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Primary Sources Of Historical Context

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Recommended: The power of context analysis

In terms of primary sources in historical research, understanding the context is essential. Historical context essentially helps bridge the gap between you and the person who recorded the data. Different forms of context include understanding the language or dialect from that period, the purpose for recording the information and the political climate of that time; essentially anything that helps the reader to understand why the document was recorded and how to interpret its data. Many times, sources are not written with the intention of them being studied 500 years into the future, they are written more as personal letters or for posterities sake, so they cannot always be taken as bluntly factual. One of the more difficult facets of reading historical writings is the language. Even when the document is written in the reader’s native language, vernacular changes in time and can make it difficult to interpret what the writer means to get across. Sometimes, context within the document can help to interpret meaning behind unfamiliar language, such is the case for the use of the word “league (Reilly 2013)2” from the passage titled Calicut in our reading. In this case, it easy to interpret that a league is a unit of …show more content…

To stick with Christopher Columbus, understanding that not everybody was given equal rights at the time, helps to understand some of the callous language used when referring to Native Americans. The passage, “[…] in the first island which I found, I took by force some of them, in order that they might learn and give me information of that which there is in those parts, (Reilly 2013)2” displays his attitude toward their rights. In one swift sentence he proclaims that he kidnapped Native Americans and displays that from his perspective, he did them a service. The way in which he describes it is as if from his perspective, what he did is as innocent as catching a frog from a

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366 Words | 2 Pages

When Christopher Columbus sailed to the Americas in 1492 america was Discovered which he also took our gold and tried to take the native land. Document B is a letter that Columbus wrote when he discovered America “On the thirty-third day after leaving Cadiz I came into the Indian Sea, where I discovered many islands inhabited by numerous people. I took possession of all of them for our most fortunate King... no one making any resistance” this is part of the letter he wrote this means that when he discovered the Americas he found the natives and they all became friends article A backs this evidence up because they talk about how Columbus was happy to see Indians in the new land and how he was brave and cool but it wasn’t always like that.

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145 Words | 1 Pages

Although Christopher Columbus marked a turning point in history, he was not the hero he’s said to be. For one, he enslaved countless amounts of natives after his arrival in the “New World”. He believed they’d make good servants and put them to work finding gold for him. He also mutilated these enslaved people if they did not find enough gold for him. They were usually punished by the loss of a limb and, on occasion, by death.

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593 Words | 3 Pages

The Europeans invaded the Natives land, and then punished them. What was the thought process behind this? Instead of working together with the Natives, he completely took charge and forced them to do all of his work. Maybe if he treated the Natives with respect and honor, they would go ahead and willingly help Columbus out. Columbus did not even take the chance, and went right to torturing

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526 Words | 3 Pages

It also stated that Columbus could keep 10 percent of any “merchandise, whether pearls, precious stones, gold, silver, spices and other objects” that he “acquired” within the new territory. Columbus may indeed have had noble intentions when he sailed west, but his agreement with Spain suggests his intentions were far from selfless.” Clearly, Christopher Columbus was not a selfless hero. As shown above, a true hero inspires the community, makes an impact, and is selfless.

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583 Words | 3 Pages

Columbus obviously knew what he was doing was wrong because he states his intentions to make them slaves. Instead of creating a peaceful society with them he created a lifetime of torture for the Taino people. The fact that he jumped straight into slavery, shows that he didn't care for others well being. He could have easily made a friendly society with the tribe. Heros do the right thing and from this information, it clearly

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562 Words | 3 Pages

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

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877 Words | 4 Pages

On page 1 of “A young person’s history of the United States,” the text says: “They (the Indians) would make fine servants.” (excerpt from Christopher Columbus’ diary) This shows that, upon meeting the Native Americans, Columbus only had cruel things in mind, and he had no interest in making peace with them. In the 2nd paragraph of the website ‘historyisaweapon.com/defcon1/zinncol1.html,’ (in website list on newwestus.com) the text states: “As soon as I arrived in the Indies, on the first Island which I found, I took some of the natives by force in order that they might learn and might give me information of whatever there is in these parts.” (another excerpt from Christopher Columbus’ diary)

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154 Words | 1 Pages

Christopher Columbus has been viewed as both a positive historical hero and someone who was selfish and brought harm and misfortune to the Indians to benefit the white men. When flipping through a history textbook or sitting through a high school history course Columbus is viewed as a hero who embarked on many expeditions that helped others as well as brought people together with an abundance of goods. God, glory, gold, government, and geography motivated Columbus on his voyages. Columbus discovered land that he believed to be the Indies, which is what led him to identifying the natives as Indians. The people Columbus met were welcoming to Columbus and his men although they didn’t have the spices that were originally expected and needed.

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838 Words | 4 Pages

Columbus was the first messenger sent to the Americas from a Western civilization and he wrote, “As soon as I arrived in the Indies, on the first Island which I found, I took some of the natives by force in order that they might learn and might give me information of whatever there is in these parts,” (Zinn) which explains how Columbus wanted to take over America and he was willing to constrain the Natives just to do

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455 Words | 2 Pages

Howard Zinn takes the perspective that Christopher Columbus is not the hero that many people perceive him to be. He views him as a cruel and greedy leader who went to the Americas causes death in his wake for his unquenchable search for gold. Columbus took advantage of the Native Americans because at first they were "so naive and so free with their possessions"() by forcing them to collect gold for him else face the punishment of death. While Columbus may or may have not been as heartless as he is made out to be, he is not truly the one to blame for the harsh treatment of the natives on the Caribbean Islands. Almost every other European (at that time) that could have been in his position would have undoubtedly done the same things as Columbus.

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1273 Words | 6 Pages

Sometimes when there are too many bad it out weighs the good. Columbus could’ve found other ways to prove his point. He didn’t formulate an agreement that would work for his ‘scheme’ with the Tainos. Instead he just drove his way through not recognizing the people as the natural inhabitants. Some individuals say that the Tainos knew of other kidnapping amongst tribes but didn’t realize that tribal warfare was very limited.

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841 Words | 4 Pages

According to Loewen, few textbooks explained how Columbus was involved in the slavery and the exploitation of Indians. Another error that we have learned in schools about Columbus is that he was the first person to “discover” America. However, this is an error because people from other continents had already reached America before 1492. In fact, we forget

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781 Words | 4 Pages

One of the readings for week three talked about the complete destruction of the Native American race because of Christopher Columbus. Many believe Christopher Columbus was a hero, and in a way they are right. However, our history books do not talk about him killing off an entire race because of his own greed. Columbus took the Arawak Indians hostage because he believed that they would lead him to gold. When that did not turn out as planned, Columbus decided to go on a slave raid and bring five hundred Indians back Spain.

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1790 Words | 8 Pages

The Shakers were optimistic and uncompromising individuals whose achievement in the end turned into their demise. Shakers shaped abstinent and radical groups with a way of life that was entirely controlled through an arrangement of directions actualized by Elders. Under such thorough administration, Shaker’s people group advanced into exceptionally requested, gainful, and productive social orders. These qualities pulled in individuals to Shakerism, at the same time, once they got to be Shakers, a large number of them discovered their lives excessively organized and controlled, making it impossible to manage. This prompted the consequent decrease of Shakerism.

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503 Words | 3 Pages

Some say Christopher Columbus was a hero because he was the explorer that discovered America. In reality, Christopher Columbus had an incredibly negative impact on the world because he enslaved the Native Americans, didn’t help the kind Natives when they got infected by diseases that the Spaniards had brought to America, and killed off most of the Native American population. The tactics he chose to use were violent and destructive by the standards back then and now. First, Columbus treated the Native Americans like uncivilized people by enslaving them and forcing them to work for him although they greeted him and his crew peacefully. ” They could make fine servants,”(document 2) he wrote in his journal,”I took them by force.

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