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[[Image:columbus.jpg|thumb|Christopher Columbus]]

[[Image:columbus.jpg|thumb|Christopher Columbus]]

'''Christopher Columbus''' (1451-1506) was an Italian explorer hired by Spain to reach Asia in 1491, but landed in the Caribbean instead. In four voyages, he explored the [[West Indies]] from 1492 to 1502.  His discovery resulted in Europeans exploring and settling the Americas, and Columbus became both a symbol of the new world and an iconic hero for the age of exploration.

'''Christopher Columbus''' (1451–1506) was an Italian explorer hired by Spain to reach Asia in 1491, but who landed in the Caribbean instead. In four voyages, he explored the [[West Indies]] from 1492 to 1502.  His discovery of the Americas resulted in Europeans exploring and settling the Americas, and Columbus became both a symbol of the [[New World]] and an iconic hero for the age of exploration.

As conservative historian Wilcomb Washburn explains, if Columbus had not discovered the New World, the process of European discovery might have been very different. Rather than standing as a symbol of inexorable forces, Columbus is better seen as a representative of the spirit of inquiry, Christian religious zeal, and the notable achievements of Western Civilization.<ref>Wilcomb E. Washburn, "Columbus: Agent Of The Inevitable?" ''Continuity'' 1992 (16): 57-63. 0277-1446</ref>  

As conservative historian Wilcomb Washburn explains, if Columbus had not discovered the New World, the process of European discovery might have been very different. Rather than standing as a symbol of inexorable forces, Columbus is better seen as a representative of the spirit of inquiry, Christian religious zeal, and the notable achievements of Western Civilization.<ref>Wilcomb E. Washburn, "Columbus: Agent Of The Inevitable?" ''Continuity'' 1992 (16): 57-63. 0277-1446</ref>  

Finally they came to land in the West Indies (October 12, 1492). When they explored a little they found the native Arawaks to be friendly and wrote such in his diary: "They offered to share with anyone, and when you ask for something, they never say no."   

Finally they came to land in the West Indies (October 12, 1492). When they explored a little they found the native Arawaks to be friendly and wrote such in his diary: "They offered to share with anyone, and when you ask for something, they never say no."   

They found many new things that no European had ever seen before. Columbus thought he had landed in India, so he called the native people "Indians" - a designation which remains common to this very day. As they prepared to return to [[Spain]] the Santa Maria ran aground on a coral reef and could not be repaired. Further establishing the kindness of the Arawaks, Columbus noted that they were so kind, that after the shipwreck, the Arawaks labored for hours to save his cargo, and were so honest that not one thing was missing. For his part, Columbus hoped to build good relations with the tribe, writing in his journal, "I want the natives to develop a friendly attitude toward us because I know that they are a people who can be made free and converted to our Holy Faith more by love than by force."<ref>Hans Koning, ''Columbus: His Enterprise: Exploding the Myth'' (New York: Monthly Review Press, 1991), 51</ref> Carefully reciprocating the Arawaks' honesty, he instructed his men not to take anything from them "without giving something in exchange."<ref>Robert H. Fuson, trans., ''The Log of Christopher Columbus'' (Camden, Maine: International Marine, 1987), 76.</ref>  Columbus saw the shipwreck of the Santa Maria as a sign from God and established a trading outpost he called Navidad (after the Christmas holiday).  

They found many new things that no European had ever seen before. Columbus thought he had landed in India, so he called the native people "Indians" – a designation that remains common to this very day. As they prepared to return to [[Spain]] the Santa Maria ran aground on a coral reef and could not be repaired. Further establishing the kindness of the Arawaks, Columbus noted that they were so kind, that after the shipwreck, the Arawaks labored for hours to save his cargo, and were so honest that not one thing was missing. For his part, Columbus hoped to build good relations with the tribe, writing in his journal, "I want the natives to develop a friendly attitude toward us because I know that they are a people who can be made free and converted to our Holy Faith more by love than by force."<ref>Hans Koning, ''Columbus: His Enterprise: Exploding the Myth'' (New York: Monthly Review Press, 1991), 51</ref> Carefully reciprocating the Arawaks' honesty, he instructed his men not to take anything from them "without giving something in exchange."<ref>Robert H. Fuson, trans., ''The Log of Christopher Columbus'' (Camden, Maine: International Marine, 1987), 76.</ref>  Columbus saw the shipwreck of the Santa Maria as a sign from God and established a trading outpost he called Navidad (after the Christmas holiday).  

However he still had the Nina and Pinta, and so he took most of his crew up the Windward Passage and onward to Spain. The king and queen were amazed by the colorful birds and strange foods that Columbus brought with him. Columbus was then called Admiral.

However he still had the Nina and Pinta, and so he took most of his crew up the Windward Passage and onward to Spain. The king and queen were amazed by the colorful birds and strange foods that Columbus brought with him. Columbus was then called Admiral.

==Second Voyage==

==Second Voyage==

When Columbus sailed back to the new world in 1493, he found no sign of Navidad or of his crew. It is unknown what became of the crew, but one widely believed theory is the local Indian population grew tired of being harassed for gold and killed the sailors. Columbus then built a new settlement called Isabella (after the queen), then left it in the charge of his brother Diego and went exploring. He was puzzled that his maps of the east did not match with what he had seen. When he reached modern day [[Cuba]] he believed that this was the mainland and forced his crew to swear that it was.  He also discovered [[Jamaica]] shortly afterwards. On his second voyage Columbus was able to sail back exactly to the same place as on his first voyage, despite poor navigating techniques of the time period. Some attribute this fact to divine providence.

When Columbus sailed back to the new world in 1493, he found no sign of Navidad or of his crew. It is unknown what became of the crew, but one widely believed theory is the local Indian population grew tired of being harassed for gold and killed the sailors. Columbus then built a new settlement called Isabella (after the queen), then left it in the charge of his brother Diego and went exploring. He was puzzled that his maps of the east did not match with what he had seen. When he reached modern-day [[Cuba]] he believed that this was the mainland and forced his crew to swear that it was.  He also discovered [[Jamaica]] shortly afterward. On his second voyage, Columbus was able to sail back exactly to the same place as on his first voyage, despite poor navigating techniques of the time period. Some attribute this fact to divine providence.

==Third Voyage==

==Third Voyage==

==Fourth Voyage==

==Fourth Voyage==

When rumors of the confusion in Isabella reached Spain the king and queen sent Francisco de Bobadilla to investigate. Bobadilla arrested Columbus and his brother in the name of the crown, took charge of Isabella forcefully and sent them back to Spain. Columbus begged for one more chance to explore “Asia”. The monarchs gave him four broken down ships. His fleet was beaten with storms and he was forced to give up his last journey. He started back for Spain, but his ships were on the verge of collapse and he was forced to stay at Jamaica. He sent one of his crew to Isabella in a canoe to get rescue ships. Seven months later the ships came and took him back to Spain.

When rumors of the confusion in Isabella reached Spain the king and queen sent Francisco de Bobadilla to investigate. Bobadilla arrested Columbus and his brother in the name of the crown, took charge of Isabella forcefully and sent them back to Spain. Columbus begged for one more chance to explore “Asia”. The monarchs gave him four broken down ships. His fleet was beaten with storms and he was forced to give up his last journey. He started back for Spain, but his ships were on the verge of collapse and he was forced to stay in Jamaica. He sent one of his crew to Isabella in a canoe to get rescue ships. Seven months later the ships came and took him back to Spain.

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Columbus has remained since the quest for independence a malleable and durable American symbol. Although ignored during most of the colonial period, he was, during the 1760s-1890s, interpreted and reinterpreted to fit our national character and used to mold a collective identity. This progress can be traced over three periods: as Columbia (an allegorical figure symbolizing liberty); as Columbus (an individual masculine explorer who sanctioned [[Manifest Destiny]]); and as Columbianism, a late-19th century patriotic symbol involving cultural and political hegemony and various ethnic and religious identities. During this evolution of "discovering" Columbus, a significant amount of material culture surfaced in American art, monuments, coinage, and in various civic events. This led to a multiple set of uses of Columbus as a model or official icon by various organizations to help shape their identities. The discovery of Columbus also grew as new methods of communication and the development of various media in the visual arts replaced the oral tradition and elementary school prose of the 18th century. This adaption of Columbus as a national symbol created conflicting contexts for many, such as Protestants ignoring Columbus's Catholicism. All three periods signify steps in the nation's search for self-identity.<ref>Thomas J. Schlereth, "Columbia, Columbus, And Columbianism." ''Journal of American History'' 1992 79(3): 937-968. [http://www.jstor.org/stable/2080794  in JSTOR]</ref>

Columbus has remained since the quest for independence a malleable and durable American symbol. Although ignored during most of the colonial period, he was, during the 1760s-1890s, interpreted and reinterpreted to fit our national character and used to mold a collective identity. This progress can be traced over three periods: as Columbia (an allegorical figure symbolizing liberty); as Columbus (an individual masculine explorer who sanctioned [[Manifest Destiny]]); and as Columbianism, a late-19th century patriotic symbol involving cultural and political hegemony and various ethnic and religious identities. During this evolution of "discovering" Columbus, a significant amount of material culture surfaced in American art, monuments, coinage, and in various civic events. This led to a multiple set of uses of Columbus as a model or official icon by various organizations to help shape their identities. The discovery of Columbus also grew as new methods of communication and the development of various media in the visual arts replaced the oral tradition and elementary school prose of the 18th century. This adaption of Columbus as a national symbol created conflicting contexts for many, such as Protestants ignoring Columbus's Catholicism. All three periods signify steps in the nation's search for self-identity.<ref>Thomas J. Schlereth, "Columbia, Columbus, And Columbianism." ''Journal of American History'' 1992 79(3): 937-968. [http://www.jstor.org/stable/2080794  in JSTOR]</ref>

[[File:Cordero Colon ante los reyes catolicos.jpg|thumb|Christopher Columbus at the court of the Spanish Catholic Kings by [[Juan Cordero]].]]

[[File:Cordero Colon ante los reyes catolicos.jpg|thumb|Christopher Columbus at the court of the Spanish Catholic Kings by [[Juan Cordero]].]]

In the 19th century the works of historians [[Washington Irving]], [[George Bancroft]], and [[William Prescott]] created the scholarly foundations for American celebration of Columbus's achievements. Irving created a highly romantic description of Columbus's landing in ''A History of the Life and Voyages of Christopher Columbus'' (1828). 19th century American painters and graphic artists conjured up romantic images to match those found in the book. The image portrayed in Irving's book and by the artists shows Columbus finding a sparsely populated virgin land inhabited by lightly clothed "savages" to whom he introduced a "superior" culture and the blessings of Christianity. The mythical image also claims that Columbus planted the seeds of future American economic prosperity.  

In the 19th century the works of historians [[Washington Irving]], [[George Bancroft]], and [[William Prescott]] created the scholarly foundations for American celebration of Columbus's achievements. Irving created a highly romantic description of Columbus's landing in ''A History of the Life and Voyages of Christopher Columbus'' (1828). 19th-century American painters and graphic artists conjured up romantic images to match those found in the book. The image portrayed in Irving's book and by the artists shows Columbus finding a sparsely populated virgin land inhabited by lightly clothed "savages" to whom he introduced a "superior" culture and the blessings of Christianity. The mythical image also claims that Columbus planted the seeds of future American economic prosperity.  

Americans celebrated Columbus's discovery of the New World and built numerous monuments to him in the late 19th century. The city of Columbus, Ohio was established in 1812. In addition, cities and towns, streets and health facilities, libraries, universities, schools, and in modern times sport teams bearing his name are symbols of his American stature. [[Columbus Day]], is a national holiday in the United States, proclaimed so in 1937 by President [[Franklin D. Roosevelt]], primarily at the behest of [[Catholic]]s and the fast growing [[Italian]] immigrant community who wanted a national holiday of celebration.  

Americans celebrated Columbus's discovery of the New World and built numerous monuments to him in the late 19th century. The city of Columbus, Ohio was established in 1812. In addition, cities and towns, streets and health facilities, libraries, universities, schools, and in modern times sport teams bearing his name are symbols of his American stature. [[Columbus Day]], is a national holiday in the United States, proclaimed so in 1937 by President [[Franklin D. Roosevelt]], primarily at the behest of [[Catholic]]s and the fast-growing [[Italian]] immigrant community who wanted a national holiday of celebration.  

By the quincentenary celebration of his discovery in 1992, Columbus stood accused of genocide and ecocide.  Columbus Day became controversial in the 1970s, as a matter of white guilt regarding the mistreatment of Native Americans. The main accuser was Colorado professor [[Ward Churchill]] (who was fired in 2007 for academic misconduct and falsifying history); he compared Columbus to Nazi Holocaust sponsor [[Heinrich Himmler]], pointing to the genocidal outcome of Columbus's brutal practices in the Caribbean.

By the quincentenary celebration of his discovery in 1992, Columbus stood accused of genocide and ecocide.  Columbus Day became controversial in the 1970s, as a matter of white guilt regarding the mistreatment of Native Americans. The main accuser was Colorado professor [[Ward Churchill]] (who was fired in 2007 for academic misconduct and falsifying history); he compared Columbus to Nazi Holocaust sponsor [[Heinrich Himmler]], pointing to the genocidal outcome of Columbus's brutal practices in the Caribbean.

===Legacy of Columbus===

===Legacy of Columbus===

Columbus was a devout Christian, according to the teachings of Spanish church at the time.  A fact that is often downplayed and ignored is that he was rumored to never have sworn—something unusual for a sailor at that time. On his ship his shipmates would frequently engage in religious worship. After his death it was thought he should have been named a saint for bringing the Christian faith to half the known world while Spain sent thousands of missionaries to the America's. It is because of Columbus that Latin American has the highest number of professing Christians.<ref>http://www.christianitytoday.com/ch/1992/issue35/3502.html</ref>

Columbus was a devout Christian, according to the teachings of the Spanish church at the time.  A fact that is often downplayed and ignored is that he was rumored to never have sworn—something unusual for a sailor at that time. On his ship, his shipmates would frequently engage in religious worship. After his death, it was thought he should have been named a saint for bringing the Christian faith to half the known world while Spain sent thousands of missionaries to the America's. It is because of Columbus that Latin American has the highest number of professing Christians.<ref>http://www.christianitytoday.com/ch/1992/issue35/3502.html</ref>

Thanks to the left-wing history book ''[[A People's History of the United States]]'' by communist [[Howard Zinn]], however, Columbus has been falsely demonized by anti-American scholars as being a slave-trader, a mass-murderer against Native Americans, and a man who, were he alive in the current age, would have been tried for crimes against humanity. As was common practice in his works, Zinn made this argument with misleading quotations of Columbus and over-reliance on sources of questionable objectivity. For example, he used the explorer's statement on first encountering the Arawaks, "They would make fine servants," to suggest Columbus intended from the start to enslave the natives, when in fact he was commenting on their docile nature and the apparent efforts of neighboring tribes to enslave them.<ref>Mary Grabar, ''Debunking Howard Zinn: Exposing the Fake History That Turned a Generation Against America'' (Washington, DC: Regnery, 2019), 11-12.</ref>  

Thanks to the left-wing history book ''[[A People's History of the United States]]'' by communist [[Howard Zinn]], however, Columbus has been falsely demonized by anti-American scholars as being a slave-trader, a mass-murderer against Native Americans, and a man who, were he alive in the current age, would have been tried for crimes against humanity. As was common practice in his works, Zinn made this argument with misleading quotations of Columbus and over-reliance on sources of questionable objectivity. For example, he used the explorer's statement on first encountering the Arawaks, "They would make fine servants," to suggest Columbus intended from the start to enslave the natives, when in fact he was commenting on their docile nature and the apparent efforts of neighboring tribes to enslave them.<ref>Mary Grabar, ''Debunking Howard Zinn: Exposing the Fake History That Turned a Generation Against America'' (Washington, DC: Regnery, 2019), 11-12.</ref>  

*[http://www.mariner.org/educationalad/ageofex/columbus.php from Mariner's Museum]

*[http://www.mariner.org/educationalad/ageofex/columbus.php from Mariner's Museum]

{{Nb_explorers}}

{{Nb_explorers}}

[[Category:European History]]

[[Category:European History]]

[[Category:Colonial America]]

[[Category:Colonial America]]