for Spain. Like all major figures in history, Columbus has left behind a legacy that pe ople will always remember him for. The natureRead MoreChristopher Columbus, Evolving Or Stagnant? Essay1264 Words   |  6 PagesChristopher Columbus, Evolving or Stagnant? The Dogs of Paradise, which has similar characteristics as The Harp and the Shadow, is a novel that focuses on the discovery of the New World. Within his novel, Posse shines light, and hyperbolizes, Christopher Columbus as a character. Although this characterization is truly unknown to all, Posse is able to give a fictional argument of how one could portray Columbus. This paper will examine how Christopher Columbus begins as a dynamic, growing characterRead MoreThe Discovery Of The Bahamas1522 Words   |  7 Pagesexisting knowledge from kindergarten to high school, Columbus has always been described as a heroic figure who overcame countless obstacles fearlessly and finally found the â€Å"New World.† For a long time, there were numerous authors, poets, and painters praising Columbus’s legendary journey and his extraordinary contribution to mankind. However, after reading â€Å"The Discovery of the Bahamas,† the sailing logs written by Columbus, I figured that Columbus may not be such a man who is worthy of all the praisesRead MoreWhitmans Leaves of Grass and Song of Myself, and Columbuss Letter to Ferdinand and Isabella1009 Words   |  4 Pageslearned valuable tools and techniques when it comes to writing and analyzing different types of literature. I will thoroughly explore what Whitman, Columbus and Smith meant in specific passages of a few of their literature works. Whitman’s free verse poems, â€Å"Leaves of Grass† and â€Å"Song of Myself†, seemed to be most appealing. I also found Christopher Columbus’s â€Å"Letter to Lluis de Santangel† and â€Å"Letter to Ferdinand and Isabella† to be quite intriguing about life back then. Even John Smith’s writingsRead MoreWord Collision: Christopher Columbus and The Taino Natives1689 Words   |  7 Pagesprimitive nature. These Virgin Islands would be a critical and strategic discovery for the strengthening Spanish empire during the 15th cen tury under the rule of Ferdinand of Aragon and Isabel of Castile . On October 1492, a man by the name of Christopher Columbus would take the power of the Spanish crown to excellency and great dominion over the new world. The lives of both the natives and the Spaniards would be revolutionized and two completely different worlds would collide for the first time. TheRead More The Portrayal of Christopher Columbus in Elementary School Education2347 Words   |  10 Pages Christopher Columbus has been portrayed in different ways at various times throughout history. In his own time he was not famous for discovering a new land, but hundreds of years later he is. Slightly over one hundred years ago the United States proudly celebrated the quatercentury. Approximately 24 million people attended a great international exposition in Chicago marking the event (Thernstrom, 1992). In stark contrast is the controversy that was ignited over the 500 year anniversaryRead MoreThomas King: Not Just a Reaction to Colonialism1459 Words   |  6 PagesA Coyote Columbus Story shows the Native point of view of the beginning of colonialism. When introducing Christopher Columbus into the short story, Coyote says [t]hat is the one who found Indians (King Coyote 123). In many of Kings stories, he writes narration without quotations, but this particular short story doesnt contain a single quotation. The style in which it is written is not similar to many other post-colonial texts. Rather than depicting historical facts directly and accurately