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The Americas Before Columbus, 2007.
An analysis of the book "1491: New Revelations of the Americas before Columbus" by Charles Mann.
838 words (approx. 3.4 pages), 1 source, MLA, £ 20.95
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Abstract
The paper reviews and discusses the book, "1491: New Revelations of the Americas before Columbus", by Charles Mann. The paper explains that the book reveals how the "New World" for the Europeans was not new at all. The paper relates Mann's revelation that archaeologists and anthropologists have verified that at least 100 million people lived in the Americas before Columbus arrived. The paper relates that Mann explores findings in three specific areas: Indian demography (Part I), Indian origins (Part II) and Indian ecology (Part III).
From the Paper
"The most interesting aspect about 1491 is that Mann compiles information from a large number of reputable sources, which has never been done before. Many anthropologists and archaeologists have written studies on the topics contained in the book, but they remained in academia and not for the layman. Mann not only assembles many of these scientific findings (he apologizes that it would be impossible to cover everything written), but writes about them in an understandable and appealing fashion. At times, he gets the readers muddled with too much technical information and names of tribes, but most often it is just an interesting read."
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Christopher Columbus And The Discovery Of America, 2002.
Argues that Columbus did not "discover" America since it was already inhabited by non-European human beings.
1,575 words (approx. 6.3 pages), 5 sources, £ 38.95
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Abstract
Argues tht Columus did not "discover" America since it was already inhabited by non-European human beings. Discusses Columbus' achievement as the first European to sail the Atlantic & bring European culture, religion & values to the land he discovered. His passion for discovery. His point of view that he and his men owned all they "discovered," & the existing inhabitants having no value as human beings. Contends that Columbus' discovery of America was a major element in the mythical, not actual, past of the nation.
From the Paper
"This study will argue that Christopher Columbus did not "discover" America, and that only by twisting reality can it be said that he or any European "discovered" a land which was already inhabited by other human beings. The basis of this twisting of reality is that the inhabitants of the "New World" were less than human beings, and therefore it cannot be said that the land was inhabited at all, but was instead populated by semi-humans, by near-animals, by non-Christian savages with no civilized qualities. In reality, however, the "Indians" Columbus "discovered" were indeed human beings with a subtle civilization and a fully developed religious belief system. Therefore, Columbus did not "discover America" because it had already been discovered and populated by human beings long before his arrival. He and his fellow arrogant and ethnocentric Europeans imagined ..."
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Environmental Changes in Post-Columbus America, 2004.
This paper discusses the interaction between peoples of the Eastern and Western hemispheres when Columbus discovered the New World and the bi-directional effect on each set of cultures and environmental conditions.
850 words (approx. 3.4 pages), 2 sources, MLA, £ 20.95
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Abstract
This paper explains that the Spaniards introduced the technical use of the wheel, domestic animals, including the horse, and many new plants, such as grains, fruits, vegetables, and weeds to the New World; in return, the Americas offered Europe many new foods like potatoes, tomatoes, peanuts, almost all beans, and tobacco. The author pointed out that the Spaniards intermarried with the Indian aristocracy, which had a genetic influence on the population of the Americas. The paper relates that the cultivation of rice and bananas, both introduced, led to marked deforestation, which has had a large-scale impact on the environment.
From the Paper
"The isolation of western populations prior to Columbus? arrival made the people of the Americas vulnerable to European diseases and oppressive cultural influences, like Christianity and slavery. The initial interest the Spaniards had in the New World was to spread Christianity and loot the resources. Shipping to and from Europe was expensive and so it was necessary to locate resources worth the travel. Thus, one of the most valuable assets proved to be the Indians themselves, and so started the Atlantic slave trade."
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Early Colonies of the Americas, 2006.
This paper examines the early establishment of the Spanish and English colonies in the Americas as quests for gold, God and glory.
2,435 words (approx. 9.7 pages), 3 sources, MLA, £ 51.95
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Abstract
This paper explains that, soon after word of the great wealth and abundance of potential converts, discovered by Christopher Columbus, spread across Europe, other nations expeditiously sent their own ships to the new world to establish settlements, extract the land's wealth and convert the natives. The author points out that, while the Spanish immediately laid claim to Central and South America and later ventured north into New Mexico, the English followed over a century later by establishing their first permanent settlement in Virginia. The paper stresses that each group of settlers had different reasons for choosing to colonize the Americas. The author concludes that these groups' expectations for their colonies, their relations and early encounters with the natives and their fundamental long-term goals catalyzed the experiences of the early colonists and ultimately shaped the structure of these early American settlements.
From the Paper
"By 1622, the settlers of the Chesapeake had established what they considered to be a peaceful and friendly dynamic with the Indians, living in a hierarchical, dominating peace with the natives. In the massacre of 1622, the Indians cunningly preyed upon the English settlers' sense of safety and their naivety to the Indians' true feelings regarding their relationship. Although the efforts of the Indians were largely successful, it was also the catalyst for their demise, as it brought about a valid excuse for the English to assault the natives and steal their lands which, it can be argued, had been their intention from the start."
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Columbus' True Discovery, 2002.
An argumentative paper about how Christopher Columbus did not really 'discover' America.
1,857 words (approx. 7.4 pages), 5 sources, MLA, £ 41.95
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Abstract
This study argues that Christopher Columbus did not "discover" America, and that only by twisting reality can it be said that he or any European "discovered" a land which was already inhabited by other human beings. The writer argues that the basis of this twisting of reality is that the inhabitants of the "New World" were less than human beings, and therefore it cannot be said that the land was inhabited at all, but was instead populated by semi-humans, by near-animals, by non-Christian savages with no civilized qualities. In reality, however, the "Indians" Columbus "discovered" were indeed human beings with a subtle civilization and a fully developed religious belief system. The writer continues his argument that Columbus did not "discover America" because it had already been discovered and populated by human beings long before his arrival.
From the Paper
"William M. Davidson and Henry Noble Sherwood argue in separate articles that Columbus was indeed a great man who discovered America. Davidson calls Columbus "The Great Navigator" and says that in Columbus "passion for discovery rose to the dignity of an inspiration" (Davidson 248). Sherwood writes that Columbus and his men found "naked savages" in the new land and that Columbus treated them well (Sherwood 253). It is crucial to the argument that Columbus "discovered America" that the context be established first in which the beings which inhabited that land are thoroughly dehumanized. The more that dehumanization process can be carried out, the more easily Columbus and his fellow Europeans and descendants can argue that there were no truly human beings when Columbus arrived and therefore it has to be said that he did indeed "discover" that land. The more one sees the natives as animals, as savages with no concept of God, the more one can argue that Columbus discovered the land on which they live. Accordingly, whether the Europeans brutalized the natives of the "New World" or treated them well though condescendingly, in their own minds and to one another the Europeans in general sought to portray the natives as less than human."
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Columbus: Greed and Racial Intolerance, 2007.
A look at Jan Carew's videotaped presentation "From Columbus to Castro - 500 Years of Race, Class and Culture Conflict in Our Americas".
958 words (approx. 3.8 pages), 4 sources, MLA, £ 23.95
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Abstract
The paper examines Jan Carew's videotaped presentation, "From Columbus to Castro - 500 Years of Race, Class and Culture Conflict in Our Americas" where he argues that Columbus' relentless drive for riches created a situation where innocent people were brutally exploited. The paper agrees with Carew that the legacy of European discovery was one of human greed, racial intolerance and bigotry. The paper concludes that the ancestors of American whites who sought to diminish others left behind the seeds for racial convolution and unrest today.
From the Paper
"To begin with, Mr. Carew rightly notes that Columbus did everything he did to aggrandize himself and the country of Spain - partly, it may be presumed, out of patriotism, but surely mostly out of a desire to satiate his own ambitions and to validate the support of powerful individuals in the upper reaches of Spanish society who had reposed their trust - and treasure - in him. In any case, it is known that Columbus was under great pressure to "deliver the goods" by returning to Spain with riches; to wit, his patrons - Queen Isabella and King Ferdinand - eagerly sought to spread Christianity to distant parts of the world, and the royal couple also were very much interested in finding a means by which Spain could compete with its bitter rival, Portugal, for spoils ("Christopher Columbus and the Spanish Empire," para.2)."
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Who Discovered America?, 2007.
This paper examines the achievements of Christopher Columbus and Amerigo Vespucci.
3,102 words (approx. 12.4 pages), 8 sources, MLA, £ 62.95
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Abstract
The paper discusses the background and history of Christopher Columbus and Amerigo Vespucci. The paper attempts to answer the question of why Columbus is so well know and Vespucci is often overlooked in the presentation of historical facts and in popular culture itself. The paper compares and contrasts these two men and explains why although both men achieved great things, Vespucci never gained the fame that Columbus achieved. The paper shows how their respective achievements differ in their ability to provide exciting source material for tales of bravery and adventure. The paper also dispels popular myths about Columbus.
Outline:
Introduction
Columbus and Vespucci Compared
Justification for Columbus Day?
Why Isn't Vespucci Famous?
Vespucci Also Discovered America
Vespucci's Claim to Discovering America Before Columbus
Honors Afforded Columbus and Vespucci in Life
The Knights of Columbus
Dispelling Myths About Columbus
Closing Thoughts
From the Paper
"Columbus started on his second voyage in 1493 The first land sighted, and on November 3 of that year, he reached and discovered the Caribbean Islands and Jamaica. Columbus started his third voyage in 1498, discovering the Island of Trinidad which was so named by him, but falsely believed by him to be a portion of Asia as before.
"As the years went by, Columbus eventually found himself placed under arrest and jailed for allegations of mistreatment of the natives of the lands he explored and discovered, although these charges were eventually dropped and Columbus freed (Order Of The Sons Of Italy In America). By 1502, the year of Columbus' last voyage, he was in poor physical an mental health, and as a result, the voyage suffered."
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Imports and Pre-Colonial America, 2004.
A look at the impact of imported/exported animals, plants, and diseases on Pre-Colonial America and the Old World.
774 words (approx. 3.1 pages), 3 sources, MLA, £ 18.95
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Abstract
This paper examines how, until Christopher Columbus found his way across the Atlantic Ocean in 1492, the various biological systems in the Old World and the New World were very different and how, since that time, the mix of European and American plants, animals, and diseases has brought about the explosive propagation of species from other lands. It debates whether such mixing and jumbling made it possible for the Americas to be colonized in the years following Columbus.
From the Paper
"These ?invaders,? first from Spain and then from other European countries, quickly learned that European crops did not thrive in the Americas, especially in the Caribbean Basin. But their livestock did extremely well, due in part to the lack of large carnivores and the vast quantity of fodder in the fields and meadows. Most of the imported animals prospered, especially the horses, cattle and pigs. In fact, these animals increased at such a rapid rate that many areas of the backcountry swarmed with feral livestock, meaning horses, cattle and pigs that lived as totally undomesticated in the wild."
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Christopher Columbus, 2006.
A review of Christopher Columbus, from his own personal perspective.
1,684 words (approx. 6.7 pages), 1 source, MLA, £ 37.95
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Abstract
This paper takes a look at the life of Christopher Columbus, as he himself saw it, and recorded it in his journal. In this conception, Columbus was a man who embarked upon his mission with the intention of exploiting the native populace of the Americas for pure profit, or worse, to carry the white, European man's burden by colonizing the native residents and rightful owners of the land.
From the Paper
"Upon his return from his first voyage Columbus stresses, not the mercantile reasons for the voyage, but the sense of personal investiture the King of Spain felt in the exploration, and his sorrow for the losses experienced by the crew: "On hearing the news, the king wept, showing great sorrow at our disaster." (92) To the king, Columbus portrays the native populace he meets with, not as brutal savages but almost as residents of a paradise before the Fall of Adam and Eve: "I assure your Highness there is in my opinion no better people nor no better land in the world...Both men and women go naked as their mothers bore them but your Highness must believe me when I say that their behavior towards one another is very good and their king keeps marvelous state." (92) The reference to the native king keeping a marvelous state reinforces the idea that these people are not savages, that these native have a government, and a form of government that a European monarch like Ferdinand would consider the most civilized--a government headed by a king kept in good state and treated with respect by his subjects."
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?Christopher Columbus, Mariner?, 2004.
A review of the book, ?Christopher Columbus, Mariner?, by Samuel Morison.
1,194 words (approx. 4.8 pages), 1 source, MLA, £ 27.95
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Abstract
This paper examines how Samuel Morison turns a personal life interest into a passion as he studies the life and journeys of Christopher Columbus in his book, ?Christopher Columbus, Mariner?. It shows that, while the modern view of Columbus has been rewritten and disfigured by multiculturalists into that of a greedy, slave-mongering, tyrannical despot, Christopher Columbus's journey and his exploits arose from his deep convictions, and these actions qualify him as one of the greatest explorers of all time.
From the Paper
"His lack of actual empirical knowledge of the length of the journey, and not knowing about the continent which lay between Columbus and the Far East is one more of the factors which make his journey such a triumph of spirit and dedication to his chosen task. After long negotiations, Columbus was financed for his voyage by Ferdinand and Isabella of Spain, and in the fall of 1492, three ships were prepared in the harbor Palos (p. 35). On August 3, 1492, the fleet left Palos heading westward, parallel of Gomera. The weather was good; ?like April in Andalusia,? as Columbus wrote in his diary."
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Christopher Columbus, 2004.
This paper discusses the controversy in the details surrounding the life of Christopher Columbus.
2,930 words (approx. 11.7 pages), 7 sources, MLA, £ 59.95
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Abstract
This paper explains that, since the documentation on Columbus?s voyages to the ?New World? are so prevalent in the form of diaries, journal entries, and other documents, there are not too many unresolved questions that need to be addressed in this area. The author points out that some of the questions involve whether Columbus was truly born in the Republic of Genoa and what the status of his father, Domenico, was in relation to which class he belonged. The paper relates another question regarding Columbus?s education at the University of Pavia for which there are no records.
From the Paper
"In 1479, Columbus married Dona Felipa Perestello, the daughter of Bartholomew Perestrello, the hereditary captain of Porto Santo. For a time, the young newlyweds lived in Lisbon with Felipa?s mother; later on, they settled in Porto Santo where their only child Diego was born. In 1482, the little family moved to Funchal in Madeira and while there Columbus probably made two voyages to Sao Jorge de Mina, the fortified trading post which the Portuguese crown had established on the Gold Coast."
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Christopher Columbus, 2005.
Examines the theory that explorer Christopher Columbus was a Jew.
1,493 words (approx. 6.0 pages), 7 sources, MLA, £ 34.95
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Abstract
The name, early life, and family background of Christopher Columbus has always been a mysterious subject, one that has interested scholars almost since he first returned from the New World. However, it is only since the late 1800s that historians have seriously begun to investigate the hypothesis that Columbus was Jewish. This paper shows that their arguments range from cryptic, pseudo-scientific "proofs" to complex behavior analysis flavored with historical insights. As with many burgeoning theories, the search for Columbus' Jewish origins provides a wide array of enthusiastic mumbo-jumbo and a limited amount of compelling material which cannot be ignored.
From the Paper
"On a related note, de Madariaga points out this strange contrast of Columbus' personality: he was not at all shy about his humble birth, yet he never discussed having come from Genoa, which may have portrayed him as a Spanish-born Jew whose family had fled the pogroms of the 1300s. Thus, at a time when "the Jewish race was passing in Spain through a crisis never equaled in history till the days of Nazi Germany," Columbus' reticence about his Jewish background "becomes immediately explicable.""
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Christopher Columbus.
This paper discusses the values and motives of Christopher Columbus during his four voyages to the "New World".
1,535 words (approx. 6.1 pages), 46 sources, MLA, £ 34.95
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Abstract
This paper explains that Columbus was not an "enlightened" man, but a mere practitioner of his own medieval mind. The author points out that Columbus's motives were (1) exploring the regions to the West so that a new passageway to the Pacific would be found, (2) an overwhelming religious zeal to convert the Caribbean-based "heathens" and "heretics," and (3) the need for human labor in the form of slavery. The paper concludes that the terrible and inhumane actions undertaken by Columbus and his men, all of whom were supposed to be "Christian" benefactors sent by the Spanish monarchy of Ferdinand and Isabella, set the pattern for cruelty and destruction, which continued for hundreds of years in the "New World" and the continent of North America and set a precedent, which would, unfortunately, be copied by other explorers.
From the Paper
"Evidently, Columbus was soon reprimanded for his exportation of slaves, due to the fact that many of them did not survive the trip across the Atlantic Ocean. Bartolome de Las Casas writes that one Spaniard had told him that a compass was not needed to find one's way back to Spain because the sea was covered with the bodies of dead Indians that were simply tossed overboard. Thus, it is clear that Columbus was directly responsible for the deaths of thousands of native Indians, a reflection of his indoctrinated Catholic values and morality."
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Christopher Columbus: Hero or Villain?, 2000.
While Columbus is traditionally hailed as the heroic discoverer of the New World, his actions reveal that this historic figure was less than honourable.
1,827 words (approx. 7.3 pages), 8 sources, MLA, £ 40.95
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This paper examines the actions of Christopher Columbus and reveals his underlying motivations. It is demonstrated that the demands he made were outrageous and he sailed only out of greed. He deceived his crew and manipulated the King and Queen of Castile in a desperate attempt for wealth and glory. It looks at how Columbus' incredible brutality toward the natives not only set a pattern for future contacts between Europeans and Indians but finally outraged the authorities in Spain to the point where he was brought home in chains.
From the Paper
"In the spring of 1486 Columbus brought his plan of a westward voyage to King Ferdinand and Queen Isabella of Castile. Instead of immediately approving his proposition, they appointed a special commission to carefully study his proposals. The commission took four years to make its report and during that time Columbus unsuccessfully took his plan to England and Portugal. When the Spanish commission gave its report, it too condemned his proposed expedition as impractical. Ferdinand and Isabella were too preoccupied with the conquest of the Muslim kingdom of Granada and had no time for voyages into the unknown. Despite all this, they hinted that it might be worth trying again in a few months."
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