Christopher Columbus Research Paper

Words: 555
Pages: 3

As the brave adventurer who "discovered" America and initiated European colonization in the New World, Christopher Columbus is widely honored. However, as historical viewpoints shift, it becomes clearer how complicated Columbus's influence was shaped. His bravery and navigational skills are highlighted in historical accounts, but his treatment of Native Americans has come under scrutiny in more recent studies. The purpose of this article is to reevaluate the historical relevance of Columbus by taking into account both his accomplishments and the negative outcomes of the encounters he had with the Native Americans. Without a doubt, Christopher Columbus's travels through the Atlantic Ocean in 1492 formed a big influence on the evolution of world …show more content…
His journeys expanded European knowledge of the world and signified an important moment in the evolution of exploration. To add on to his accomplishments, Columbus's encounters with native peoples shines a bright light on his legacy. Once Columbus got to the Caribbean, he first came in contact with the people of Taino, who stayed in Hispaniola. The interactions he had with the aboriginal people were found to be by inequality, abuse, and exploitation. The Taino people were taken through beatings and extortion by Columbus. He created payment systems, had them working as slaves, and used force to try to get them to open up to Christianity. Also, since the native peoples' cultures lacked immunity to European diseases, Columbus's behavior played a big role in the spread of diseases like smallpox, which took out whole tribes. Columbus's involvement in helping start the transatlantic slave trade further makes his legacy look bad. Since he viewed the Native American people as products to be taken advantage of for profit, he took an active role in their enslavement and