I got into a little bit of an argument with my teacher. Since most of you on here are adults, do you think he actually did something significant? Or did he "discover" something that millions of people already knew about.
2007-08-02 16:29:18 · 18 answers · asked by reelperspectiv 5 in Society & Culture ➔ Cultures & Groups ➔ Other - Cultures & Groups
My understanding is that Columbus wasn't the brightest guy. He failed at almost everything he attempted.
He sailed from Spain, looking for India. He didn't discover America, he bopped around the Caribbean, and spent some time on the island of Hispaniola. The Dominican Republic.
I read that when members of the ship's crew doubted that they were in India, he killed them.
He and his people brought diseases (smallpox?) to the islands that hadn't been there before, so there was zero immunity. Almost the entire native population was wiped out.
His son, Don Diego, had a castle in the Domincan Republic. It's open to tourists. They claim that CC's grave is there, but Spain claims he's buried there, so no one really knows.
According to Wikipedia, it was his 3rd voyage that finally brought him to the mainland of the Americas.
BUT!! This quote from Wikipedia proves (?) my original point that he was an idiot:
"When he died he was still convinced that his journeys had been along the east coast of Asia."
Duh?
2007-08-02 16:57:47 · answer #1 · answered by ♥≈Safi≈♥ ☼of the Atheati☼ 6 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Christopher Columbus got Queen Isabella to finance his voyage to discover a path to the orient. No, he didn't accomplish that, but did discover North America.
It appears to be true that the Vikings actually visited Canada before Columbus's voyage. However, the Vikings did not publicize their findings and may not have even realized what they had discovered. The land they visited was a heck of a long way away from Jamaica or which ever island they visited first.
So, yes, Columbus did discover something significant and millions of people did not know about it. No doubt, some people knew there was something over this way.
No one knows how the Indians got over here, and especially not the indians. They certainly did not reason that the earth was round and set out upon the ocean to reach the other side. The same could probably be said about the Vikings.
2007-08-02 16:44:39 · answer #2 · answered by plezurgui 6 · 0⤊ 1⤋
well, Christopher Columbus' discovery was not so great especially when the vikings were scientifically the first to discover North America, but his persistance and courage is what inspired us all. How he was determined to convince the Kings and Queens to sponsor his voyage in discovering a India and how he tried to establish settlements in the name of the Spaniards. The thing is even though he didn't find India, his name is echoed by the voice of our teachers because Columbus like many other explorers risked everything to search for just one thing
2016-05-17 04:33:03 · answer #3 · answered by ? 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The significance of Columbus' discoveries is that they were written down. Yes, lots of other cultures have sailed the oceans and who knows, maybe even circumnavigated the globe, but Christopher wrote it down for all of us to learn about it.
2007-08-02 16:32:49 · answer #4 · answered by ThatLady 5 · 3⤊ 0⤋
He did nothing.
America was already discovered, by Native Americans
2007-08-02 16:45:40 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
He "discovered" a place where millions of other people lived and made false claims as to what their race was.
2007-08-02 16:33:17 · answer #6 · answered by моя звезда 3 · 2⤊ 1⤋
In 1492 Columbus sailed the ocean blue....?
2007-08-02 16:36:18 · answer #7 · answered by Skyy 3 · 2⤊ 1⤋
Columbus was a well known explorer when he was chosen by the Queen of Spain to sail to America in 1492. He was the captain of three ships (The nina, pinta, and santa maria) that were headed to find new land. He actually thought he was going to the Carribean but ended up discovering America.
2007-08-02 16:34:14 · answer #8 · answered by Ryan D 2 · 0⤊ 5⤋
You read the history of America so that you could answer your teacher in the right way and you can claimed that you are correct.
jtm
2007-08-02 16:36:15 · answer #9 · answered by Jesus M 7 · 2⤊ 0⤋
he didn't discover america. Lief Erikson is proven to land on the MAINLAND which columbus never did. There were europeans here before him
2007-08-02 16:32:02 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 1⤋