Columbus's Description Of The Discovery Of America

Columbus's Description of the Discovery of America

The passage below is taken from a version of Columbus's journals edited by Bartolomeo de Las Casas. As you read the passage, imagine the thrill of discovery that would have been experienced by the sailors on board Columbus's ships. For them this was truly a venture into the unknown. For many years Columbus's landing was judged to have been made on San Salvador (Watling Island). A recent study retracing the voyage suggests that Columbus landed on the island of Samana Cay, more than sixty miles to the southeast of San Salvador.

Many scholars will not agree with this new assertion, and the exact location of the island does not change the nature of the reaction shown in this journal. If you wish to examine the new evidence, see the National Geographic 170, no. 5 (November 1986): 566–605. . . . the Admiral requested and admonished them to keep a sharp lookout at the castle of the bow, and to look well for land, and said that he would give to him who first saw land a silk doublet, besides the other rewards which the King and Queen had promised, namely and annual pension of ten thousand maravedis to him who should see it first. Two hours after midnight, the land appeared about two leagues off. They lowered all the sails, leaving only a storm square sail, which is the mainsail without bonnets, and lay to until Friday when they reached a small island of the Lucayos, called Guanahani by the natives.

They soon saw people naked, and the Admiral went on shore in the armed boat. . . . As soon as they had landed they saw trees of a brilliant green abundance of water and fruits of various kinds. The Admiral called the two captains and the rest who had come on shore . . . and he called them as witnesses to certify that he in the presence of them all, was taking, as he in fact took possession of said island for the king and Queen his masters, making the declarations that were required as they will be found more fully in the attestations then taken down in writing. Soon after a large crowd of natives congregated there. What follows are the Admiral's own words in his book on the first voyage and discovery of these Indies.

"In order to win the friendship and affection of that people, and because I am convinced that their conversion to our Holy Faith would be better promoted through love than through force; I presented some of them with red caps and some strings of glass beads which they placed around their necks, and with other trifles of insignificant worth that delighted them and by which we have got a wonderful hold on their affections. They afterwards came to the boats of the vessels swimming, bringing us parrots, cotton thread in balls, and spears, and many other things which they bartered for others we gave them, as glass beads and little bells. . . . I saw but one very young girl, all the rest being very young men, none of them being over thirty years of age; their forms being very well proportioned; their bodies graceful and their features handsome: their hair is as coarse as the hair of a horse's tail and cut short: they wear their hair over their eyebrows except a little behind which they wear long, and which they never cut: some of them paint themselves black, and they are of the color of the Canary islanders, neither black nor white, and some paint themselves white, and some red, and some with whatever they find, and some paint their faces and some the whole body, and some their eyes only, and some their noses only.

They do not carry arms and have no knowledge of them, for when I showed them our swords they took them by the edge, and through ignorance, cut themselves. They have no iron; their spears consist of staffs without iron, some of them having a fish's tooth at the end, and others other things. As a body they are of good size, good demeanor, and well formed. . . . They must be very good servants and very intelligent, because I see that they repeat very quickly what I told them, and it is my conviction that they would easily become Christians, for they seem not [to] have any sect. . . ." [From Christopher Columbus, Journals, Thursday, October 11, and Friday October 12, 1492.]

Paper For Above instruction

Christopher Columbus's journal entries from October 11 and 12, 1492, provide a vivid depiction of the initial European encounter with the indigenous peoples of the Caribbean during the Age of Discovery. These descriptions reflect the perceptions and attitudes of Columbus and his crew, illuminating both the cultural encounters and the European perspective on indigenous societies at the time. This paper explores the significance, context, and implications of Columbus’s account, emphasizing its historical importance and contemporary critique.

Columbus's journal articulated a predominantly ethnocentric view, framing the indigenous peoples as somewhat naïve and capable of being easily converted to Christianity. His remarks about their physical appearance, such as their form, demeanor, and dress, are accompanied by observations that underscore their seemingly simple and unarmed nature. For example, Columbus notes that they do not carry arms and demonstrate ignorance of weapons, exemplified by their accidental self-injury when handling swords. Such descriptions reveal 15th-century European attitudes that often viewed indigenous peoples as primitive and in need of European guidance or enlightenment.

The portrayal of the natives as “good servants and very intelligent” reflects the broader European perspective of the era, which often portrayed indigenous peoples as suitable for conquest and conversion. Columbus's belief that they could be easily Christianized aligns with the colonial objective of spreading Christianity in the New World, often justified by notions of racial and cultural superiority (Mann, 2011). His emphasis on their physical and behavioral traits served to reinforce the justification for their subjugation, framing them as malleable and in need of European civilization.

However, Columbus also expressed admiration for their physical beauty and well-proportioned bodies, which complicates the purely paternalistic or condescending tone. His acknowledgment of their grace and good demeanor suggests a recognition of their humanity, despite the underlying perspective of cultural superiority. This duality demonstrates the complex attitudes of explorers, who both saw indigenous peoples as inferior yet also appreciated aspects of their physical presence and potential.

The account’s depiction of their clothing and adornment practices, such as painting their faces and bodies, offers insights into indigenous cultural expressions often misunderstood or misinterpreted by Europeans. Columbus's mention of their use of natural pigments indicates a society with its own rich, symbolic traditions, which Europeans often dismissed as primitive.

The descriptions of their weapons—primarily staffs and fish teeth—highlight their lack of metal technology, a perceived deficiency that Columbus used to emphasize their primitiveness. Yet, this also reveals their resourcefulness and adaptation to their environment, traits that Columbus failed to fully appreciate. Their unarmed status, coupled with their friendliness and willingness to barter, contrasts sharply with the violent image often associated with indigenous peoples in subsequent colonial narratives (Cobo, 1992).

The narrative demonstrates Columbus’s colonial mindset, which viewed the indigenous peoples primarily as potential converts and laborers, suitable for Christianization and alliance. His description of their quick learning and potential for conversion reveals European assumptions about cultural superiority and the civilizing mission (Restall & Lane, 2017). This mindset laid the groundwork for the subsequent exploitation and colonization that would drastically transform indigenous societies.

Columbus’s biases and assumptions, embedded in his journal, have been subject to contemporary critique. Modern scholars emphasize the importance of recognizing the perspectives and agency of indigenous peoples, which Columbus’s account largely omits. The narratives reinforce a colonial worldview that justified violence, subjugation, and cultural erasure under the guise of religious and civilizational superiority. Analyzing Columbus’s descriptions through a modern lens underscores the importance of challenging Eurocentric accounts and acknowledging indigenous histories and perspectives (Miller, 2020).

In conclusion, Columbus’s journal entries from October 1492 offer a compelling window into European perceptions of indigenous peoples at the dawn of Western colonization. While revealing admiration for their physical qualities and potential, they also expose underlying Eurocentric biases that justified their exploitation. Modern scholarship advocates for a more nuanced understanding that honors indigenous agency and critiques colonial narratives, contributing to a more comprehensive and respectful historical record.

References

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