I found Columbus' account of his exploration of the Americas interesting. Having been aware of his alleged awfulness towards the Indians that inhabited the lands which he was exploring, his journal was rather surprising because it didn't feature any real repulsive acts of violence, in fact I was suprised by his apparent acts of kindness, in exchanging trivial gifts, hoping that future Spaniards would allow a warm welcome, etc. To myself he came across as more of a diplomat than a conqueror that he is so often projected as (at least in this first voyage).
I feel that Columbus is actually given a lot more hate than he deserves, people mock him for thinking that the Americas was India when almost anyone put in a similar position, with the limited knowledge of the 1400s would have also assumed. There is also a certain form of disgust with the notion of Columbus and Spain being conquerors and his associated attitude, however I find that the idea that conquering is a bad thing something of a recent development. Only beginning in the last 70 years have we looked upon invasion and conquest as a negative characteristic of nations, whereas before it was almost certainly associated with prestige and honour.
The text reminded me of the first half of H.G. Well's The Time Machine where the Time Traveler describes this completely foreign, new world, with new peoples (which he similarly cannot communicate with efficiently). As with The Time Machine the text is likely partially fiction and partially cemented in reality, it made for a good story but it was probably not the most accurate of accounts. I actually found the text to be quite captivating, and whilst Columbus certainly isn't the most eloquent author I have read, I still found his journal an enjoyable read, especially when the historical significance is taken into account.
"however I find that the idea that conquering is a bad thing something of a recent development. Only beginning in the last 70 years have we looked upon invasion and conquest as a negative characteristic of nations, whereas before it was almost certainly associated with prestige and honour."
ReplyDeleteMaybe colonists and capitalists associate colonization with prestigue and honour... But I'm sure if you were to ask any indigenous person their feelings on colonization, they certainly wouldn't associate it with those two words.
I don't think people "hate" on Columbus because he was on a different island than he thought he was on. People hate on Columbus because he exploited and abducted innocent people. Remember- it took less than 30 years after Columbus first landed in the Bahamas for European settlers to eradicated 90% of the indigenous population there. In my opinion, that's horrifying and definitely deserves some hate !
I dont quite see what was "alleged" about his "awfullness towards indians that inhabitated the lands he was exploring...". Atleast in my eyes there was nothing alleged about his violence and "awfulness". Abducting human beings as though they are souveniers from his trip is quite blatantly a terrible act of violence, awful does not even begin to describe the wrongness of this action. This was just one of the violent acts he perpetrated towards indigenous people and standing alone it is an awful act of violnece worthy of "some hate". Perhaps it is important to keep in mind the perspective of the people's lands that he was intruding for his and the spanish crown's own selfish means.
ReplyDelete