Christopher Columbus Discovery Of The Americas - 919 Words

Christopher Columbus’ discovery of the Americas set the precedent for the European conquest of it. In fact, his tactics of taking land, wealth, and labor from the indigenous populations were carried out by many of the Europeans who later came to the Americas. King Ferdinand and Queen Isabella of Spain, whose country eventually benefited from this endeavor, financially supported Columbus. However, not all people included benefited from Columbus’ ‘discovery’ of the Americas. It also led to the decimation of several populations of indigenous peoples. Bartlomà © de Las Casas provided a first hand account of the Spanish conquest of Hispaniola. In his account, Las Casas states â€Å"the multitude of people who had originally lived on [Hispaniola]†¦ was consumed at such a rate that in those eight years ninety percent had perished.† Furthermore, Adam Smith reported that â€Å"to the natives, however†¦ all the commercial benefits which can have re sulted from [the discovery of America] have been sunk and lost in the dreadful misfortunes which they have occasioned.† Through comparing these sources from different time periods and regions, we can confirm that Columbus’ discovery of the Americas led to drastic consequences for the Native Americans, whilst improving the quality of life and economic standing for Europeans. The contact between Europeans and Native Americans was heavily oppressive and strained. The Europeans found Native Americans to be savages, as they did not live in ways that adhered toShow MoreRelatedChristopher Columbus And The Discovery Of The Americas1303 Words   |  6 PagesAt the beginning of the book Christopher Columbus and the Discovery of the Americas, the author Tim McNeese is telling us a general explanation of why Christopher Columbus is so recognized. He says â€Å"Few men in history have been as honored and recognized for their contributions as Christopher Columbus.†1 As the author noted, Christopher Columbus is well recognized and honored for his achievements because he changed the history of people in every continent. Someone who is spoken of this highly shouldRead MoreThe Discovery Of The Americas By Christopher Columbus962 Words   |  4 PagesThe discovery of the Americas by the European explorer Christopher Columbus was a pivotal event during the 1450s t hat posed challenges to the way Europeans viewed the world. Columbus was born in Genoa Italy, and is hailed as one the greatest navigators during his time, inspiring an official American Holiday. However, Columbus’s voyage isn’t all that great of a thing, especially to the native peoples and environment of the Americas. Columbus’s deeds are soured by false motives, violence against theRead MoreChristopher Columbus Discovery Of The America1124 Words   |  5 Pagesthe size of the Board. Christopher Columbus’ discovery of the America is frequently considered one of the most important incidents that propelled the West to the front stage of history until today. It is because since the late 15th century the West began sailing across the oceans and founded colonies wherever they landed. All the places the European conquistadors took over, however, none incurred more horrifying damage and suffering than the indigenous peoples in the Americas. There were laws thatRead MoreChristopher Columbus s Discovery Of The America1132 Words   |  5 PagesChristopher Columbus’s discovery of the America’s was monumental. His exploration of the New World impacted the culture, and development of America. One of these effects was the expansion of goods and products in the decades after Columbus’s first contact with Americans. Other effects included how these goods and products affected Amerindians and Europeans which also influenced the Columbian Exchange. Christopher Columbus’s influence on the Americas and Europe is the main reason why he is stillRead MoreChristopher Columbus: Not a Hero1057 Words   |  5 PagesHave you ever wondered why America has had an annual holiday known as Columbus Day ever since the early 1900s? While enjoying the day off has the question of why an Italian explorer has a day dedicated to him in America ever occurred to you? Probably not, but every American with at least an eleme ntary education has the general knowledge that Christopher Columbus is the hero credited with discovering America. It wouldn’t be an overstatement to even say that he is a national icon. In actuality, he’sRead MoreThe Discovery Of The New World903 Words   |  4 PagesAfter the discovery of the New World in 1492 many issues and uproars took place. Particularly, Christopher Columbus viewed America as an opportunity for mankind to begin again. While Bartolomeo de las Cases considered the New World a place of abuse for the Native Americans and took the initiative to save the Native people. In general, the Europeans felt that the America had benefits and major setbacks of coming to the new lands. The following documents â€Å"The Meaning of America†, â€Å"Utilizing the NativeRead MoreChristopher Columbus and His Legacy: Positive vs. Negative Essay1435 Words   |  6 Pagesgrade, it is likely that children in America will have learned about the famous maritime e xplorer 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 peopleRead 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 Phoenicians had already set foot there. First of all, when Christopher Columbus set foot in the Americas, he encounteredRead MorePositive Impact Of Christopher Columbus Discoveries1249 Words   |  5 PagesPositive Impact of Christopher Columbus’ Discoveries The world is a better place because of Christopher Columbus’ important discoveries in the New World. His explorations resulted in the vast expansion of property for Europe, the exchange of goods and cultures between countries and a change in the worldview of geography. Columbus’s explorations were the catalyst for unprecedented trade known as the Columbian Exchange, which started the exchange of goods and ideas that would last for centuriesRead MorePositive Impact Of Christopher Columbus s Discoveries1247 Words   |  5 Pages Positive Impact of Christopher Columbus’s Discoveries The world is a better place because of Christopher Columbus’ important discoveries in the New World. His explorations resulted in the vast expansion of property for Europe, the exchange of goods and cultures between countries and a change in the worldview of geography. Columbus’s explorations were the catalyst for unprecedented trade known as the Columbian Exchange, which started the exchange of goods and ideas that would last for centuries