Christopher Columbus And Cortes Research Paper

The Differences of the New World Indian Encounters by the Spanish

Christopher Columbus and Hernan Cortes were two explorers that came into contact with the two native groups. Columbus was born in 1451 and grew up as an explorer and navigator completing many voyages. He reached Asia (the Indies) in 1492 discovering the New World. He believed that he was reaching India, but was mistaken when he analyzed the scale wrong and ended up on the opposite side of the globe. Cortes was born around 1845 and grew up as an explorer and Spanish conquistador. He soon claimed Mexico for Spain after the Aztec Empire being defeated. At the age of 19, he set sail and entered the New World. Within these two native groups, the religious views, culture, etc. that

When Columbus approached the Native Americans, he gave them caps to wear, beads to wrap around their neck, etc. The Natives were very grateful and soon became attached to Columbus. “Afterwards they came swimming to the boats, bringing parrots, balls of cotton thread, javelins, and many other things which they exchanged for articles we gave them.” (Columbus, Journal, par. 6) Cortes’ Natives religious views were human sacrifice and they believe in many Gods. After Cortes expressed his views on there only being one God and they should not sacrifice humans, many sided with him. “They fully believed that after so long an absence from their native land, they might have fallen into some errors.” (Cortes, Second Letter to Charles V, par. 13) Cortes and Columbus also encountered several cultures of the Natives. Cortes experienced their markets where they sold deerskin. Columbus noticed the cultures involving the Natives being completely naked, even the women. Also, the Natives that Columbus encountered were not technologically advanced. They did not have anything more than sticks. On the other hand, the Natives that Cortes encountered were technologically advanced. They had several markets and shops that even sold medicine, liquids, and

Both groups came to side and become attached to Cortes and Columbus. Their religious beliefs and cultures made them stand out for who they were and where they came from. Even though the Aztecs were more advanced in technologies and architectural structures, the Taino people built from their knowledge and were well off for their society. Cortes and Columbus both encountered these differences and similarities, but also made quite a few differences in each Native group. While Cortes managed to change the beliefs of the Aztecs, Columbus gave some prospective to the Taino’s that was even more proof that there was a God and only started to worship more. Also, Cortes and Columbus both helped explain in their writings what the houses, palaces, villages, and edifices looked like. Although the groups similarities blended in with one another, the differences tended to outweigh them. Cortes and Columbus both explained the culture, architectural structures, housing and much more when encountering these