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After observing a film that attempted to portray the legacy of Christopher Columbus, I have reached my own personal conclusions regarding his achievements, or, more appropriately, misadventures. Although it is true Columbus initiated an exchange of education in matters of foods, cultures, languages and wars, the means by which he was able to obtain wealth while westernizing the "new world" can hardily be considered appropriate or praiseworthy.Driven by his lust for new resources, land, power and wealth, Columbus was both ruthlessly ambitious and overly determined. So much so, that upon his arrival at San Salvador, he refused to believe the aboriginals when they revealed he arrived on an island. In his ignorance he continued to believe he was in Asia, addressing them as " Indians."Being that Columbus was not of noble blood, he had to convince Ferdinand and Isabella his trip would profit them, creating empty promises t
'With these promises echoing in the back of his mind, the Natives nightmare began. Further assault on the Tainos allowed rape, torture, and death. Failure to meet these demands resulted in enslavement to the Spanish and sometimes death. o "discover back door route to the riches of Asia Cathay. Columbus' greed was obviously a motivating factor as he was promised not only profit, but also the title of, 'Admiral. This action alone caused thousands of Natives to fall fatally ill to European diseases, and also began the slave trade across the Atlantic Ocean. The plight of the Natives was heightened all the more when Columbus had them board ships set for Spain and the rest of Europe. In a society that advocates multiculturalism and religious tolerance, it is a complete and utter contradiction to honor a man whose actions defy the foundations of the constitution. His tactics weren't all that conventional; one only needs to look to the past to see where he gained his insight. Columbus merely mimicked past victories in hopes to of achieving his pursuit of wealth and power. Columbus's brutalities eventually lead to the genocide of the entire Arawak civilization. How a nation can see it fit to forgive the debts of such a man to the point of glorification is beyond my comprehension. It is extremely ironic that Columbus manages to gain sponsorship from the two super-powers of his era, Church and state. Time and time again leaders achieved their wealth by stripping it from the poor of the land by treachery and deceit (indulgences, for example) and by cruelly raising taxes on the serfs (poor of the land) and extracting more money through the cruelties of the feudal system. Columbus started instituting forced labor on both the Tainos and the Arawaks, even setting a quota on the amount of gold they were required to produce.
Common topics in this essay:
Catholic Church,
Tainos Arawaks,
Atlantic Ocean,
Christopher Columbus,
North America,
San Salvador,
Ferdinand Isabella,
Asia Cathay,
,
Indians Columbus,
poor land,
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Acceptance Essays
