Abstract This paper examines how Samuel Morison turns a personal life interest into a passion as he studies the life and journeys of Christopher Columbus in his book, "Christopher Columbus, Mariner". It shows that, while the modern view of Columbus has been rewritten and disfigured by multiculturalists into that of a greedy, slave-mongering, tyrannical despot, Christopher Columbus's journey and his exploits arose from his deep convictions, and these actions qualify him as one of the greatest explorers of all time.
From the Paper "His lack of actual empirical knowledge of the length of the journey, and not knowing about the continent which lay between Columbus and the Far East is one more of the factors which make his journey such a triumph of spirit and dedication to his chosen task. After long negotiations, Columbus was financed for his voyage by Ferdinand and Isabella of Spain, and in the fall of 1492, three ships were prepared in the harbor Palos (p. 35). On August 3, 1492, the fleet left Palos heading westward, parallel of Gomera. The weather was good; ?like April in Andalusia,? as Columbus wrote in his diary."
Abstract This study argues that Christopher Columbus did not "discover" America, and that only by twisting reality can it be said that he or any European "discovered" a land which was already inhabited by other human beings. The writer argues that the basis of this twisting of reality is that the inhabitants of the "New World" were less than human beings, and therefore it cannot be said that the land was inhabited at all, but was instead populated by semi-humans, by near-animals, by non-Christian savages with no civilized qualities. In reality, however, the "Indians" Columbus "discovered" were indeed human beings with a subtle civilization and a fully developed religious belief system. The writer continues his argument that Columbus did not "discover America" because it had already been discovered and populated by human beings long before his arrival.
From the Paper "William M. Davidson and Henry Noble Sherwood argue in separate articles that Columbus was indeed a great man who discovered America. Davidson calls Columbus "The Great Navigator" and says that in Columbus "passion for discovery rose to the dignity of an inspiration" (Davidson 248). Sherwood writes that Columbus and his men found "naked savages" in the new land and that Columbus treated them well (Sherwood 253). It is crucial to the argument that Columbus "discovered America" that the context be established first in which the beings which inhabited that land are thoroughly dehumanized. The more that dehumanization process can be carried out, the more easily Columbus and his fellow Europeans and descendants can argue that there were no truly human beings when Columbus arrived and therefore it has to be said that he did indeed "discover" that land. The more one sees the natives as animals, as savages with no concept of God, the more one can argue that Columbus discovered the land on which they live. Accordingly, whether the Europeans brutalized the natives of the "New World" or treated them well though condescendingly, in their own minds and to one another the Europeans in general sought to portray the natives as less than human."
Abstract This paper explains that, since the documentation on Columbus's voyages to the "New World" are so prevalent in the form of diaries, journal entries, and other documents, there are not too many unresolved questions that need to be addressed in this area. The author points out that some of the questions involve whether Columbus was truly born in the Republic of Genoa and what the status of his father, Domenico, was in relation to which class he belonged. The paper relates another question regarding Columbus's education at the University of Pavia for which there are no records.
From the Paper "In 1479, Columbus married Dona Felipa Perestello, the daughter of Bartholomew Perestrello, the hereditary captain of Porto Santo. For a time, the young newlyweds lived in Lisbon with Felipa's mother; later on, they settled in Porto Santo where their only child Diego was born. In 1482, the little family moved to Funchal in Madeira and while there Columbus probably made two voyages to Sao Jorge de Mina, the fortified trading post which the Portuguese crown had established on the Gold Coast."
Abstract This paper explains that Columbus was not an "enlightened" man, but a mere practitioner of his own medieval mind. The author points out that Columbus's motives were (1) exploring the regions to the West so that a new passageway to the Pacific would be found, (2) an overwhelming religious zeal to convert the Caribbean-based "heathens" and "heretics," and (3) the need for human labor in the form of slavery. The paper concludes that the terrible and inhumane actions undertaken by Columbus and his men, all of whom were supposed to be "Christian" benefactors sent by the Spanish monarchy of Ferdinand and Isabella, set the pattern for cruelty and destruction, which continued for hundreds of years in the "New World" and the continent of North America and set a precedent, which would, unfortunately, be copied by other explorers.
From the Paper "Evidently, Columbus was soon reprimanded for his exportation of slaves, due to the fact that many of them did not survive the trip across the Atlantic Ocean. Bartolome de Las Casas writes that one Spaniard had told him that a compass was not needed to find one's way back to Spain because the sea was covered with the bodies of dead Indians that were simply tossed overboard. Thus, it is clear that Columbus was directly responsible for the deaths of thousands of native Indians, a reflection of his indoctrinated Catholic values and morality."
Abstract The name, early life, and family background of Christopher Columbus has always been a mysterious subject, one that has interested scholars almost since he first returned from the New World. However, it is only since the late 1800s that historians have seriously begun to investigate the hypothesis that Columbus was Jewish. This paper shows that their arguments range from cryptic, pseudo-scientific "proofs" to complex behavior analysis flavored with historical insights. As with many burgeoning theories, the search for Columbus' Jewish origins provides a wide array of enthusiastic mumbo-jumbo and a limited amount of compelling material which cannot be ignored.
From the Paper "On a related note, de Madariaga points out this strange contrast of Columbus' personality: he was not at all shy about his humble birth, yet he never discussed having come from Genoa, which may have portrayed him as a Spanish-born Jew whose family had fled the pogroms of the 1300s. Thus, at a time when "the Jewish race was passing in Spain through a crisis never equaled in history till the days of Nazi Germany," Columbus' reticence about his Jewish background "becomes immediately explicable.""
Abstract Argues tht Columus did not "discover" America since it was already inhabited by non-European human beings. Discusses Columbus' achievement as the first European to sail the Atlantic & bring European culture, religion & values to the land he discovered. His passion for discovery. His point of view that he and his men owned all they "discovered," & the existing inhabitants having no value as human beings. Contends that Columbus' discovery of America was a major element in the mythical, not actual, past of the nation.
From the Paper "This study will argue that Christopher Columbus did not "discover" America, and that only by twisting reality can it be said that he or any European "discovered" a land which was already inhabited by other human beings. The basis of this twisting of reality is that the inhabitants of the "New World" were less than human beings, and therefore it cannot be said that the land was inhabited at all, but was instead populated by semi-humans, by near-animals, by non-Christian savages with no civilized qualities. In reality, however, the "Indians" Columbus "discovered" were indeed human beings with a subtle civilization and a fully developed religious belief system. Therefore, Columbus did not "discover America" because it had already been discovered and populated by human beings long before his arrival. He and his fellow arrogant and ethnocentric Europeans imagined ..."
While Columbus is traditionally hailed as the heroic discoverer of the New World, his actions reveal that this historic figure was less than honourable.
Abstract This paper examines the actions of Christopher Columbus and reveals his underlying motivations. It is demonstrated that the demands he made were outrageous and he sailed only out of greed. He deceived his crew and manipulated the King and Queen of Castile in a desperate attempt for wealth and glory. It looks at how Columbus' incredible brutality toward the natives not only set a pattern for future contacts between Europeans and Indians but finally outraged the authorities in Spain to the point where he was brought home in chains.
From the Paper "In the spring of 1486 Columbus brought his plan of a westward voyage to King Ferdinand and Queen Isabella of Castile. Instead of immediately approving his proposition, they appointed a special commission to carefully study his proposals. The commission took four years to make its report and during that time Columbus unsuccessfully took his plan to England and Portugal. When the Spanish commission gave its report, it too condemned his proposed expedition as impractical. Ferdinand and Isabella were too preoccupied with the conquest of the Muslim kingdom of Granada and had no time for voyages into the unknown. Despite all this, they hinted that it might be worth trying again in a few months."
Tags: 1492, conquest, discovery, new, salvador, san, spain, voyage, world
Abstract This paper takes a look at the life of Christopher Columbus, as he himself saw it, and recorded it in his journal. In this conception, Columbus was a man who embarked upon his mission with the intention of exploiting the native populace of the Americas for pure profit, or worse, to carry the white, European man's burden by colonizing the native residents and rightful owners of the land.
From the Paper "Upon his return from his first voyage Columbus stresses, not the mercantile reasons for the voyage, but the sense of personal investiture the King of Spain felt in the exploration, and his sorrow for the losses experienced by the crew: "On hearing the news, the king wept, showing great sorrow at our disaster." (92) To the king, Columbus portrays the native populace he meets with, not as brutal savages but almost as residents of a paradise before the Fall of Adam and Eve: "I assure your Highness there is in my opinion no better people nor no better land in the world...Both men and women go naked as their mothers bore them but your Highness must believe me when I say that their behavior towards one another is very good and their king keeps marvelous state." (92) The reference to the native king keeping a marvelous state reinforces the idea that these people are not savages, that these native have a government, and a form of government that a European monarch like Ferdinand would consider the most civilized--a government headed by a king kept in good state and treated with respect by his subjects."
Tags: expedition, Spain, Nina, Pinta, Santa, Maria, Christian, America
Abstract The paper reviews and discusses the book, "1491: New Revelations of the Americas before Columbus", by Charles Mann. The paper explains that the book reveals how the "New World" for the Europeans was not new at all. The paper relates Mann's revelation that archaeologists and anthropologists have verified that at least 100 million people lived in the Americas before Columbus arrived. The paper relates that Mann explores findings in three specific areas: Indian demography (Part I), Indian origins (Part II) and Indian ecology (Part III).
From the Paper "The most interesting aspect about 1491 is that Mann compiles information from a large number of reputable sources, which has never been done before. Many anthropologists and archaeologists have written studies on the topics contained in the book, but they remained in academia and not for the layman. Mann not only assembles many of these scientific findings (he apologizes that it would be impossible to cover everything written), but writes about them in an understandable and appealing fashion. At times, he gets the readers muddled with too much technical information and names of tribes, but most often it is just an interesting read."
Abstract The paper examines Jan Carew's videotaped presentation, "From Columbus to Castro - 500 Years of Race, Class and Culture Conflict in Our Americas" where he argues that Columbus' relentless drive for riches created a situation where innocent people were brutally exploited. The paper agrees with Carew that the legacy of European discovery was one of human greed, racial intolerance and bigotry. The paper concludes that the ancestors of American whites who sought to diminish others left behind the seeds for racial convolution and unrest today.
From the Paper "To begin with, Mr. Carew rightly notes that Columbus did everything he did to aggrandize himself and the country of Spain - partly, it may be presumed, out of patriotism, but surely mostly out of a desire to satiate his own ambitions and to validate the support of powerful individuals in the upper reaches of Spanish society who had reposed their trust - and treasure - in him. In any case, it is known that Columbus was under great pressure to "deliver the goods" by returning to Spain with riches; to wit, his patrons - Queen Isabella and King Ferdinand - eagerly sought to spread Christianity to distant parts of the world, and the royal couple also were very much interested in finding a means by which Spain could compete with its bitter rival, Portugal, for spoils ("Christopher Columbus and the Spanish Empire," para.2)."
Abstract The paper examines the film "1492: Conquest of Paradise" in light of the historical telling of the Columbus story. The film's setting, portrayal of character, dialog and violence are assessed against fact. The film is found to overall not be a realistic portrayal of historical fact.
From the Paper "This film depicts the violence of the Spaniards when the first discovered the New World, and shows how cruel man can be to fellow man, in the name of conquest and riches. It depicts Columbus as "also a good deal more convincing as a human being. As played by Gerard Depardieu, he seems huge and shaggy and dogged, just the kind of man who would get an idea in his head and refuse to surrender it" (Ebert).
In the film, director Ridley Scott portrays him as arrogant at times, which an explorer would have to be to lead three tiny ships into the unknown to prove his theories. In the movie he says to Sanchez, the Spanish royal treasurer: "Look out there! What do you see?" Sanchez: "I see clouds ... I see palaces, I see steeples: I see civilization ... and I see spires that reach ... to the sky." Columbus: "All of them created by people like me. No matter how long you live Sanchez, there is something that will never change between us: I did it, you didn't" (1492)."
A discussion of the discovery of the New World by Columbus with an emphasis on the exchange of diseases between the Native Americans and the Europeans.
Abstract This paper examines how the discovery of the New World by Christopher Columbus in 1492 changed the the geography of the world with an entire new continent appearing on maps of what would soon be seen as a globe instead of a flat surface. In particular it looks at how the geography of known disease also changed as Old World diseases such as smallpox, measles and influenza found a new population with no immunity because it had had no exposure to these diseases before. It examines how this effect became known as the Columbian Exchange and evaluates the result of this exchange of diseases between the Native Americans and the Europeans.
From the Paper "To this day there are arguments among researchers about the presence or absence of some diseases in the population of the New world, such as tuberculosis and syphilis. These may or may not have been found among the population before Columbus. Recent research suggests that there was some sort of "tuberculosis-like pathology" in the population before 1492, though it was of a type not associated with pulmonary disease. There was also a relatively benign nonvenereal (meaning not sexually transmitted) treponemal infection that was related to syphilis. There is no evidence, however, that either disease was at all widespread in either North or South America. Recent studies conducted in great detail show that large-scale sedentary societies in the Americas, where such diseases could have taken hold, did not."
Abstract This paper will compare and contrast (from the works in the text) the motivations of Christopher Columbus and William Bradford for coming to the new world and will show how these motivations shaped their attitudes towards the people as well as things they discovered. This paper will tell the extent to which they seem to have been driven by economics, religious beliefs or simply idealistic curiosity. It will show how these drives seem to have framed their vision of the new world and its inhabitants.
Abstract This paper provides an analysis and positive review of Samuel Eliot Morison's book, "Christopher Columbus - Mariner". It discusses the perspective from which Morison wrote his book and summarizes its main points, noting the author's frequent allusions to God, to Jesus Christ, and to Christianity.
From the Paper "I choose this book because I have always been fascinated with the combined qualities of courage, intelligence, smart seamanship, leadership and unflagging optimism a man like Christopher Columbus was blessed with. Finding the "New World" by sailing west in relatively fragile vessels, with so many unknowns (do we have ample provisions; are the sailors adequately trained for the arduous and dangerous voyage ahead; will we be shipwrecked in a vicious storm; what reception will we receive from natives?), surely positions Columbus among the greatest adventurers and most accomplished visionaries in human history. And indeed, I believe Columbus's courage was far greater than the courage of a Charles Lindbergh, or a John Glenn, the first American to orbit the earth, or even Neil Armstrong's Apollo 12 flight to the moon and back: those men knew where they were going and something about what it was like to be on those missions, whereas Columbus was simply looking for the Orient with sails as power, the stars as navigational aids, and a burning dream, and was tossing the dice into the deep blue sea to find his way."
Abstract This paper examines Philip Roth's book, "Goodbye Columbus" and analyzes it, as well as Roth, by considering whether Roth should be considered a Jewish writer or simply a writer writing about Jews. The paper also considers whether Roth's book is written about Americans who happen to be Jews or Jews who happen to be Americans.
From the Paper "As much as the public "enjoyed" and that is not too strong a word, the stories of the Patimkins in his first big successful book, so the critics pounced on an anti-Semitic tinge to the characters and their behavior. "The merits of 'Goodbye Columbus and its author are immediately evident. The novella shows sardonic wit, and the sharp eye of a born writer. The Patimkin way of life with its 'white hair the color of Lincoln convertibles' and the 23 bottles of Jack Daniels, each with a little booklet tied around its neck, decorating the unused bar, has been rendered for all time....But the faults of 'Goodbye Columbus' are also readily visible. The novella has no values to oppose to Patimkin values...Many of the incidents do not advance the action; the end is merely a running-down." Perhaps what this critic missed is the fact that there is no calculated end. The Patimkins continue. That is the whole sardonic point. Nobody really learns anything about change or adapting. Assimilation is not the same as adaptation. In fact, assimilation might lose the Patimkins in the general mainstream of America, and that is not what they seek, nor what Roth implies their purpose in life is."
