CHRISTOPHER COLUMBUS:
Celebrated or Condemned
Christopher Columbus was an Italian navigator. He thought he could find a new trade route to Asia by sailing west across the Atlantic. Columbus asked the rulers of Spain to give him money and supplies. In return, he would bring back gold, spices and silks, claim new lands for Spain, and convert the people he found to Christianity. Because of the good and the bad he did, people today debate whether Columbus is a man to be celebrated or condemned.
Directions: Below are a series of statements about Columbus. Place a S by the statements that YOU believe were a success and an F by the statements YOU believe were failures. If you think a statement could go either way, just place an X on the line.
First Voyage
_S__ Columbus set out on a voyage that most people thought was foolish. His bravery and sheer will allowed him to claim new land for Spain, which would be made into colonies adding to Spain’s wealth.
__X_ Columbus thought he had traveled to the Indies(Spice Islands) in Asia. He didn’t. He wasn’t even close.
Second Voyage
__S_ On his second voyage, he discovered some islands including Jamaica. He set up the colony of Hispaniola.
__F_ Columbus’ crew were cruel to the natives who lived there. They enslaved them, and punished them with the loss of a limb or death if they did not collect enough gold. Columbus took 560 natives as slaves back to Spain.
Third Voyage
__S_ On his third voyage Columbus discovered South America. Most of South America became Spain’s largest colony.
__F_ He went back to Hispaniola and found the people who lived in the colony were short of food and ready to rebel. Columbus, Hispaniola’s governor, was arrested for mismanagement and sent back to Spain in chains.
Fourth Voyage
__S_ Columbus went on a fourth voyage to prove he had reached Asia. Columbus arrived in Panama. They found some gold there and set up a trading post.
__S_ Columbus’ voyage led to him and his crew shipwrecked for over a year. After his rescue, he returned to Spain, still believing he had found Asia.
Columbus Retired in Spain
__X_ Columbus was disappointed because he never did find the lucrative spices and silks that flowed through Asia. He returned to Spain in 1504. He died two years later in 1506, disappointed that he had not found a the route to the riches of the Far East.
__X_ Columbus was not the first man to discover America because the Vikings had been there before him. However, he did open up a new pathway from the Old World (Spain, Italy, etc) to the New (America) and changed life forever on both sides of the Atlantic Ocean.
Writing frame for: Should Columbus be celebrated or condemned
Introduction: In your first paragraph, you need to start by saying who Columbus was.
In this paragraph you need to write about something positive Columbus did. (Look for the letter S on the first page)
You could start like this:
In some ways Christopher Columbus was a success. For example, he...
In this paragraph you need to write about some negative things about Columbus. (Look for the Fs on the first page)
You could start like this:
In some ways Christopher Columbus was a failure. For example, he...
Conclusion: In your final paragraph, you should summarize your main points and give your own opinion on whether Christopher Columbus should be celebrated or condemned.
Overall, Christopher Columbus was a complex figure who achieved some successes but also had significant failures. On one hand, he displayed bravery and determination in claiming new lands for Spain and establishing colonies. He also contributed to the discovery and colonization of South America, which became Spain's largest colony. However, Columbus's treatment of the indigenous people he encountered was cruel and inhumane, with enslavement and punishment through violence. His mismanagement as governor of Hispaniola led to food shortages and rebellion, resulting in his arrest and return to Spain in chains. Additionally, Columbus's failure to find the lucrative spices and silks of Asia and his disappointment at not discovering America first also tarnish his legacy. In conclusion, while Columbus had some successes, his failures and his treatment of others warrant condemnation.