Blog #9: Columbus

Although Christopher Columbus was both villainous and heroic, he was without a doubt villainous to a much greater extent. You see this rude, egotistic European personality as soon as he steps off the boat and interacts with the Natives. He immediately objectifies them looking and only seeing that “they would make fine servants.” He is not in awe about people being on this undiscovered land. He is not ecstatic to see what they have and to trade goods and ideas with them. He looks down upon them in his superior fashion. In fact, he even states in his log that “as soon as [he] arrived in the Indies… [he] took some of the natives by force.”

Furthermore, at each land he arrived at it was written that he was greeted by natives excitedly and hospitability. He states how they lacked horse and work animals, and that because of this he felt it necessary to punish them and take some as prisoners.

He was treated with the greatest respect and admiration from the Indians. He was never said no to, gifts were always being put into his hands, and all he had to offer back in gratitude was enslavement. In 1495, he went on a “Great Slave Raid” where he enslaved 1500 Indians. Men, women, and even children. He chose his “best specimens” as the “lucky” ones to board ships to Spain as slaves. Most of which died. He offered the people an early death.

To go on, it can be greatly argued that Christopher Columbus created a genocide of the Indian people. He worked men and women both to death, and the children stood no chance. In the time span of 3 months 7000 Native children died, and this doesn’t even include the deaths of adults.

In summary, Columbus is credited with so many achievements. The great explorer, among so many other titles. His dedication and determination pushed him to great discoveries, but at what cost? A whole population of people wiped from existence, women raped, families separated, enslavement, dehumanization, just to name a few.

 Before reading this article, I really did not know bad things about Columbus. I was only ever taught that he was a great guy, a determined, devoted Christian. I knew that he treated Natives poorly, but I had no clue to what extent.

A true hero looks out for the greater good of everyone. Not just himself. So, with all of this said, Christopher was not a hero. He can be called successful, but not heroic. He did not save anyone, but instead ruined and slaughtered natives.

Pizzaro and CortezColumbus