Christopher Columbus was an Italian navigator. He thought he could find a new trade route to Asia by sailing west across the Atlantic. Columbus asked the rulers of Spain to give him money and supplies. In return, he would bring back gold, spices and silks, claim new lands for Spain, and convert the people he found to Christianity. Because of the good and the bad he did, people today debate whether Columbus is a man to be celebrated or condemned.
Directions: Below are a series of statements about Columbus. Place a S by the statements that YOU believe were a success and an F by the statements YOU believe were failures. If you think a statement could go either way, just place an X on the line.
First Voyage
_S__ Columbus set out on a voyage that most people thought was foolish. His bravery and sheer will allowed him to claim new land for Spain, which would be made into colonies adding to Spain’s wealth.
__X_ Columbus thought he had traveled to the Indies(Spice Islands) in Asia. He didn’t. He wasn’t even close.
Second Voyage
__S_ On his second voyage, he discovered some islands including Jamaica. He set up the colony of Hispaniola.
__F_ Columbus’ crew were cruel to the natives who lived there. They enslaved them, and punished them with the loss of a limb or death if they did not collect enough gold. Columbus took 560 natives as slaves back to Spain.
Third Voyage
__S_ On his third voyage Columbus discovered South America. Most of South America became Spain’s largest colony.
__F_ He went back to Hispaniola and found the people who lived in the colony were short of food and ready to rebel. Columbus, Hispaniola’s governor, was arrested for mismanagement and sent back to Spain in chains.
Fourth Voyage
__S_ Columbus went on a fourth voyage to prove he had reached Asia. Columbus arrived in Panama. They found some gold there and set up a trading post.
__S_ Columbus’ voyage led to him and his crew shipwrecked for over a year. After his rescue, he returned to Spain, still believing he had found Asia.
Columbus Retired in Spain
__X_ Columbus was disappointed because he never did find the lucrative spices and silks that flowed through Asia. He returned to Spain in 1504. He died two years later in 1506, disappointed that he had not found a the route to the riches of the Far East.
__X_ Columbus was not the first man to discover America because the Vikings had been there before him. However, he did open up a new pathway from the Old World (Spain, Italy, etc) to the New (America) and changed life forever on both sides of the Atlantic Ocean.
Writing frame for: Should Columbus be celebrated or condemned
Introduction: In your first paragraph, you need to start by saying who Columbus was.
In this paragraph you need to write about something positive Columbus did. (Look for the letter S on the first page)
You could start like this:
In some ways Christopher Columbus was a success. For example, he...
In this paragraph you need to write about some negative things about Columbus. (Look for the Fs on the first page)
You could start like this:
In some ways Christopher Columbus was a failure. For example, he...
Introduction: Christopher Columbus was an Italian navigator who sought to find a new trade route to Asia by sailing west across the Atlantic. He asked Spain for funding and supplies, promising to bring back valuable goods, claim new lands, and convert the people he encountered to Christianity. Today, there is an ongoing debate about whether Columbus should be celebrated or condemned.
Positive aspect: In some ways, Christopher Columbus was a success. For example, he displayed great bravery and determination by embarking on a voyage that most people considered foolish. Despite the hardships, his efforts led Spain to claim new lands, which were transformed into colonies that contributed to Spain's wealth. Columbus's voyages also resulted in the discovery of new islands and continents, such as Jamaica and South America, leading to the expansion of Spain's territories.
Negative aspect: In some ways, Christopher Columbus was a failure. For instance, he mistakenly believed that he had reached the Indies in Asia when he had actually arrived in the Americas. This misconception had significant consequences and led to the early exploitation and mistreatment of indigenous peoples. Columbus's crew, under his command, enslaved and cruelly treated the natives, punishing them with amputation or death for not collecting enough gold. Moreover, Columbus's mismanagement as governor of Hispaniola resulted in food shortages and potential rebellion among the colonists, leading to his arrest and return to Spain in chains.
Overall, Christopher Columbus's legacy is a complex one. While his voyages opened up a new pathway between the Old World and the New, forever changing life on both sides of the Atlantic Ocean, his actions also brought about significant harm and suffering to indigenous populations. It is essential to examine both the positive and negative aspects of Columbus's endeavors to have a balanced understanding of his impact on history.