The Effects of Columbus' Arrival in the America's

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The Effects of Columbus' Arrival in the America's In order to understand the effects of Christopher Columbus' arrival in the Americas, one must first understand the native populous' level of technology, as well as their cultural background. In this essay you will find first hand accounts as written by the people that were with Columbus when he landed, as well as documentation from his hand. The point of this essay is not to degrade an explorer of new lands, but to show that he, like so many other explorers, assumed that the native peoples to be primitive because of their relative lack of "modern" technology. Unfortunately, we assume that our culture is always the best, this essay will also prove that that can be false. After the voyage across the Atlantic Ocean, Columbus was sure that he'd found the Far East, when in fact he'd discovered the Caribbean Islands. Upon his subsequent exploration of these islands he wrote "When I Juana (Cuba) I followed it west-wardly, and found it so large that I thought it might be the mainland province of Cathay." This proved that he truly did believe Cuba to be part of the Far East. Soon this was changed when he further explored the island when he was forced to harbor for the winter. His exploration initially consisted of two men, whom he sent "to learn if there were a king or any great cities," to his surprise, they returned saying that they had "Found interminable small villages and a numberless population, but nought of ruling authority" (Johnson 9). One is then lead to believe that the Europeans decided the natives were uncivilized, for they had no ruling authority over the land. Their lack of a formal government to their eyes, as well as the luck of the use of metals, only ... ... middle of paper ... ...nce with their ancestors, while on the contrary, those who have neglected the defense of their father land, go to Aygnan, by whom they say they say these unworthy ones are tormented"(De Lery 136). For the reasons stated above it is my belief that though the Native Americans were more primitive technologically, they were as civilized as the European explorers. The native's lack of gunpowder left them unable to compete with the incoming invaders (Europeans). Both groups were extremely vicious, European medicine of the time, was the scariest thing out there, but the cannibalism of the natives was equally vicious. As bloody as the wars between the native peoples were, they did not hold a candle to the numerous people who were persecuted because of their religion, or way of following that religion, but not once to my knowledge did a Catholic ever eat a Protestant.

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