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How Did Christopher Columbus The Indians And Human Progress

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Sharon Powley 11 September 2015 APUSH I Overarching Question: Columbus, the Indians, and Human Progress As a generous and hospitable people, the Arawaks welcomed the Europeans with open arms, willingly traded everything they possessed and never said no if Columbus and his men asked for something of theirs. It is this kindness and naivety that Columbus used as a weapon to take advantage of the native people, force them into labor, and murdered them by the thousands in order to enforce white-supremacy and obtain gold. Due to immensely different cultural values and attitudes, the near-opposite Europeans and Arawaks could not peacefully coexist for long without strained relationships and conflicts emerging. Coming from two distinct worlds and clashing lifestyles, the Europeans and Arawaks had varying values and attitudes. The Native Americans embraced the Europeans’ arrival, offering every item they requested and trading everything they owned since they were not materialistic people like Columbus and his men were. Despite being treated by the natives as if they were one of their own, Columbus saw the outstretched generosity as a sign of weakness and a way for him to manipulate and conquer the oblivious hosts. While the European’s were given a charitable welcome, as Howard Zinn stated, Columbus’ aim was clear- he wanted slaves and gold, so he did not retaliate the warm welcome given to him by the Native Americans. Columbus’ voyage to what he believed to be the Indies, was a commercial expedition as he sought wealth and did anything necessary to obtain …show more content…

Fueled by racism, a concept that had just began developing in Europe, Columbus saw him and his men as being superior to the Arawaks and immediately began harming, killing and using and selling them as

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