Christopher Columbus:Christopher Columbus:The man behind the mythThe man behind the myth

In fourteen hundred ninety-two Columbus In fourteen hundred ninety-two Columbus sailed the ocean blue…sailed the ocean blue…

So what was happening 500 years ago in the year So what was happening 500 years ago in the year 14921492????

In Europe…In Europe…– The Spanish Inquisition-The Spanish Inquisition-

Began in Spain in 1480Began in Spain in 1480 Spread of CatholicismSpread of Catholicism; Persecution of Jews and Muslims; Persecution of Jews and Muslims Theological development that amassing wealth and Theological development that amassing wealth and

domination was key to salvationdomination was key to salvation Cruel PunishmentsCruel Punishments: People who were suspected of : People who were suspected of

‘criminal’ acts, depending on the crime, faced severe ‘criminal’ acts, depending on the crime, faced severe punishment. The most merciful was being hanged. Other punishment. The most merciful was being hanged. Other punishments ranged from cutting off criminals’ heads, arms, punishments ranged from cutting off criminals’ heads, arms, legs, hands, or feet to being burned at the stake in front of legs, hands, or feet to being burned at the stake in front of large audiences. large audiences.

1492 Continued…1492 Continued…

– The Renaissance PeriodThe Renaissance Period (1400-1600): (1400-1600): the rebirth of the rebirth of humanismhumanism The Printing Press and The Printing Press and

increased literacy increased literacy Advances in science, Advances in science,

mathematics, and artsmathematics, and arts– Myth: Columbus was first to Myth: Columbus was first to

think that the Earth was think that the Earth was round, all others thought round, all others thought Earth was flat (Began in Earth was flat (Began in Washington Irving’s biography Washington Irving’s biography of Columbus in 1828)of Columbus in 1828)

– Truth: There is evidence that Truth: There is evidence that this was known by the this was known by the Egyptians thousands of years Egyptians thousands of years ago and also more evidence ago and also more evidence provided by Greek provided by Greek mathematician Pythagoras in mathematician Pythagoras in the 6the 6thth century B.C.E. century B.C.E.

14921492 in terms of in terms of exploration…exploration…

MythMyth: Sea exploration began with Europeans in the 1400’s…: Sea exploration began with Europeans in the 1400’s… FactFact: There is evidence of many other cultures exploring the : There is evidence of many other cultures exploring the

world by ship before Columbus’s time.world by ship before Columbus’s time.– The Portuguese called their ships “caravels”, derived from the The Portuguese called their ships “caravels”, derived from the EgyptianEgyptian

word “caravos” word “caravos” Evidence that Egyptians and Evidence that Egyptians and PhoeniciansPhoenicians sailed around Africa in 600 sailed around Africa in 600

B.C.E.B.C.E.– Accounts of two Accounts of two Native AmericansNative Americans shipwrecked in Holland in 60 B.C.E. shipwrecked in Holland in 60 B.C.E.– Ancient RomanAncient Roman coins found by archeologists in America coins found by archeologists in America– Map found in Turkey dated 1513 of the coastlines of South America and Map found in Turkey dated 1513 of the coastlines of South America and

Antarctica that was based from the library of Antarctica that was based from the library of Alexander the GreatAlexander the Great– The The VikingViking expeditions to Greenland, Iceland around 1000 expeditions to Greenland, Iceland around 1000

Exploration continued…Exploration continued… Strong evidence that Strong evidence that West AfricansWest Africans arrived in Mexico in 750 arrived in Mexico in 750

B.C. B.C. – Heads of basalt that stand along the eastern coast of Mexico dated Heads of basalt that stand along the eastern coast of Mexico dated

around 750 B.C. are realistic portraits of West Africansaround 750 B.C. are realistic portraits of West Africans– When Columbus reached Haiti, the Natives had spear points made of When Columbus reached Haiti, the Natives had spear points made of

guanine (identical to a material made by West Africans) of which guanine (identical to a material made by West Africans) of which they told Columbus they had received from black tradersthey told Columbus they had received from black traders

– Traces of diseases common in Africa have been detected in corpses Traces of diseases common in Africa have been detected in corpses in Brazil, dating before Columbusin Brazil, dating before Columbus

These rock heads are called Olmec heads and are located in Mexico

Christopher Columbus:Christopher Columbus: The Beginning of his Journey…The Beginning of his Journey…

Was born in 1452Was born in 1452 Facts about life are very Facts about life are very

uncertainuncertain– May have been originally May have been originally

Jewish but converted to Jewish but converted to Christianity Christianity

– Said to have been born in Said to have been born in Genoa, Italy but some Genoa, Italy but some historians suggest he may historians suggest he may have been from Portugalhave been from Portugal

Could not write in ItalianCould not write in Italian

After asking other countries to sponsor his voyage, Columbus finally received the financial backing from King Ferdinand and Queen Isabel of Spain for a voyage to find a trade route to India for spices. His main quest was to search for gold and wealth.

Voyages to the New WorldVoyages to the New World

Altogether, Columbus sailed on four voyages Altogether, Columbus sailed on four voyages to the new world.to the new world.– The first voyage, Columbus reached an The first voyage, Columbus reached an

unknown Caribbean Island in October unknown Caribbean Island in October 1492 1492

– The second voyage Columbus landed in The second voyage Columbus landed in what is now Haitiwhat is now Haiti

– The third voyage traveled along central The third voyage traveled along central AmericaAmerica

– The final voyage traveled along South The final voyage traveled along South AmericaAmerica

Columbus’ VoyagesColumbus’ Voyages

The Native peoples The Native peoples of the first voyage…of the first voyage…

the Arawaksthe Arawaks

According to the journalAccording to the journalColumbus kept:Columbus kept:

October 12, 1492:October 12, 1492: They were very well-built people, with handsome bodies and They were very well-built people, with handsome bodies and

very fine faces, though their appearance is marred somewhat very fine faces, though their appearance is marred somewhat by very broad heads and foreheads…Their eyes are large and by very broad heads and foreheads…Their eyes are large and very pretty, and their skin is the color of Canary Islanders…very pretty, and their skin is the color of Canary Islanders…They are in fact well proportioned.They are in fact well proportioned.

October 13, 1492:October 13, 1492:I cannot get over how docile these people are. They have so I cannot get over how docile these people are. They have so little to give but will give it all for whatever we give them, if little to give but will give it all for whatever we give them, if only broken pieces of glass and crockery. only broken pieces of glass and crockery.

Although Columbus viewed the Natives Although Columbus viewed the Natives favorably, his motives for them were not favorably, his motives for them were not

October 12, 1492:October 12, 1492:

They ought to make good and skilled servants, for They ought to make good and skilled servants, for they repeat very quickly what we say to them. I think they repeat very quickly what we say to them. I think they can easily be made Christians, for they seem to they can easily be made Christians, for they seem to have no religion. If it pleases Our Lord, I will take six of have no religion. If it pleases Our Lord, I will take six of them to your Highness when I departthem to your Highness when I depart

Columbus first read to the Natives was called the Requirement, a document that all Spaniards read after landing on an island, justifying their later treatment of these people:

I implore you to recognize the Church as a lady and in the name of the Pope take the King as lord of this land and obey his mandates. If you do not do it, I tell you that with the help of God I will enter powerfully against you all. I will make way everywhere and every way that I can…The deaths and injuries that you will receive from here on will be your own fault and not that of his majesty nor of the gentlemen that accompany me.

The Second Voyage to HaitiThe Second Voyage to Haiti

When Columbus could not locate gold, he created a tribute system.

Every three months, every person of 14 years old or upward had to pay so much gold dust or 25 pounds of cotton. If the native did so, he received a brass or copper token to wear around his neck.

If an indigenous person was found without the medallion he was punished.

In 1501, Columbus sent 5,000 slaves from Haiti to Spain. 5,000 more were made slaves for colonists in Haiti.

Slavery was not uncommon during this time. Many Native Americans had other Native Americans as slaves, as did Africans of other Africans, and Europeans of other Europeans. However, this did cause other countries to become interested in capturing the American indigenous people to sell for slavery.

In Haiti, the indigenous In Haiti, the indigenous population before Columbus population before Columbus

arrived was arrived was 8,000,0008,000,000

By 1555, the indigenous By 1555, the indigenous population was gone.population was gone.

Reasons: Disease from the Europeans (Smallpox); Indians forced into hard labor in mines rather than in fields to grow their foods; Many of the indigenous people committed suicide because of poor condition.

Third VoyageThird Voyage 22ndnd voyage successfully created a voyage successfully created a

settlement at what later became Santo settlement at what later became Santo Domingo, Dominican RepublicDomingo, Dominican Republic

Ferdinand & Isabella wouldn’t accept new Ferdinand & Isabella wouldn’t accept new world slaves so Columbus returned to world slaves so Columbus returned to find the trade route to the orient and find the trade route to the orient and restock the colonistsrestock the colonists

Settlers were so unhappy that Columbus Settlers were so unhappy that Columbus was imprisoned and sent back to Spain to was imprisoned and sent back to Spain to plea for his freedomplea for his freedom

Fourth VoyageFourth Voyage 1502 Columbus convinced Ferdinand & Isabella to fund one 1502 Columbus convinced Ferdinand & Isabella to fund one

last voyagelast voyage He survived a hurricane and termites but his ships were He survived a hurricane and termites but his ships were

destroyed and he was stranded for a year on Jamaica where destroyed and he was stranded for a year on Jamaica where he experienced mutinies and uncertain interactions with the he experienced mutinies and uncertain interactions with the Native AmericansNative Americans

He was rescued in 1504 and returned to Spain in disgrace He was rescued in 1504 and returned to Spain in disgrace where he died in 1506; his bones were later sent to Santo where he died in 1506; his bones were later sent to Santo Domingo and controversy remains over where they are nowDomingo and controversy remains over where they are now

Hero or Villain?Hero or Villain?

PositivesPositives Talented sailor, navigator Talented sailor, navigator

and ship’s captainand ship’s captain Loyal to his patronsLoyal to his patrons Dealt fairly with the tribes Dealt fairly with the tribes

he befriendedhe befriended Brave and daringBrave and daring

NegativesNegatives Slave trader who captured Slave trader who captured

slaves from tribes which slaves from tribes which resisted himresisted him

Contemporaries despised Contemporaries despised himhim

Despot who kept all profits Despot who kept all profits for himselffor himself

Cheapskate – didn’t reward Cheapskate – didn’t reward Rodrigo de Triana when he Rodrigo de Triana when he first spotted New Worldfirst spotted New World