Does Columbus deserve to be in the history books?

Question

I just learned from Yahoo Geography that he did not discover America because many groups of people, all from Europe or Asia, were already there (best answer; search "Columbous" with that spelling).

Assuming that's true, should he be in the history books at all? If so, what should be said about him? What did he do that's worth writing about?

Answer 1

Yes he does, if the history is accurately laid out. It is important that the history books don't leave out the fact that he discovered Hispaniola instead of Flordia, or India which is where he was going. It is important that they say that he enslaved countless numbers of natives and indirectly cut the native population of Hispaniola from near 500,000 to 10,000 or lower. It is important that they say that he took slaves back to Spain in place of the gold that he had promised Ferdinand and Isabella when they financed the voyage. It is important to note that his letters and diaries show that he believed God had led him to his discovery and given him the native population to use as he pleased.

There were not really any Europeans who had discovered North America except for those who had traveled the Bering Strait from what is now Russia and were, by the time of Columbus, natives and completely removed from Europe.

Essentially, he did discover America as no one in Europe knew much, if anything, about it.

But, as a holder of a BA in history, I think he should be in the history books...he's a very important part of our history...but it is essential that the whole story is given. We can't gloss over facts or simply leave them out, that would be re-writing history and that is not fair. Recognize all things, good and bad.

Answer 2

Most people remember from childhood in elementary school that Christoper Columbus 'saided the ocean blue in 1492', and the way history of the founding of America is presented lays credit to Columbus when there were Pre-Columbian Vikings in the continent before Columbus' arrival in the Caribbean, and there were other groups that also claimed a landing in the Americas in general. One of those was Amerigo Vespucci, who claimed to have been in the Americas. Washington, D.C., is named after George Washington as first president and Christopher Columbus as founder, although he was not in the continental United States. 'America' is the English translation of the German form of Amerigo, named after Amerigo Vespucci. Therefore, both men are honored by our country.
The way history is generally written is to favor the person or group which has the most influence. An example is Josephus Flavius, a Jew who was rewarded Roman citizenship and other ammenities by helping the Romans defeat an insurrection by the Jews. No other history of that time period can compete with Josephus' "Antiquities of the Jews" or "The Wars of the Jews". I feel the same would apply to Christpher Columbus and his Royal Spanish backing of his ventures, considering the English didn't have someone over in the Atlantic racing Columbus trying to find a faster trade route to the Indies. John Cabot was the only one I can remember, the founder of Newfoundland for England around the time of Columbus, but he is not remembered for his step onto the North American continent (geographically) instead of some islands out in the Caribbean. Maybe he should be remembered, as well as the Native American descendants of the Asian groups which crossed the Bering Strait into the Americas many thousand years before the Europeans got across the Atlantic.
From Columbus' own correspondence, he opened communication with native tribes in the islands by taking 'hostages' from the tribes, teaching them Spanish, and opening dialogue. They often thought of him as a god, since the Europeans looked so different from the indigenous peoples. It should be said of Christopher Columbus that he founded trade posts for trade with what he thought were peoples from the Indies, that he began the Spanish conquest and future expanded slave trade through Europe by Spanish capturing of native indigenous people wherever they landed ("History is a Weapon"). Columbus alone was not responsible for the devastating effects of colonization of the New World, greed and lust were the responsible parties.

Answer 3

Columbus led a number of voyages to what he thought were the East Indies. It was mapmaker Amerigo Vespucci who first realized the Americas were another "world," entirely. But Vespucci's voyage would not have happened if Columbus had not proven the value of those expensive sea voyages to begin with. His first voyage had 3 ships/70 men. Then Spain gave him a whole fleet of ships (I think 17 ships and 700 men) on succesive voyages Regardless of who discovered America first, Columbus sailed for Spain, and after that the "new world" opened up Those who think Columbus was mostly an evil exploiter watch too many movies.

Answer 4

in the process heritage civilizations have been gained and misplaced. Cultures that are extra progressed many times triumph over and eat much less progressed ones. This u . s . exists in its contemporary style basically because of the fact the Europeans got here and conquered it. If the close by individuals weren't assimilated into that new, extra progressed custom, then this u . s . might nonetheless be a primitive society without the technological and social advances we've. additionally, it truly is better than in all probability that the close by individuals could have been taken over by using the Spaniards or the French. even although, looking back, it may look merciless or incorrect, in certainty it that this has got here approximately in the process heritage and probable will take place interior the destiny. it truly is naive to think of that if our forefathers did no longer earnings administration of this land the Indians may well be extra effective-off. They have been a weeker, much less state-of-the-paintings custom and could have been taken over by using somebody. the U. S. does no longer exist because it truly is now if it weren't for the effect of ecu custom. Unfair to the close by individuals, perchance, inspite of the undeniable fact that it grew to become into needed for our custom to exist and improve. The advancements of our ecu heritage, and not the close by individuals, is what helps you to be sitting at abode surfing the internet.

Answer 5

Even if he didn't discover America first, he was the first to establish a route and the road for the colonization of the American continent. He was the one to open the "gates of America" for the Europeans to follow.
The road of the vikings was unfortunately forgotten.
He deserve to be on the cover of american history books.

Answer 6

He may not have been the first to discover America, even he thought he'd found the western side if India. He deserves to be in the history books because he was a great explorer. It wouldn't have been easy to go to sea in a small wooden boat in the fifteenth century.

Answer 7

That guy is a pure product of his era...
He traved to America (thinking it was India) to discover a new road to go there because the only road known before was used by the venitians and they were selling indian products to the rest of europa too expensive.
Colombus discovered a new continent and never knew that, he thought he were in India (and he gave the name indian to the inhabitants there).
Then, long after colombus, came Ameriguo Vespucci who showed to Europa that Coloumbus discovered a new continent and he gave his name to it (Ameriguo = America).
But Colombus was the first to travell in the sea without following the borders. He travelled with the stars and with his discovering, he prouved to everyone that earth was rond!
For all these reasons, he deserved to be in history books!

Answer 8

actually columbus set for india and by mistake he reached american shores and that is why the natives were known as red indians. he must have discovered a short route to america. when every tom dick and harry is there in the history books then why not him

Answer 9

Even if they decide he didn't discover America, he has, he is, and he will be forever in history books. You answered your own question since he would be mentioned as the guy who was believed to have discovered America in 1492. The fact remains!

Answer 10

"Assuming that is true" ???
You did not know that North America was already inhabited by
Native Americans before Columbus arrived ??
You should consider some additonal reading in history...
Columbus discovered / opened the Americas to Europe..
And yes....He belongs in the history books...