- Tags:
- Show more
- Pages:
- 3
- Words:
- 825
Columbus Authors Name: Institution: Christopher Columbus has been celebrated hero in the American history for decades. He has been portrayed as the European sailor who first landed in America and discovered the new world (history.com). However, in Zinn’s piece, Columbus is portrayed totally different. Zinn (2001) narrates events from the native people’s perspective which uncovers truths that have rarely been documented in the history. This account of events shows Columbus as an individual who was ruthless and his interest was to amass as much wealth in terms of gold and slaves to please his masters in Spain. In his mission, Columbus ended up committing crimes against the native people which include rape, torture, enslavement, stealing and genocide. This accounts in Zinn’s clearly show that Columbus expeditions in the new world were not noble as we have always thought. While some may argue that these barbaric behaviors were acceptable during that era and therefore Columbus actions should be interpreted and judged as per his time, Zinn (2001) presents the version of events of Bartolome de Las Casa who belonged to that time. The accounts by the Bartolome de Las Casa, a Dominican priest play a vital role in uncovering the true character of Columbus. According to Bartolome, indicate that the things Spaniards did to the Indians were still inhuman and unacceptable even during that time. Bartolome writes “of all the infinite universe of humanity, these people are most guileless, the most devoid of wickedness and duplicity…yet into sheepfold…there came some Spaniards who immediately behaved like ravening beasts…” (Zinn, 2001). Bartolome goes on to state
Leave feedback