The text we were given for this secession was a great choice, I've studied a lot about Columbus and that time period due to the different courses I have been in and yet I still found new information presented in a very easy to read manner. I know from experience that some history texts are very hard to read, whether due to the rambling nature, repetitive dialogue, or condescending voice of the author. As such I appreciate the choices of text for an introductory class.
That aside, now down to the topic of our posts.
The text paints an image of the events leading up to the first voyage of Columbus that both supports and debunks many fallacies and facts surrounding the first voyages to the Americas. The Spanish crown having been involved in internal affairs for so long were willing to hear the proposed expedition, and in spite of the doubts expressed by the advisers, they agreed to underwrite the voyage in April of 1492.[1] The authors remind us that the there is no mention of religious motivation in the documents drawing up the rights and quest of the first voyage, as written succinctly by Symcox and Sullivan, “This was to be a commercial enterprise. Building an empire and spreading the Gospel would come later.”[2]
Though they may not have written about such motivations in the documents pertaining to the voyage, the authors discuss the religious beliefs of both Columbus and The Queen Isabel. In Document three we read Bartolomé de las Casas own words on the devout nature of Columbus.[3] By the third voyage Columbus believed his quests were divine providence and wrote what was later called the Book of Prophecies[4] and had been designed to be presented to Fernando and Isabel. The manuscript went unfinished as Columbus set sail on his last voyage.
The second voyage was were we first see the trickles of spreading the gospel westward. On the ships carrying the colonists came a few priests, “The first Christian missionaries to the Americas.”[5] The Spanish crown also set out to receive the Pope’s blessing and support in their endeavours across the Atlantic Ocean. The Pope sanctioned their rights to the lands they might find, though upon the protestations of the Portuguese King, it was amended to the previous agreement of which had ended the Spanish/Portuguese war over the Canary Islands.[6]
The King and Queen of Spain ended up taking away the position of Governor which they had originally granted Columbus, he spent the last years of his life seeking the rights back for his son Diego’s benefit.[7] Contrary to popular belief the authors explain to us that Columbus was not a poor man upon his death, as some romanticized accounts would have their readers believe. He also did not die shunned by the court that had once hung on his every word, it was really down to politics. Fernando did not want to leave any opening for a family to get a good hold on the colonies in order to propel themselves in power.[8]
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[1] Geoffrey Symcox and Blair Sullivan, Christopher Columbus and the Enterprise of the Indies: A Brief History with Documents. (Boston: Bedford/St. Martins 2005), p13
[2] Geoffrey Symcox and Blair Sullivan, Christopher Columbus and the Enterprise of the Indies: A Brief History with Documents. (Boston: Bedford/St. Martins 2005), p13-14
[3] Bartolome De Las Casas, “On Columbus’s Appearance, Education and Character”. Ca. 1527-1563. (Nigel Griffin, ed and trans.,intro. Anthony Pagden, Las Casas on Columbus: Background and the Second and Fourth Voyages, Repertorium Columbianum 7 (Turnhout, Belgium: Brepols, 1999), 25-28.)Ed Sullivan, Blair, Symcox, Geoffrey, Christopher Columbus and the Enterprise of the Indies: A Brief History with Documents. (Boston: Bedford/St. Martins 2005), p 47-48
[4] Christopher Columbus to Fernando and Isabel, undated 1500-1502. (Roberto Rusconi, ed and Blair Sullivan, trans., The ‘Book of Prophesies’ Edited by Christopher Columbus, Repertorium Columbianum 3 (Berkeley: University of California Press, 1997), 67-77.) ed Geoffrey Symcox and Blair Sullivan, Christopher Columbus and the Enterprise of the Indies: A Brief History with Documents. (Boston: Bedford/St. Martins 2005), p51-55.
[5] Geoffrey Symcox and Blair Sullivan, Christopher Columbus and the Enterprise of the Indies: A Brief History with Documents. (Boston: Bedford/St. Martins 2005), p18
[6] Geoffrey Symcox and Blair Sullivan, Christopher Columbus and the Enterprise of the Indies: A Brief History with Documents. (Boston: Bedford/St. Martins 2005), p19
[7] Geoffrey Symcox and Blair Sullivan, Christopher Columbus and the Enterprise of the Indies: A Brief History with Documents. (Boston: Bedford/St. Martins 2005), p29
[8] Geoffrey Symcox and Blair Sullivan, Christopher Columbus and the Enterprise of the Indies: A Brief History with Documents. (Boston: Bedford/St. Martins 2005), p29-30
That aside, now down to the topic of our posts.
The text paints an image of the events leading up to the first voyage of Columbus that both supports and debunks many fallacies and facts surrounding the first voyages to the Americas. The Spanish crown having been involved in internal affairs for so long were willing to hear the proposed expedition, and in spite of the doubts expressed by the advisers, they agreed to underwrite the voyage in April of 1492.[1] The authors remind us that the there is no mention of religious motivation in the documents drawing up the rights and quest of the first voyage, as written succinctly by Symcox and Sullivan, “This was to be a commercial enterprise. Building an empire and spreading the Gospel would come later.”[2]
Though they may not have written about such motivations in the documents pertaining to the voyage, the authors discuss the religious beliefs of both Columbus and The Queen Isabel. In Document three we read Bartolomé de las Casas own words on the devout nature of Columbus.[3] By the third voyage Columbus believed his quests were divine providence and wrote what was later called the Book of Prophecies[4] and had been designed to be presented to Fernando and Isabel. The manuscript went unfinished as Columbus set sail on his last voyage.
The second voyage was were we first see the trickles of spreading the gospel westward. On the ships carrying the colonists came a few priests, “The first Christian missionaries to the Americas.”[5] The Spanish crown also set out to receive the Pope’s blessing and support in their endeavours across the Atlantic Ocean. The Pope sanctioned their rights to the lands they might find, though upon the protestations of the Portuguese King, it was amended to the previous agreement of which had ended the Spanish/Portuguese war over the Canary Islands.[6]
The King and Queen of Spain ended up taking away the position of Governor which they had originally granted Columbus, he spent the last years of his life seeking the rights back for his son Diego’s benefit.[7] Contrary to popular belief the authors explain to us that Columbus was not a poor man upon his death, as some romanticized accounts would have their readers believe. He also did not die shunned by the court that had once hung on his every word, it was really down to politics. Fernando did not want to leave any opening for a family to get a good hold on the colonies in order to propel themselves in power.[8]
________________
[1] Geoffrey Symcox and Blair Sullivan, Christopher Columbus and the Enterprise of the Indies: A Brief History with Documents. (Boston: Bedford/St. Martins 2005), p13
[2] Geoffrey Symcox and Blair Sullivan, Christopher Columbus and the Enterprise of the Indies: A Brief History with Documents. (Boston: Bedford/St. Martins 2005), p13-14
[3] Bartolome De Las Casas, “On Columbus’s Appearance, Education and Character”. Ca. 1527-1563. (Nigel Griffin, ed and trans.,intro. Anthony Pagden, Las Casas on Columbus: Background and the Second and Fourth Voyages, Repertorium Columbianum 7 (Turnhout, Belgium: Brepols, 1999), 25-28.)Ed Sullivan, Blair, Symcox, Geoffrey, Christopher Columbus and the Enterprise of the Indies: A Brief History with Documents. (Boston: Bedford/St. Martins 2005), p 47-48
[4] Christopher Columbus to Fernando and Isabel, undated 1500-1502. (Roberto Rusconi, ed and Blair Sullivan, trans., The ‘Book of Prophesies’ Edited by Christopher Columbus, Repertorium Columbianum 3 (Berkeley: University of California Press, 1997), 67-77.) ed Geoffrey Symcox and Blair Sullivan, Christopher Columbus and the Enterprise of the Indies: A Brief History with Documents. (Boston: Bedford/St. Martins 2005), p51-55.
[5] Geoffrey Symcox and Blair Sullivan, Christopher Columbus and the Enterprise of the Indies: A Brief History with Documents. (Boston: Bedford/St. Martins 2005), p18
[6] Geoffrey Symcox and Blair Sullivan, Christopher Columbus and the Enterprise of the Indies: A Brief History with Documents. (Boston: Bedford/St. Martins 2005), p19
[7] Geoffrey Symcox and Blair Sullivan, Christopher Columbus and the Enterprise of the Indies: A Brief History with Documents. (Boston: Bedford/St. Martins 2005), p29
[8] Geoffrey Symcox and Blair Sullivan, Christopher Columbus and the Enterprise of the Indies: A Brief History with Documents. (Boston: Bedford/St. Martins 2005), p29-30
