Compare And Contrast Christopher Columbus And Native Americans

The Spaniards, led by Christopher Columbus, played a major role in the devastation of the indigenous peoples that lived in the Americas before their encroachment. The Spaniards took advantage of the naivety of the natives, treated the people like the were mere objects, and nearly completed genocide without even being aware. With the dawn of the new age on the horizon, the once simpler times of the Native Americans and their people was drawing to an end. Before Columbus ever came to the Americas, the indigenous people that lived on the continent led simpler, more spiritual lives. The ‘Indians’ (as Christopher Columbus mistakenly nicknamed the people) that lived throughout North America had many similarities. Marc Shulman of History Central

Colombus, a proud and deplorable ambassador himself, set the example that would be followed by countless others. After Columbus went on his infamous first voyage over to the Americas, he wrote a glittering review of sorts about the spoils awaiting in the New Land. Gossip stirred of the lush landscapes and tantalizing promise of gold. A new era was being born; the time of exploration and discovery. Colombus said it himself, “now all, down to tailors, seek permission to make discoveries. It can be believed that they go to plunder.” (pg.37) Columbus’ first thought of the natives was more than underwhelming. He writes to the King and Queen, “People without number but nothing of importance, and of them all I had taken possession for their highnesses; no opposition was offered.” What he said was true. The natives were curious yet cautious of these new settlers banking their massive ships amongst the undomesticated beaches. In the beginning, they thought of them as god like creatures; here to enlighten and acknowledge them. The indians welcomed them through basic customs; bringing food, beads, amongst other treasures and trinkets to honor their new guests. But the Spaniards were greedy. The indians generosity never satisfied the Spaniards; their quench for more never satiated. The would eat the foods the indians would work hard for with no disregard or restraint. “A Christian would eat in one day what would feed three [Native

While beginning to colonize the new lands, Colombus and the Spaniards brought over a plethora of the motherlands riches to America. Native Americans could do nothing but watch as the settlers made an imitation-Europe in the middle of their world. Complete with fortresses, churches, horses, new foods and crops, even fruit trees. (pg.5) But what none at the time realized, was that they has also brought microscopic backpackers over from their motherland too. “Almost literally from 1492 (the first voyage), native peoples began to die in large numbers, if not from war than enslavement, brutal treatment, despair, or disease.” Native Americans had virtually no resistances to the invading microbes of disease; typhus,measles,smallpox, and other disastrous epidemics that the Spaniards had resistance built from. Near genocide of the Natives from pathogens nearly the did the job of clearing out the ‘savages’ for the Europeans without them lifting a finger. Though the disease of slavery being the most disgraceful and breaking pandemic of