In the biography of Christopher Columbus, there are more blank spots than reliable facts. His name is surrounded by legends, he remains one of the most mysterious figures in history. Until recently, they wrote about him exclusively as a great discoverer, but recently more and more studies have appeared in which scientists offer to look at him from the other side. For example, the American historian Howard Zinn is sure: the appearance of European settlers in the New World marked the beginning of mass colonization, the slave trade and the extermination of indigenous peoples.
T. Puebla. The first landing of Christopher Columbus in the New World, 1862
Photo: gallerix.ru
Information about what Columbus was doing before the start of the great travels is not recorded. Some researchers are sure that the navigator carefully concealed some facts of his biography, since in the past he was a robber and slave trader. He actually sailed to the shores of West Africa, where the slave trade was actively pursued, but there is no accurate evidence of what he actually did there. There is also a version that the future discoverer was born into the family of a commoner who made a living from trade and weaving, and therefore did not like to mention his ignoble origin.
Arrival of Columbus to Hispaniola (Haiti) in 1492
Photo: atlasobscura.com
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The first European settlement in the New World (which Columbus called either India, then China, or Japan) was La Navidad ("Christmas") on the island of Haiti. In 1492 one of the ships of the Spanish squadron was wrecked, the team reached the coast, and Columbus decided to leave the Spaniards on the island, establishing the first settlement. Food supplies were scarce, but Columbus was confident that the sailors could easily subjugate the local population. When the navigator returned to the island a year later, he learned that the aborigines had killed all the settlers for their mistreatment.
D. Vanderlin. Columbus landing in America, 1847
Photo: megabook.ru
Columbus's most famous mistake was the belief that he had reached the shores of Asia. However, the navigator was mistaken in his calculations - Asia was at least 3 times farther than he expected, and a new continent arose on his way. The Normans had visited South America long before Columbus, but the colonization of the continent began with his expeditions. At the same time, in the Spanish colony in Haiti, he established harsh rules: any uprisings were brutally suppressed, while he did not spare either the local population or the Spanish settlers. The colonists even complained about Columbus to the Spanish king. The Royal Commissioner arrested the navigator and brought him to Spain in chains. However, King Ferdinand not only freed Columbus, but also financed his fourth expedition to the New World.
A great discoverer or a cruel colonizer?
Photo: kp.ru
Columbus did not just appreciate his merits - he demanded to appoint him viceroy of the new lands. King Ferdinand considered these ambitions excessive, although the navigator made many lucrative offers. So, for example, he proposed sending not free citizens, but criminals to settle new lands, which reduced the costs of their maintenance in prisons. However, this medal had a downside: criminals often revolted against the authorities of the settlements.
Routes of the expeditions of Christopher Columbus
Photo: yachtrus.com
Columbus's main argument was the assumption that Asia has a lot of gold, which Spain needed. And the navigator undertook to get it for the state treasury, in exchange for a tenth of the profit, the transfer to the management of open lands and the glory of the discoverer. He also promised to bring to Spain “as many slaves as you like”.
J. L. J. Ferris. Arrival of Columbus to America
Photo: xoax.net
In his account of the first expedition, he claimed to have reached the shores of Asia (in fact, it was Cuba) and an island off the coast of "China" (Haiti). He was unable to find rich gold deposits, but the local residents were taken to Spain as slaves: 500 of the strongest Arawak men and women were taken away, 200 of whom died on the way. The attitude towards the local residents who remained in the colony was extremely cruel: men died in the mines, and women died on plantations.
Columbus landing in America
Photo: kp.ru
The death of Columbus in 1506 was almost unnoticed - by that time his fame had faded. 20 years after his death, the exaltation of the merits of the navigator began. In America, to this day, the attitude towards him is ambiguous: Columbus Day is celebrated not only with parades, but also with massive protest demonstrations, during which the discoverer is called a colonizer and his portraits are carried with the inscription "killer".
Portrait of Christopher Columbus
Photo: people.su
The indigenous inhabitants of the occupied territories often not only became slaves, but also served as a means of entertainment for Europeans.
