Christopher Colombus Perception Versus Reality

5 Pages 1195 Words

In any average elementary school of Anywhere, U.S.A students learn about Christopher Columbus and the Indians at and early age. Normally, Columbus is portrayed as the “hero” that “sailed the ocean blue in 1492” to discovered America. Jointly, the Indians are often portrayed as feather head-dress-wearing, tee-pee dwelling Neanderthals who killed for personal gain. A close examination of both Columbus and the Indians would illustrate and entirely different view.
Native American culture varied tremendously in North America previous to European involvement. Prehistoric people migrated from Siberia across the Bering Straight to Alaska some 14,000 years before Columbus “discovered” America. These migrants spread across North America and formed thousands of different ethnic groups or tribes.
Each group was individually unique, but most were far more advanced than the early Europeans acknowledge. By the time of European encounter most tribes had developed methodological social structures. Some of these were quite similar to European customs, with a basis or distinct class with “kings” in rule. The majority of tribes had been in use of advance agricultural skills for thousands of years. The Plains Indians of the western states had developed “maps” in order to follow the buffalo with knowledge of astronomy. Few tribes were ruthlessly war like, although the occasional battle did occur much like in European culture. In fact, some Native American tribes greeted the Europeans with open arms and gift (Oats). Despite the true nature of the Indians, the Europeans had preconceived notions based on ignorance.
Columbus’ first experience with Indians was with the Arawak tribes or the Bahamas Islands. He landed there on the historical 1492 voyage of the Nina, Pinta, and Santa Maria with the notion that he could sail west to get east to Asia and the Indies. The King and Queen of Spain whom he promised gold financed ...