2007-08-10 08:40:12 · 6 answers · asked by helenae w 1 in Arts & Humanities ➔ History
He is the one who opened the door to European exploration of the New World. No he didn't 'discover' the Americas (it's hard to discover someplace where two million people are already living); he wasn't even the first European into the New World (that should go to the Vikings, Brendan the Navigator, or probably the earliest ancestors of people like Kennewick Man) ... but he was the first of the massive wave of immigration that began after 1492. He did more to open the door than anyone else. So, he is remembered, because 95% of all of the people in the America's today have non-Native American ancestors.
2007-08-10 08:45:29 · answer #1 · answered by John B 7 · 2⤊ 0⤋
The short story is that he sailed the ocean blue in 1492 to prove that the world was round and discover a new route to the riches of the east. He stumbled on America and had Thanksgiving with the Native Americans.
The truth is that he had to beg for money from the queen to take this trip. The world had already been proved round over a thousand years ago, and globes were invented around the time of Christ.
He wanted to find an easier route to get spices and silk from the east, so he wasn't an explorer as much as a businessman. He also was charged with colonization, or kicking other people off their land.
He didn't even land in mainland America until his third voyage in 1498. Once he did, he wrote in his journal that the Native Americans were simple and stupid, and with 50 men he could turn the whole nation into slaves for Spain. So much for Thanksgiving.
Columbus later became a governor when he returned to Europe. But he and his brothers were so corrupt that his governorship was taken away and he was thrown in jail.
He demanded that Spain give him 10% of everything that they made overseas, but Spain denied his request.
The reason that Columbus is so famous is that American history books are written by white male Americans who are intent on perpetuating this myth of Columbus to make themselves feel better about coming to this country and subjugating the Native Americans.
Every child knows the rhyme "In 1492, Columbus sailed the ocean blue" But few children know of the truth and other "not-so-nice" facts about the life of Columbus.
Hope this helps! :-)
2007-08-10 15:57:53 · answer #2 · answered by N2jazz 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
because he raped native american women and started the slaughter of all natives of the northern american region. he wrote about it and brought other european men over so that they could get in on the action of rape and slaughter. this was a popular sport in the 14-1500's.
2007-08-10 21:20:34 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
he founded the place ther were red indians(native americans) but untill he left some white settlers, there was and would have been no america
2007-08-10 16:02:20 · answer #4 · answered by john s 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Who?
2007-08-10 18:00:09 · answer #5 · answered by Hobilar 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Because many are still trying to figure out how to spell his name.
2007-08-10 15:52:42 · answer #6 · answered by benny 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋