The Man, The Myth, The Legend Christopher Columbus The Man, The Myth, The Legend

What do you already know about Columbus What do you already know about Columbus? What stories have you been taught or heard?

The Facts - Background From Genoa, Italy Believed he could find a western route to India 1484 - Proposed idea to Portugal, who rejected Columbus Over the next four years, he was also rejected by France and England Continued proposing his idea to Spain for up to six years Finally accepted by King Ferdinand and Queen Isabella in 1492

The First Voyage Niña, Pinta, and Santa Maria Landed in Bahamas (San Salvador) Sailed on to Cuba and Hispaniola (modern day Haiti and Dominican Rep.) Returned in March 1493 Brought spices, parrots, gold, and Native Americans

Return Voyages November 1493 September 1498 1502 - final voyage Brought 17 ships, 1,200 Spanish colonists, military equipment (guns and weaponry) Enslaved many Native Americans to work in gold mines September 1498 Realizes that it is not, in fact, India 1502 - final voyage

So why is Columbus famous? Started large-scale European settlement in the Americas Successfully mapped and navigated the Central/South American coastline His settlements led to Spain’s American empire, which spanned across all of South and Central America

Some myths Columbus discovered America Columbus was a revolutionary thinker who argued that the world was round Columbus was motivated by pure exploratory curiosity Columbus did not know he discovered a new continent Columbus had a long, difficult journey and overcame a near mutiny Columbus sought to ease the minds of his crew by changing navigation directions in the ships log so they thought they weren’t too far from home

The Conqueror Columbus sought to exploit the Native Americans to get more gold Massacred many natives when they did not do as he wished Used conversion of natives to Catholicism as support for his exploits Brought natives back as slaves

Imagine you are a Native American Imagine you are a Native American. You have lived in the same place for years, interacting with neighboring tribes and keeping within a local area. Suddenly, three ships full of strange-seeming, foreign, white Europeans arrive on your shores. How might you react to this?

Imagine you are one of Columbus’ crew members Imagine you are one of Columbus’ crew members. You left home for a trip across the unknown, expecting to land in India. Hitting the shore, you look out across the land to find a group of completely different looking Native Americans coming out to meet you. They are dressed in nothing but animal hides and cloth, wear feathers in their hair, and speak languages you have never heard before. How might you react to this scene?

Portugal vs. Spain Competing for colonies, land, and trade Treaty of Tordesillas Line of Demarcation – imaginary North/South line drawn through the Atlantic Ocean Portugal got all land east of the line, Spain got all land west of the line

Columbian Exchange America  Europe Europe  America Beans, avocados, cocoa, corn, peanuts, pineapples, peppers, potatoes, tobacco, disease, and much more! Europe  America Livestock, onions, grains, sugar cane, coffee, olives, grapes, disease, and still more!