Question 1: Overall, what is Columbus' perspective/ viewpoint in regards to the Native Americans? Provide at least 3 sentences. (3 points)
read the excerpt and answer the question
Excerpt from Columbus’s Letter to Ferdinand and Isabella, 1493
. Thirty-three days after my departure from Cadiz I reached the Indian Sea, where I discovered many islands, thickly peopled, of which I took possession without resistance in the name of our most illustrious Monarch, by public proclamation and with unfurled banners. . . . They are all, as I said before, without any sort of iron, and they do not have any weapons, which are unknown to them, and for with they are not adapted: not because of any bodily deformity, but because they are timid and full of terror. They carry, however, canes dried in the sun in place of weapons, upon whose roots they fix a wooded shaft, dried and sharpened to a point. But they never used them; for it has often happened, that when I sent two or three of my men to some of their villages to speak with the inhabitants, a crowd of Indians came forth; but when they saw our men approaching, they speedily took flight, parents abandoning children, and children their parents. This did not happen because we had injured or stolen from them. On the contrary I gave whatever I had, cloth and many other things without expecting anything in return; but they are by nature fearful and timid. But when they see that they are safe and all fear is banished, they are very naive and honest, and very giving of all they have. No one refuses the asker anything that he has; on the contrary they invite us to ask for it. They show the greatest affection towards all of us, exchanging valuable items for things of little value, content with the very least thing or nothing at all. But I forbade giving them items of little or no value . . . because it was plainly unjust; and I gave them many beautiful and pleasing things, which I brought with me, in order to win their affection, and that they might become Christians and love our King and Queen . . . . . . On my arrival, I had taken some Indians by force from the first island that I came to, in order that they might learn our language, and communicate to us what they knew about the country; the plan succeeded, and was a great advantage to us for in a short time, either by gestures and signs, or by words, we were able to understand each other. These men are still traveling with me, although they have been with us now a long time, they continue to entertain the idea that I have descended from heaven; and on our arrival at any new place they announced this, crying out immediately with a loud voice to the other Indians, “Come, come, you will see Men from Heaven,” after which women and men, children and adults, when they got rid of their fear, would crowd the roads to see us, some bringing food, others drink, with astonishing affection and kindness . . . Finally, to sum up in a few works the results and advantages of our journey, I promise to our most invincible Sovereigns, that if they give me some assistance, I will acquire for them as much gold as they need, a great quantity of spices, cotton, and mastic, and as many heathen slaves as their majesties may choose to demand. I also promise rhubarb and other sorts of drugs, which I believe the men I left behind in the fort have found already and will continue to find; for I stayed no longer than I had to because of winds, except while I was providing for the construction of a fort in the city of Navidad, and for making all things safe for the men I left there . . . Such are the events that I have briefly described. Farewell.