Columbus
Essay Preview: Columbus
Report this essay
To begin, I think it is essential to give some basic background on Christopher Columbus. He was an explorer and trader who crossed the Atlantic Ocean and reached America on October 12, 1492 under the flag of Castile. History places a great significance on his landing in America in 1492. Columbus is commonly credited as “the” European discoverer of America because of the profound impact his contact created on history. His voyage marked the beginning of the European exploration and colonization of the Americas.
Columbuss motivations included his business type personality and drive to lead a wealthy life. Columbus based his plans on some deliberate miscalculations and he convinced the King and Queen of Aragon and Castile (Spain) to support his undertaking. Christopher Columbus made a deal fitting a true business person. He said to the King and Queen that he would deliver them a shortcut to Asia in the West. He also said he would claim them all unknown territories that could be found along his voyage. In return he demanded a noble title and financial independence for life. He also wanted a percentage of all profits that would be made from his discoveries. In 1492 Christopher Columbus and his crew set sail with three caravels and sailed the Atlantic Ocean in search for Japan and China, with just a compass to navigate. By accident, they encountered the Caribbean islands and a whole new continent that only much later would be known as America.
There are many things that were important that we can contribute to Christopher Columbus, but none stand out more than slavery. Columbus can be viewed as a villain for transporting Native Americans to Europe for sale as slaves. There is no evidence of any previous trans-Atlantic voyages that transported slaves for sale. I believe he was the first known European to transport slaves across the Atlantic. It can be assumed that Columbus could be considered the “discoverer” of the Atlantic slave trade in which millions of Africans