Do you think Columbus is guilt of ...?

Question

genocide because of all the Native Americans who died due to his creation of the Atlantic World (and not to mention the creation of the slave tainted triangular trade)?

Personally - I don't believe Columbus is guilty of such things - its why I posted the question - but many Native American groups I feel look silly making such statements.

Answer 1

Most of the native Americans who died, died of disease brought by the Europeans, principally smallpox. While this is a tragedy, it was not something Columbus or any other European did intentionally. And if Columbus had not discovered the New World, someone else would have eventually.

Answer 2

No - Columbus didn't land on the mainland of the American continent, so you can't blame him for genocide of the native Americans.

What is the "Atlantic World"?

Columbus had nothing to do with the slave trade either.

Based on your theory, perhaps we should accuse Captain Cook of aboriginal genocide and the fact that the Aussies are good at cricket.

Answer 3

As for the Indians; I know we treated them bad and they died from disease they where not protected against from Europe.

People didn't’t know that would happen but it did. people still thought god caused plagues; germs and micro technology did not exist.

I would say looking at that period in time when expansion was the key to survival they did well. Many expansionist in those days would not even talk to the natives they would just slaughter them all. That was common practice back then to avoid later uprisings.

Historians usually agree the Indians could have done allot worse than the pilgrims in those days. The Indians where hundreds of years behind in technology and would fight amongst each other over territory; therefore not having any organization. It was just a matter of time before some one came over and put a hurting on them.

Please keep the high and mighty self righteous speeches to yourself; at least read about history first and don't believe TV.

Answer 4

if it hadn't been Columbus then someone else. fact is everyone was guilty of something. Columbus died in debtors prison so i guess he got paid back for anything he might have done. and as to his creation of the Atlantic world, he didn't create anything. he sailed across the Atlantic looking for a way to India and "the spice islands". he was one of those who thought the world was round when most people firmly believed it was flat. he proved his point but all it got him was a place in the history books.

Answer 5

While we're at it let's hang Einstein for his theories of relativity which led to the nuclear age and the resulting deaths from bombs at the end of World War II.
And what should we think about Colt, Winchester, Remington and others who manufactured weapons responsible for wide spead genocide. Don't be misled in believing that you (or your ancestral group) may have been singled out for malice in the pages of history for there have always been examples of the downtrodden at the hands of power groups throughout history.
The fact is the only responsible party to genocide is you and me. Yes, humans are the evil force on this planet and whether you are descended from one of the trampled groups of history that were recipients of this evil is immaterial in the face of what events have occured.
I can only suggest that you find some sort of rationale for the uncertainties of humankind and hope that we will not be able to destroy this great opportunity at life given to humans.

Answer 6

He did exploit the Native Americans and wrote back to Portugal that they could easily be used as slaves, but Coulombs was not alone and it was those who came on the Mayflower who exploited the Native Americans of North America. Genocide -I don't think so, morally challenged -maybe.

Answer 7

Colombus sure never created the Atlantic World . It was here long before Columbus was born .
If he had anything to do with the slave trade , I never read anything about it .

Answer 8

If he killed Indians with no cause while entering America- yes- But I am not sure whether or not this happened. The records show he befriended those he met thinking they were from India and good trade sources.

Good comically video related to this issue:
http://youtube.com/watch?v=YhEl6HdfqWM

Answer 9

Actually- did you know that Europeans had never had syphillis until Columbus brought it back from the New World?

Answer 10

Columbus never set foot on North America. what came after him wasn't his fault. that would be like blaming Jesus for the holocaust and not Hitler. ( for the anti-Semitic beliefs for many years because of his death and not acknowledging the hand actually responsible for the holocaust.)