Christopher Columbus - Our Nations Noble Founder... Or Is He?

Geoffrey Platt 10/8/01

USEM 55A Roxanne Davila

Christopher Columbus:

Our Nations Noble Founder…Or Is He?

People today try very carefully to be politically correct in order to ensure the equality of all races and creeds. When examining and studying historical events, it is unavoidable but to look at the 15th century through the lenses of a 21st century thinker. Accordingly, many modern historians have begun to view Columbus more critically than historians of the past. These modern day historical analysts tend to judge Columbus, his work and behavior in terms of modern day society (in which he would be considered politically uncorrect) and neglect to appreciate the good that he did. Professional historians always keep in mind that Columbus created history over four hundred years ago, when societies had different standards and morals. One must take into consideration the time period and environment in which he lived, and his reasons and justifications for his actions.

The 15th century was an era of change. Many events that occurred during this time profoundly effected European society and culture and, in fact, created a template for a totally new environment that would eventually change the course of history forever. Expansion of empires, the search for new gold resources, and the spreading of Christianity were considered the ultimate priority. “The search for gold in the Americas by Columbus and the conquistadors was part of a general European thirst and was a powerful illustration of the dynamic spirit of nascent European commercial capitalism.”(Columbus: The Legend P. 11) Inasmuch as King Ferdinand and Queen Isabella of Spain funded his voyages, Columbus was compelled (even to the point of deceit) to report back to his supporters with pleasing and positive information, to prove that the voyages were worthwhile in order to secure continued funding of his projects.

An excerpt from a report that Columbus sent to the king and queen says, “The harbours are incredibly fine and there are many great rivers with broad channels and the majority contain gold.”(P.117) According to J. M. Cohen, this report was false. Columbus truly believed that just around the bend he would find the big cache to please the king. He just needed to buy more time and thus, he justified bending the truth.

Of his third voyage, Columbus writes,

May the Lord grant your Highnesses long life and health, and leisure to pursue this most noble enterprise ...

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Of his third voyage, Columbus writes,

May the Lord grant your Highnesses long life and health, and leisure to pursue this most noble enterprise in which I believe a great service is being performed for Our Lord, and by which the territories of Spain are being greatly extended and from which all Christians are receiving great joy and comfort, since in this way the name of Our Lord will be spread abroad. (P.224)

Columbus’ writings, for the most part, were undoubtedly addressed to please Ferdinand and Isabella; however, upon analyzing his descriptions, it is clear that he had other motives, as well. He was an adventurer and explorer at heart and was not purely motivated by selfish means, as many believe, to earn quick riches and fame and to spread the word of Christianity.

Columbus wrote in his log, “Both the Indians and Spaniards were much grieved that they did not understand one another, since they wanted to ask about our country and we wanted to learn about theirs.”(P. 214) These voyages to find an alternative route to India, instead, led to the very first encounters with another people that had been unknown to the rest of the world. Columbus and his crewmen were curious to learn more about who they had ‘discovered’ and exactly where they had landed. I feel it is wrong for people to depict Columbus as a greedy individual whose sole purpose in his voyages was to retrieve as much gold and convert as many people to Christianity as he could. His curiosity of these new findings further fueled his quests to delve deeper into this New World.

Furthermore, although it is widely known that Columbus was not the first person to discover America, and the closest he ever got to step foot on the United States was his stop in Puerto Rico, he is still credited for having ‘discovered America for Europe’. Columbus had introduced and publicized a whole new part of the world unknown to Europeans. He had enlightened the common European population of different people, cultures and places.

“Rogers did not care that Columbus never landed in territory that would become the United States of America. The expansion of the United States of America and Europe was the frame of his perspective. For Rogers, Columbus came to symbolize their success story.”(Columbus: The Legend, P. 3)

It is believed, as described by Las Casas, that Columbus was a very religious man. Columbus was accustomed to recite prayers at the canonical hours regularly and at times had held up the voyages until he had completed his prayers. (Columbus: The Legend P. 9) Considering his religiosity, it is not hard to believe that he had incentive to bring back converts from the New World. According to his son, Columbus was always kind to the Indians, “for he considered them as their kindred and fellow-Christians and held that they should be no worse treated than anyone else.”(P. 199)

Columbus is often judged for awful things that his crewmen had committed, however, he can not possibly and logically be held accountable for the actions of a crew of hundreds of individuals.

“They brought us their bread, water and fish, which they gave us gladly, asking for nothing in return. But in order to leave them happy, the Admiral ordered that everything should be paid for and gave them glass beads, hawk’s bells, little brass bells and suchlike.”(p. 171)

How Columbus is portrayed in the texts thus far is mostly one-sided and therefore one can not form an educated opinion on Columbus’ personality. However, I believe, Columbus acted in a manner in which he was accustomed. In accordance with accepted normalcies and behaviors of his time, people believed that the conqueror should reap the benefits of those he conquered. I often feel that people judge Columbus’ figure without fully understanding the situation in which he lived. In my opinion, Columbus is a man that brought forth a great number of changes, which bettered the way of life for the people of his time, and of today. For, if it was not for his voyages and his discovery of the this New World, then great nations such as the United States, Canada, Mexico, Brazil, and many others may not have been founded. I wouldn’t consider Columbus the sole discoverer of America but I would definitely not deny him the glory that he truly deserves.