¿Columbus Day? Yes, please. Practical guide to understanding the figure of Cristopher Columbus
María Saavedra Inaraja Universidad San Pablo CEU
With the support of: Author: María Saavedra Inaraja Universidad San Pablo CEU This activity has received a subsidy from the Secretaría General de Política de Defensa del Ministerio de Defensa. INDEX
COLUMBUS, THE MAN
A contradictory figure
Brief biographic profile The Portuguese stage In Castile A fortunate mistake Explorations continue The end of the Admiral of the Ocean Sea
A contrasting personality A well cultured man The Columbian messianism
THE KEY QUESTIONS
Was Columbus a supporter of slavery?
Was Columbus the instigator of the American genocide?
Did Columbus really “discover” America?
Can the Spanish legacy be summarized as a process of ethnocide?
Are there reasons to celebrate the 12th of October?
SOURCES AND BIBLIOGRAPHY 12
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46 6 As a historian, I have witnessed for some “Christopher Columbus’ legacy of extreme years now, with some trepidation, a kind violence, enslavement, and brutality of iconoclastic fury that has targeted is not in dispute. Nor is the suffering, the representations of Christopher destruction of cultures, and subjugation Columbus in American territory. Why of Los Angeles’ original indigenous people, are statues of Columbus being removed who were here thousands of years before from their location, covered or damaged anyone else”. with fury? It is therefore unquestionable -in O'Farrell's The statues erected to Christopher words- that Columbus' legacy in America Columbus throughout the world, boils down to extreme violence, slavery and especially in Italy, Spain, Latin brutality. The consequences of his arrival America and the United States, are in America range from the destruction intended to extol the historical contribution of Caribbean cultures to the disdain of the character. and oppression of the native peoples of California, specifically Los Angeles. As I It is not a matter of paying homage to the have pointed out on some occasions, for the person, but to his deeds. And the facts, Californian politician, Columbus' shadow beyond the figure of the honored, are those turns out to be very, very extensive. related to his contribution to the history of humanity. We would obviously The council member from Los Angeles, disagree to erect statues to someone who who has undertaken admirable campaigns has made inventions or contributions in to preserve the environment and other the field of science, technology, sports... campaigns in defense of indigenous if that person had contributed to acts peoples, in this case, is mistaken in his contrary to human rights. Is that the means. He seeks a confrontation between case with Columbus? Is the recognition two realities that are very far apart in time: of scientific contribution voided, because the Native American of today and the it is neutralized by the perversity of his arrival of Columbus in America more decisions? than 500 years ago.
We might think so, if we take into The argument used by the instigators of consideration the claims of certain political the anti-Columbus campaign does not leaders, such as Mitch O'Farrell, who go seem to be directed against the life and so far as to claim: actions of the navigator, of whom they
7 Is there a cause-and-effect logic between the life of This study seeks to Christopher Columbus and provide historical the marginalization of the data that will allow so-called "Native peoples" us to reach reasoned of the United States? and reasonable conclusions. This study seeks to provide historical data that will allow us to reach reasoned Therefore, this and reasonable conclusions. Therefore, work has little to this work has little to do with ideological do with ideological arguments or fluctuating sensibilities. arguments. History is what it is. It is up to us to know it and explain it, not to change it or interpret it by adapting it to changing provide hardly any data. The objective ideological interests that are not always of this hatred seems to be more directed well-intentioned. Our aim is for the reader towards the process carried out by Spain to reach his or her own conclusions, after and the Columbus journeys. It projects, on presenting the facts as they were. We Columbus’ figure, an attitude of radical, flee both from dark legends and sweetened violent and total rejection of Spain's actions myths, both equal enemies of true in America. history and distant from scientific rigor. And the intention -apparent at least- is more than commendable: to vindicate Answering the question that gives this the rights of contemporary indigenous report its title, about whether or not populations, marginalized over decades; to celebrate Columbus Day, may seem victims of persecution and plunder since simple, but it is not. the founding of the United States and even before, when the Thirteen British First of all, it is necessary to spot the Colonies constituted a small strip on the mistake into which some politicians or nowadays East Coast. propagandists have fallen: the obligation
¿Columbus Day? Yes, please. Practical guide to understanding the figure of Cristopher Columbus
8 to choose a single valid option Today, the statement that recognizes "the between two supposedly opposing and urgent need to respect and promote the incompatible parties. Was it necessary to rights of indigenous peoples affirmed choose between celebrating Columbus Day in treaties, agreements and other or Indigenous Peoples' Day? This is the path constructive arrangements with States” is that some try to take us down. found to be fully justified.
The sensible answer is to conclude that Moreover, in the same document, the everyone fits, that one should not be forced United Nations makes a statement: to choose one option over the exclusion of the other. “Convinced that control by indigenous peoples over developments affecting It's been years since the UN universally them and their lands, territories and instituted the International Day of the resources will enable them to maintain World's Indigenous Peoples, which and strengthen their institutions, cultures we celebrate every year on August 9. and traditions, and to promote their Furthermore, the 2007 UN Declaration development in accordance with their on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples aspirations and needs”. aims to apply the 1948 Declaration on Human Rights to the particularities of (Introduction to the Charter on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples. United Nations indigenous peoples around the world, General Assembly, 2007). who remain particularly vulnerable groups and frequent victims of exclusion and Based on the anthropological bases discrimination. indicated in the Introduction, the Charter details, in 46 articles, the determinations One of the causes to which the United that States must currently carry out Nations attributes this situation of to protect and encourage the full vulnerability is colonial history, which inclusion of these peoples without has led to them being "dispossessed of their forcing them to renounce their own lands, territories and resources, preventing identity and idiosyncrasies. them from exercising, in particular, their right to development in accordance with their own needs and interests".
¿Columbus Day? Yes, please. Practical guide to understanding the figure of Cristopher Columbus
9 In our opinion, when the symbols the history of America. In the case of associated with Spanish colonization, as those colonized by Spain, which in its embodied in the images of Christopher day -and over three centuries- were part Columbus, are attacked, a colossal error of the Hispanic Monarchy, just looking is made in trying to apply judgments at images of contemporary reality should issued with criteria and values of our be enough to realize that the mestizaje time -in a completely anachronistic denies any claim in defense of the manner- to events that took place more existence of a genocide. In the same than five hundred years ago. sense, we can consider the existence of numerous indigenous communities that The way in which indigenous rights are today preserve their languages of recognized and applied today should not pre-Hispanic origin. involve the demolition of symbols that remind us of what happened in the Perhaps a quick visual comparison of the 15th century. In fact, it seems like a crude populations of Latin America and the and superficial exercise that in no way United States was enough to refute the contributes to improving the situation fallacy of the indigenous genocide of the current native populations of the initiated by Christopher Columbus. American continent. But to avoid falling into the same mistakes of anachronism, superficiality and lack of Perhaps those who demolish statues or historical perspective that we detected in cover paintings need to ask themselves that false indigenism, we will provide about a much more recent past or, more some ideas and historical data on which practically, about the measures that should readers can make a correct and informed be taken today to protect the rights of decision about whether or not to celebrate these groups of people. Columbus Day.
To justify actions against the images of Columbus, it is said that it offends the descendants of the peoples to be able to contemplate symbols of their ancestor’s repression. That consideration does not resist any scientific argument about
¿Columbus Day? Yes, please. Practical guide to understanding the figure of Cristopher Columbus
10 ¿Columbus Day? Yes, please. Practical guide to understanding the figure of Cristopher Columbus
11 COLUMBUS, THE MAN
12 A contradictory figure
"Columbus is a disturbing character. After These two quotations, the first from one all, he performed the most remarkable deed of our contemporary Hispanists, and the in the history of mankind, yet multiple second from an American romantic who mysteries surround him". idealized so many aspects of Spanish life, serve to introduce an essential theme of (Hugh Thomas, prologue to Christopher Columbus, by Felipe Fernández Armesto, this report on Christopher Columbus: the 2004). enormous complexity of the character.
"Distinguished men are composed of qualities When statues of Christopher Columbus great and small. Much of their greatness are knocked down or damaged, the is born of the struggles they wage against interpretation of such behavior seems the imperfections of their nature, and their unequivocal: it is ominous to pay noblest actions are the result of the collision homage to the Genoese. of their virtues with their weaknesses. Columbus possessed a vast and inventive But the matter becomes much more ingenuity. The operations of his mind were complex when we ask ourselves: Which energetic but irregular, sometimes rising with Columbus do we want to make that irresistible force that characterizes the disappear from the public square? The intelligences of this order. His mind embraced man? The navigator? The colonizer and all sorts of knowledge about his occupations, merchant? The servant of the Castilian and though his knowledge may seem today monarchy? The Catholic who sought the to be quite limited, and some of his errors conversion of the inhabitants of America palpable, it is because his particular branch to Christianity? of science was hardly developed when he was alive. His own discoveries partly dispelled the And it is in trying to answer this question ignorance of that age, guided conjectures to when the need to clarify what seemed certainty, and vanished numerous errors that simple arises. Columbus was a man he himself had to fight". with multiple facets, both personal and professional. And many of those (Washington Irving, Vida y viajes de who seek to remove his trace are deeply Cristóbal Colón, Madrid 1832 p. 203).
13 unaware of almost all of those facets. Admiral, sought to generate a certain Or at least, they do not appear in the kind of hermeticism and enigmatic proliferation of arguments against the perception of the reality that surrounded figure of the navigator.There is talk of the story of the discoverer of America. Columbus as the initiator of a great That is why over the years so many genocide, which extends to the entire conflicting -and sometimes truly crazy- American continent as a result of the statements have been made about his arrival of three ships captained by him on life. One palpable manifestation is that, October 12th, 1492 to a small island in the despite the almost absolute certainty current archipelago of the Bahamas. of his Genoese origin, defenders of his Majorcan, Catalan, Galician and French During his lifetime, Christopher Columbus origins continue to appear... all these was a controversial figure,who generated statements based on clues that are the strong philias and phobias among result of interpretations of ambiguous those who surrounded him, and even texts authored by the navigator and his among many who did not get to know him son. personally. However, there are many assertions that He is possibly one of the main characters most specialists agree in pointing out in history that has been the subject of as true. Let’s address some of them, to multiple biographies and memoirs, avoid elaborating anachronistic judgments and even so, we cannot say that all the or judgments based on unproven questions about his life and personality speculations. have been answered. Columbus himself, and his son Hernando, biographer of the
¿Columbus Day? Yes, please. Practical guide to understanding the figure of Cristopher Columbus
14 Brief biographic profile
Cristoforo Colombo, who adapted his wife, Susana Fontanarosso, he was the name and surname to Spanish, was father of five children. For Columbus, born near Genoa around 1451, into family was one of the fundamental a family with notable lineage that had pillars of his life, with two of his brothers, come down (Varela, 22). His father, Bartolomé and Diego, who participated Domenico Colombo, was in the textile in the Indian companies, playing a manufacturing business and, with his special role.
The Portuguese stage
Columbus sailed the Mediterranean while that would be an alternative to the collaborating in the family business. By Mediterranean and the land route, a series of different events, he ended up both of which were impossible to travel in Portuguese lands. There he married through, due to Islamic presence. In this Felipa Moniz de Perestrello, daughter of way, the Portuguese expeditions would the governor of the small island of Porto advance along the African coast, looking Santo, in the archipelago of Madeira. This for the end of the continent that, if fact is fundamental for following the existed, would communicate them with Columbian trajectory. the Indian Ocean and finally take them to Asia. Portugal was then the leader in Atlantic navigation. The Portuguese sailors In this process, some Portuguese factories explored different routes, from the had been installed on the African coast, peninsula and the archipelagos they among which the Fort of San Jorge de la had been conquering for the Portuguese Mina, founded in 1482 by John II, main crown. At that time, the navigation enclave for the trade of African products priority was to find a passage to Asia (mainly gold) to Portugal, should be and the islands of the spice industry highlighted.
¿Columbus Day? Yes, please. Practical guide to understanding the figure of Cristopher Columbus
15 It is within this framework that Columbus conceived his project: he was trying to find an alternative route to reach Asia Columbus, with by sailing westward. That would be the striking insistence, project to be presented to King John II of intended to present Portugal, which after being reviewed by a his project to any board of experts, would be rejected. king who was willing Why did the Portuguese technicians to sponsor it. His reject Columbus' project? They agreed homeland was the with him that the earth was round, sea; his patron, something that was known from the whoever accepted his classical world. And theoretically it was an alternative route to the African offer. one to reach the desired Cathay (China), which would be preceded by the Cipango archipelago (Japan).
On the other hand, remains of vegetation Why then halt this option? The first typical to non-European locations had answer is that, although the project made accidentally reached the coasts of Madeira sense, Columbus' calculations, based in and the British Isles. Some sailors even part on those of the Italian cosmographer spoke of having crossed the Atlantic Paolo del Pozzo Toscanelli, were seriously in strange boats captained by men who flawed: speaking in today's terms, the were physically comparable to an idea of distance between Europe and Asia, the Asians. We know that Marco Polo's according to Columbus, would be 30,000 exaggerated descriptions had flooded the kilometers, some 10,000 less than there Europeans' fantasies of magical places really is. This miscalculation was detected dominated by the Great Khan, where gold, in the Portuguese court. silk and exotic animals inhabited lands where the palaces and luxury of their What neither Columbus nor the experts rulers multiplied. knew was that, between Europe and Asia, there was an entire continental
¿Columbus Day? Yes, please. Practical guide to understanding the figure of Cristopher Columbus
16 mass. There were legends about the the south, through Africa- would be Antillean, an island that could serve as exclusively Portuguese. a stopover on the way, but these were only far-fetched ideas that in no case Far from being discouraged, Columbus, allowed a glimpse into the success of the with striking insistence, intended to expedition proposed by the Genoese. In present his project to any king who addition, there was another problem: was willing to sponsor it. He travels to after the war of succession in Castile, in Castile, a widower with his son Diego, which Portugal had supported Princess while his brother Bartolomé goes to Joanna against Isabella, both kingdoms England to begin negotiations there. This signed a series of treaties (Alcaçovas- has nothing to do with alleged loyalties Toledo) specifying the navigation or disloyalties. It was usual for sailors to rights of both crowns. Portugal did not work for anyone who wanted to pay for want to risk colliding with Castile, when their services. His homeland was the in that treaty it had been agreed that the sea; his patron, whoever accepted his navigation "ayuso contra Guinea" -towards offer.
In Castile
When Columbus arrived in Castile, in is a priority that does not allow the Crown's 1485, Queen Isabella was determined, in efforts to be distracted by other campaigns. full harmony with her husband, Ferdinand of Aragon, to finish the reconquest and But Columbus is tenacious, and finally, expel the Muslims from the Nasrid supported by the Franciscans of the Rábida kingdom of Granada. The Genoese made Monastery and by officials of the Crown, arrangements at Court, sought support he manages to get the Catholic Kings to from well-connected people, and managed approve the expedition shortly after the fall to meet with the kings. The result was the of Granada, its conditions being signed in same as in Portugal. The project was not the Capitulations of Santa Fe, on April viable. Furthermore, the Granada objective 17, 1492.
¿Columbus Day? Yes, please. Practical guide to understanding the figure of Cristopher Columbus
17 Many pages have been written about the in his arms after entrusting him with his certainty with which Columbus defended navigation charts, to the insistence of the his project, and the causes that prompted nobles who saw a possible business at the Queen to trust him and the advice the risk of losing little if the expedition of his experts. From the hypothesis of failed. There is also talk of a special a "proto-discovery", according to which intuition of the Queen, who perceived in the Columbus received the data for the return security and aplomb of Columbus, a secret voyage from a pilot who had just arrived that the Genoese was hiding and that implied from the Caribbean (believing that he more knowledge than he claimed to have. came from Asia) and who practically died
A fortunate mistake
Whatever the cause, the truth is that After several weeks of uncertain on August 3rd, 1492, an expedition navigation, attempted riots, and left the Port of Palos towards the considerable distrust of the crews in unknown. Three ships (the Santa María front of this foreign captain, in the and two caravels, the Pinta and the Niña) early morning of October 11th to 12th entered the Atlantic, with more fear and they finally notice land ahead. They doubts than certainties, but also with a approach the island that the natives called characteristic of the sailors of that time: Guanahaní, where they find friendly people the risk could turn into failure, but it who welcome them very well. Columbus could also generate a radical and favorable baptizes the island of the current Bahamas change in their lives. This was the spirit with the name of San Salvador. For the of the men of the sea. After a stopover moment, no gold, spices or silk...they would in the Canary Islands, Columbus decided have to keep looking, but the danger of with an impressive certainty the course to dying without reaching land had already follow, taking advantage of the currents been avoided. produced by the trade winds.
¿Columbus Day? Yes, please. Practical guide to understanding the figure of Cristopher Columbus
18 It is a matter of time before the nearest the rest return to the peninsula in the two islands and Asia are reached. Navigation surviving caravels. The situation of those continues through what we know today as who remain does not seem risky, and the Caribbean, then arriving at the island Columbus thus guarantees the safety of a of Cuba, which Columbus named Juana return expedition sent from Castile. in honor of the Castilian heiress, and then to Santo Domingo, baptized as Since little has been found so far to justify Hispaniola. They are well greeted by the the venture, Columbus decides that the natives there, who bear them various gifts. kings and his court must be convinced of A strange barter then begins between the the importance of the discovery. And Spaniards and the natives, who hand out to make sure, he decides to take with him small gold objects, among other things, the little gold they have obtained, some seeing the interest that this metal generates among the newcomers. We know that, on the other hand, Columbus realizes that the trinkets from Spain were very well valued by the natives (new items always attract), and so they give them On August 3rd, 1492, necklaces made of cheap beads, shoes, cloth an expedition left the hats... the beginning of the relationship between the Spanish and the Antilleans Port of Palos towards could not have started better. the unknown. The risk could turn into failure, On Christmas Eve of 1492, the Santa Maria, but it could also ran aground on the coast of Hispaniola because of an oversight by a sailor (it generate a radical seems he was a cabin boy) who was on and favorable change duty. Columbus sees in this accident a in their lives. providential sign, to raise with the remains This was the spirit of of the ship, the first Spanish settlement the men of the sea. in those lands. Fort Navidad is built, where 39 Spaniards would remain while
¿Columbus Day? Yes, please. Practical guide to understanding the figure of Cristopher Columbus
19 exotic birds...and above all, promises; the on this first trip he embarked ten natives illusion of a world full of possibilities (according to him, those who wanted to to improve the living conditions of board the ships voluntarily), to show the those who travel, and to contribute to newly discovered population, and to teach heal the battered economy of the Crown them Spanish, baptize them and that in the with a new commercial route. In addition, future, they could serve as interpreters.
Explorations continue
Back in Spain in 1493, the kings greet people would go, among them, a large Columbus in Barcelona, congratulate him number of farmers and their wives and on the outcome of the expedition, name also clergymen, changing the objective him Viceroy, Admiral, Governor and Judge of the trip with respect to the first one: as had been promised in the Capitulations it is no longer just a matter of discovery, of Santa Fe. Preparations for a second but of settling and evangelization. When trip begin. they arrive at Hispaniola, they find an unfortunate spectacle: Fort Navidad has This time, along with Columbus, a man been razed to the ground and all the trusted by the kings would be at the Spaniards had died at the hands of head of the endeavor: Juan Rodriguez natives. de Fonseca. Contrary to what happened in the first trip, for which it had been difficult Meanwhile, problems arise in the to recruit a crew, the good news given by peninsula. The Portuguese king claims expeditionaries -somewhat exaggerated- for himself the islands discovered generate a strong enthusiasm to by Columbus. He appeals to the papal embark on this new adventure, the arbitration, which grants the islands and second Columbian trip (1493-1496). This the mainland to be discovered (and not time, seventeen ships would leave in the hands of a Christian prince) to the Cadiz, and it would no longer only be Catholic Kings, with the express condition seafarers who embark. About 1500 that they promote the evangelization of
¿Columbus Day? Yes, please. Practical guide to understanding the figure of Cristopher Columbus
20 their inhabitants. From the Alexandrine The conqueror of that New World did Bulls that provide these instructions, not recognize such a discovery. Hocked the Treaty of Tordesillas is signed in on the content of the agreement he had 1494. Contrary to what has been said reached with the kings, Columbus always sometimes, a division of lands between defended having built the route to Asia Spain and Portugal wasn’t included in it. from the west. Two more journeys would The Treaty established the limits of be made by the Genoese in the name of navigation, exploration and conquest Castile. that corresponded to both kingdoms in the Atlantic. The partition was established by a The third journey (1498-1500) took him line that divided the terrestrial globe in two to the coast of Venezuela, where he halves, and that was located "three hundred was amazed at the Orinoco deltas. and seventy leagues from the Azores and The Europeans were not prepared to Cape Verde Islands". To the east of this contemplate that spectacle of nature, in line, navigation would be Portuguese, which the fresh water met the sea in a and to the west, it would be Spanish. The strong current. This fact would give them conquest, colonization and evangelization of the certainty of having reached a great the New World would begin. continental mass.
The end of the Admiral of the Ocean Sea
Since his arrival in Castile in 1485, confrontations between the Spaniards Columbus made friends and enemies at themselves... are the realities that court. Moreover, contrary to what he accompanied the new lives of those who announced on his first journey, it didn’t had crossed the Atlantic. Columbus and seem that in the new lands it was possible his brother Bartolomé were revealed as to findthat desired change of life that terrible rulers, to the point that some of would fill the pockets of the colonists. the duties awarded to him were withdrawn. Hunger, attacks by the natives, illnesses, Discouragement was by then rampant, and
¿Columbus Day? Yes, please. Practical guide to understanding the figure of Cristopher Columbus
21 the third expedition fails to gather much support, making it necessary to recruit prisoners who, in this way, at the service of the crown, would shorten their sentences. If on the first trip, four were redeemed, the number would then increase, with ten imprisoned by murder having their sentences shortened.
A last trip made by Columbus (1502-1504) takes him to the coasts of Honduras. In the Admiral's mind, the need to sail to Asia still weighs heavily, and he is determined to find the passage that would open that route for him. But he doesn't find it, and after touching ground at Jamaica he ends up returning to Spain, without going through Hispaniola, since it had been forbidden by the kings as a result of his unfavorable management.
He returns to Sanlúcar in November 1504. A few days later, Queen Isabella, his great protector, died and he, sick and discouraged (although not poor, as some assure), died in Valladolid on May 20, 1506.
¿Columbus Day? Yes, please. Practical guide to understanding the figure of Cristopher Columbus
22 A contrasting personality
Knowing the fundamental facts of the Through his writings, as well as those of his life of Christopher Columbus in what son Hernando, and the work of Bartolomé refers to America, we will approach his de las Casas, we can get a little closer to psychological profile, to try to better his complex personality. The Dominican understand what moved the sailor who Las Casas, known by his zeal in the defense refused to recognize that the failure of his of the indigenous populations, had in his project was the first great triumph of the hands several of Columbus' writings, which Modern Age, from the scientific point of he inserts in an almost literal way in his view. As it has been pointed out, Columbus great work, History of the Indies. showed himself tremendously enigmatic all his life, and the writings about him confirm it, as far as his personal life is concerned.
A well cultured man
A relevant aspect of the discoverer is one more contemporary readings, which led him that refers to his intellectual preparation. to develop his project, such as the Historia Columbus did not attend University, his Rerum by Aeneas Silvio Piccolomini (future school was life and his readings, which made Pius II) or the Imago Mundi, by French him a well cultured man for his time. He Cardinal Pierre D'Ailly. As it has been was especially interested in treatises on pointed out, the letter that Paolo del navigation, astronomy and cartography. Pozzo Toscanelli wrote to the King of He read and commented Marco Polo's work; Portugal enclosing his image of the earth is he knew Ptolemy's Geography, had read fundamental for his project, and it made him some classics such as Pliny's Natural History, conceive the oceanic space between Europe had a deep knowledge of the Bible, and and Asia much smaller than it really is. works of Fathers of the Church. In addition,
¿Columbus Day? Yes, please. Practical guide to understanding the figure of Cristopher Columbus
23 On the other hand, his stays in Portugal and he made of it, we can recall an episode Seville familiarized him with the discoveries of his relationship with the natives and cartographic techniques of the time, in Jamaica, during his last trip. He was making him a well-known cartographer. travelling along the coast, when the natives who provided them with food rebelled. Then he used a stratagem: he announced that the sky would be cloudy as a sign of punishment for their ungenerous attitude; an eclipse occurred, and the attitude of the natives changed radically. He was an Columbus knew about this eclipse thanks extraordinarily to Abraham Zacuto's perpetual almanac that he always carried with him. This trick providentialist shows to what extent he was interested in man, capable of astronomical science, besides being a sign transforming a defeat of the Genoese's wisdom. or misfortune into a An interesting chapter is the biblical divine manifestation influence on his life. He knew many on his actions in passages of Scripture, which in his writings, America. began to have a growing presence. He was an extraordinarily providentialist man, capable of transforming a defeat or misfortune into a divine manifestation on his actions in America. After the destruction of the Santa Maria, in his first His readings were partly defining of trip, he concludes that it is a divine sign his personality for they provided him, for the construction of a first settlement, as has been pointed out, with a fairly indicating that God wants the presence complete level of culture, at least in the of Spaniards in those lands. subjects that interested him. As an example of his astronomical knowledge and the use
¿Columbus Day? Yes, please. Practical guide to understanding the figure of Cristopher Columbus
24 The Columbian messianism
This providentialist sense leads him or when he mistreats his men in word and to adapt his own life to a growing deed. messianism. Even more so, in his writings he describes himself as a man destined to On the other hand, a quality that stood fulfill a mission from the Almighty. out in him was his tenacity. He had an immense capacity to overcome On the other hand, in the face of illness (he difficulties. always had poor health), difficulties arising from nature or the mistreatment of men, This was amply demonstrated in his efforts he tends to compare himself to biblical to convince people of the possibilities of figures, such as Job or Jeremiah. his project in Portugal and Castile, and we know that he would have tried to do so in As for the character of the Genoese, we England and France. enter another world of paradoxes. We know that he made enemies easier than His perseverance in each of his ventures he made friends. But at the same time, is explained by an iron will, especially in we have testimonies about his loquacity the four trips he made to the Indies. He when he wanted to please someone, a also had the necessary sagacity to persuade quality that he put into practice especially and convince those who were beginning before the kings, who must have enjoyed to lose faith in him, sometimes making up listening to the story of his adventures. data that gave false hope to those close And at the same time, we see an arrogant to him. But the key to his success was and haughty Columbus at times, like that he ended up achieving what few when he is about to get the kings fed up believed in. with his excessive demands for privileges,
¿Columbus Day? Yes, please. Practical guide to understanding the figure of Cristopher Columbus
25 THE KEY QUESTIONS
26 As we pointed out at the beginning, we are What is really being questioned is dealing with a man of many different the legacy of Columbus and the facets, and throughout history, only consequences that his Atlantic some of the multiple characteristics that endeavors brought to the development make the Genoese navigator unique have of humanity. been taken into consideration or have been excessively emphasized. Statues were erected to the navigator; but it is images of the "genocide” that are Cultured, a lover of the sea, idealistic attacked. This is the question. What is and at the same time enterprising, intended to bring down, is not the discovery visionary, with a changing character, a and its consequences from the scientific and lover and undying protector of his family, technical point of view (that nobody would sometimes an irreconcilable enemy of those question), but what came after. who wanted to oppose his theories or stop his projects. To which of these facets were In the following paragraphs, we will the statues raised, and which facets do try to answer the questions that seem they try to repudiate when seeking that his appropriate in order to make a solid and image disappears from public space? honest judgment about the celebration of Columbus Day. We have tried to I think this is not the right question. It does address the questions of those who doubt not address the navigator, the explorer if there is something to celebrate every of new worlds, the first one who arrived in October 12th, or if the figure of the Genoese America from Europe and then returned to is totally repugnant and unworthy of tell all about it. commemorative acts.
27 Was Columbus a supporter of slavery?
We could answer that yes, he was, like the Columbus, a man of his time, takes for vast majority of people in the “Old” and granted that one of the possible benefits “New World”, before and after 1492. Let us of every conquest was the possibility of remember that slavery in Western society obtaining slaves for sale. This was being did not disappear until the nineteenth done with Africans, and there was no century, and in the American continent it reason to change this practice with the was an equally common practice. newly discovered lands. And it is precisely the lack of material wealth that prompted Europe had evolved from its classical the Admiral to send indigenous people that past, where Greece and Rome supported could be sold as slaves, to the peninsula. In their economy on a slave-owning society, Castile, this practice was not strange, just where the slave was an object, a property, as it was normal in other European without legal entity. Christianity makes kingdoms (and also Asian, African... and this situation evolve with a new even in the recently discovered New World). anthropological vision, which takes an important step, as it considers that the The doctrines of “just war”, which justified baptized are all sons of God, therefore equal the enslavement of prisoners of war, were and should not be enslaved. It would still as common in Europe as in American take centuries for new approaches -largely territories, to a greater extent in those driven by Christianity as well- to come to a that were constituted as large states, deep understanding that no human being such as that of the Aztec confederation. has a right to the property of another human being. And yet, it is precisely Columbus’s discovery, the fact that will generate a In the transition from the Middle Ages to the turning point in this usual practice. Modern Age, which is when the discovery We notice it when we analyze the facts takes place, man’s still imperfect related to the dispositions of Queen Isabella perception of mankind continues to concerning this reality. On his second evolve. voyage, Columbus sent ships with cargoes
¿Columbus Day? Yes, please. Practical guide to understanding the figure of Cristopher Columbus
28 of human beings for sale. Queen Isabella, to Hispaniola in 1500 to investigate in a letter to Juan Rodriguez de Fonseca the situation on the island, as news of dated 1495, said: "the Indians who come in disorders and mismanagement by the the caravels seem to us that they could be Columbus brothers are known. In that sold better in Andalusia than elsewhere" and same expedition, the queen orders her so "you must sell them as you see fit". confessor, Francisco Jiménez de Cisneros, to make arrangements so that those Such an attitude responded to the laws of indigenous people who were brought war regarding enemies and rebels, and by Columbus as slaves returned to their the origin of these laws are to be found land. Thus, in the company of a group of in medieval tradition. But soon doubts Franciscans, it is 14 Native Americans, arose, and that is when a radical turn eleven men and three women who travel in happened. Better advised, the queen this expedition. decides to prudently wait and four days later, she writes the following to the same Therefore, after a few years of hesitation addressee: about bringing Indians to sell them as slaves, the queen's decision would be forceful. "... because we would like to be informed Where Columbus saw a traditional business, about lawyers, theologians and canonists the queen declared the natives free if with a good conscience these can be sold. subjects and potential baptized Indians. And this cannot be done until we see the The first measures were somewhat timid letters that the Admiral writes to us, to and the prohibition of slavery was easily know why he sends them here as captives". violated.
The sale is stopped. Years later, the queen In successive royal decrees, the queen herself, after consultations and forming limited the practice of slavery in her own opinion on the matter, orders the Indies. In this way, authorizing the that the slaves already sold shall be freed, slavery of certain groups of Indians: the and that those who are still alive should be anthropophagous (1503), those who had shipped again to the Indies. An expedition been obtained in just war (1504), or those was being organized with an investigating who were already slaves of other people judge, Francisco de Bobadilla, who goes (this provision is ordered in 1506, after the
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29 death of the queen). We would have to wait It can be concluded that, if we remove for the reign of her grandson, Charles I, for all the images of Christopher Columbus slavery to be legally eradicated from because he was a supporter of slavery, we Spanish territories. practically should not leave standing any monument to sailors, politicians, Thus, we can conclude that slavery was writers or anyone who promoted or considered as a possibility in the Caribbean, tolerated a society with slaves. We coinciding with the general practices of the could start by tearing down the statues of time. However, the commitment acquired the last Aztec emperor, Cuauhtemoc, and after the Alexandrian Bulls to evangelize the those of any of the pre-Civil War American natives obliged legislation to be passed, presidents, since they either encouraged with some exceptions, in the defense slavery or lived with it without any scruples. and freedom of Native Americans. Laws are one thing and their enforcement is another. We could consider Spanish legislation then, using contemporary terms, as one that clearly guaranteed the rights of the natives.
Was Columbus the instigator of the American genocide?
Let's remember the words of O'Farrell or the character of the navigator, and how ominous statement of the president of the University it would be for future generations if those of Notre Dame, when he covered some murals were still in public view. murals of the 19th century representing Columbus in different moments of his These are just two examples of what is life. In some of the images there were happening in different parts of the natives portrayed with typical stereotypes United States. Sometimes the statue is not of the time they were painted. In this case, torn down, but it may appear damaged, like it is argued that they show the tyrannical the morning when the statue of Columbus
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30 in Central Park appeared with its hands justification for the Spanish presence in the stained with red paint, simulating a discovered territories would be lost. vision of a discoverer with blood on his hands. Similar to the latest statue teardowns This is why we believe that Columbus we've also witnessed in other States. was not a genocide, or the origin of a genocide ... because there was no such The first question we must ask ourselves event, at least not in Spanish America. to try to find out the cause of these actions is: did genocide happen in Spanish Wasn’t the native population America? The Royal Spanish Academy of drastically reduced with the the Language defines the term genocide: arrival of the Spanish?
"Systematic extermination or elimination This statement is completely true, although of a human group because of race, we cannot provide specific figures, as ethnicity, religion, politics or nationality”. demographers cannot agree on the number of pre-Hispanic population, and therefore This is not at all fitting with the cannot currently have exact amounts of objectives of colonizers in the Indies. the decline of that population. But the First, we must understand that one of the data that we do have allows us to estimate appeals of America was precisely the labor that the Caribbean population decreased by force needed to work the new lands that 90% in the first years of the conquest. were discovered. As we have seen before, that labor force was free; and as such, it This reality has been studied by specialists was not in the interest of the monarchy in history of medicine, and it seems clear to exterminate the population of the New that the first reason for this massive World. death of Antilleans was an outbreak of influenza. We cannot be surprised by the Another argument, of greater significance in figure, if we remember the terrible epidemic my opinion, is that the justification with of plague that in the 14th century reduced which Spain maintained its presence in the European population by half. the Indies was precisely the obligation to evangelize its inhabitants. It did not Therefore, what killed the natives of the make sense, therefore, to kill them, since any Caribbean environment was not the
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31 gunpowder or the sword, but the viruses the death, among others, of the successor to that were deadly, because of their novelty the Emperor Moctezuma. in America during the first decades when the Indians did not have the antibodies to Although diseases the main cause of death combat this terrible enemy. Flu is not the among American peoples during the first only deadly disease. Smallpox and measles years of the conquest, they were not the epidemics join as other causes of mortality, only one. Although proportionally in much already beyond the Caribbean area. In fact, lower terms, the conquest fights, and the the siege of the city of Tenochtitlán by excessive labor imposed on Caribbean Cortés, after the Spanish victory in Otumba, populations, were other mortality factors. ended up with a Spanish triumph However, this does not justify the because smallpox had become rampant accusation of genocide in any way. among the besieged population, causing
Did Columbus really “discover” America?
One of the reasons given by those who without entering into further disquisitions, reject the celebration of Columbus Day it had been called a discovery, and it did is that the "myth that Columbus not seem offensive to anyone. But it was discovered America" must be dispelled. precisely around the event that was to For decades now, some have wanted to have a global visibility and scope, when engage in a terminological battle that is certain sectors of indigenous people not so much about the accuracy of the began to point out as offensive the use of words, but about their supposed term "discovery", since they saw in it a ideological charge. Eurocentric conception of America as a land without inhabitants, which Spain Such discussion was especially evident in wanted to assimilate into its domains. We the wake of the commemoration of the must recall that 1992 was the year in which V Centennial of Columbus' arrival the indigenous leader Rigoberta Menchu, to the Caribbean in 1492. Until then, defender of the rights of the Mayan people
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32 in Guatemala, received the Nobel Peace We can appreciate in this speech all the Prize, and in her speech of appreciation typical features of the movement that noted the following: resists to talk about Discovery and emphasizes the genocidal character of the "It is comforting to see this growing arrival of the Spaniards in America. attention, even if it comes 500 years later, to the suffering, discrimination, oppression and Spain did not discover America, according exploitation that our people have suffered, to Menchú, because "America and its native but which, thanks to their own worldview civilizations had discovered themselves". and conception of life, they have managed This statement, which may seem simply to resist and finally see with promising descriptive, hides half-truths (which is prospects. How, from those roots that they the best way to build a credible lie). If wanted to eradicate, they now germinate we talk about the settlement of the New with strength, hope and representation for Continent, we must obviously go back the future". thousands of years before the arrival "Who can predict what other great scientific of Columbus, but does that imply that conquests and what development these "America knew itself"? We enter into the peoples would have achieved if they had not more complex part of this question. been conquered by blood and fire, objects Did of an ethnocide, which reached almost 50 America exist as a concept -even if it million people in 50 years?" was not named- before the arrival of "We must not forget that when the the Spanish? I think it can be said that it Europeans came to America, thriving didn't. What are we basing this on? civilizations were flourishing. You cannot talk about the discovery of America, because On the concept of discovery as "invention", you discover what is ignored or hidden. in the sense that the classics used this America and its native civilizations had word. The continent existed, and was discovered themselves long before the fall of populated by hundreds of communities the Roman Empire and the European Middle that spoke different languages, Ages. The scope of their cultures is part of the possessed different cultures, some had heritage of humanity and continue to amaze developed various types of writing, their scholars”. worshipped different deities... all this is true indeed. We can compare it to the reality of (Rigoberta Menchú, Stockholm December 10, 1992). the Iberian Peninsula before the arrival
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33 of the Romans: could one speak then of Spain? Was there some kind of bond that united the various peoples settled on the peninsular site? Clearly, the answer is If we go back to no. 1492, we can say that America did not It was precisely the conquest and colonization of Rome, which created know itself -or did Hispania, that gave the Hispanic peoples not conceive itself- a common identity and an awareness of as a whole. That belonging to a common whole. If we go vast continent was back to 1492, we can say that America did not know itself -or did not conceive inhabited by very itself- as a whole. That vast continent was different peoples. inhabited by peoples as different as the Inuit, the Quimbayas, Mexicas, Chachapoyas, Mayas, Quechuas, Aymaras …
Each of these were aware of themselves and those who lived around their land. However, in no case did this awareness How about the use of the expression of being part of a whole, existed for "Encounter between two worlds", to them. Cuzco was the "navel of the apparently respect the equal dignity of world", but what world? The American? the inhabitants of the old and the new Not at all: it was considered by the continent? Of course, no one who uses Quechuas as the neuralgic center of the term discovery intends to undermine the Andean space. They were willing the dignity of the native inhabitants of to expand their domain at the expense of America. However, there is a reality: the neighboring peoples, like the Aymaras of Spanish were the ones who left their present-day Bolivia, or the Cayambis of environment to discover new lands. The Ecuador. Therefore, we don't think it's inhabitants of the so called Old World were pertinent to talk about an America aware of themselves as part of the European that had discovered itself. continent, while they knew of the existence
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34 of a larger whole that encompassed them, that would be compatible with the Christian and that was formed by the three parts of tradition. the world known to them: Europe, Asia and Africa. They had heard of a Quarta It was the Spaniards who gave the orbis pars, but around it there were more Andean languages the tool of writing, myths and legends than actual geographical which is fundamental to their knowledge. preservation. Let us remember that one of the first books published in Peru was a For this reason, although Columbus catechism written in the three languages systematically rejected having reached a of the viceroyalty: Quechua, Aymara and continent other than Asia, the truth is that Spanish. The same happened in Mexico with successive expeditions continued to bilingual works in Nahuatl and Spanish. In draw the American geography. And the the north of the isthmus, forms of writing Spanish government ruling over those lands had been developed which were applied gave them a common identity. to the codices or "painted books", as the Spaniards called them. On the other hand, The name of America was hardly used many oral traditions were put into writing in the modern age. They spoke of the when the Spaniards arrived, and we have "Spanish Indies". Then, the knowledge of come to know about them in this way. the different parts of America, with their respective inhabitants, was expanded. This way of seeing the reality of the Who had a first awareness of the discovery is supported by the thought of all-American continent? It was the Simón Bolívar, who was not precisely a Spanish rulers, who built on that site a great defender of the Hispanic monarchy. linguistic, legal and religious world. The Bolivar's dream was the creation of "Great diversification in viceroyalties responded to Colombia", a new state that would combine the need for an effective government, but the current states of Venezuela, Colombia, that was configured as something unitary. Ecuador and Panama. What was the identity Throughout the three centuries of basis of such a political construction? Spanish history, the American identity Precisely the common traits inherited would be developed, and it was crafted from Spain. There is an interesting based both on European contributions and text that points out the perception that the pre-Hispanic reality, in those aspects Bolívar himself had of the discovery, and
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35 which is quoted on very few occasions. great abundance of construction wood. The In the document known as "Letter from Savages who inhabit it would be civilized, Jamaica", Bolivar exposes to an English and our possessions would increase with the addressee his political program for the new acquisition of the Guajira. This Nation state, as he points out: would be called Colombia, as a tribute of justice and gratitude to the breeder "The New Grenada will join Venezuela, of our hemisphere“.
if it is agreed to form a Central Republic (Simon Bolivar, Kingston September 6, whose Capital is Maracaibo, or a new 1815). city that, with the name of Las Casas (in honor of this hero of philanthropy) merges In his words Bolivar recognizes, beyond between the confines of both countries, ideological interpretations, the importance in the superb port of Bahiahonda. This of Columbus in the discovery of position, although unknown, is more America, even though intellectually he advantageous in all respects. Its access was not the father of the new political and is easy, and its situation so strong, that human reality, which caused the name it can become unassailable. It has a pure of the Indies to be taken from another and healthy climate, a territory as suitable navigator, Americo Vespucci, who did speak for agriculture as for cattle raising, and a of a "New World".
Can the Spanish legacy be summarized as a process of ethnocide?
There are many, or perhaps very loud, It would be five centuries ahead of its time voices that are raised to claim that if Spaniards adapted to the reality they Spain committed a true ethnocide in found in the New World, considering America, since it not only encouraged the they came from a society that accumulated disappearance of the original populations, elements inherited from the classical world, but wanted to destroy all traces of from the Middle Ages when universities pre-Hispanic culture. and great cathedrals emerged and from the Renaissance.
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36 ¿Columbus Day? Yes, please. Practical guide to understanding the figure of Cristopher Columbus
37 Let's remember that the Caribbean region According to today's logic and our may have seemed to the Spaniards a reality system of values, it would be desirable; assimilable to our pre-Roman past from according to the parameters of that time, a cultural point of view. Later, the great it was unthinkable. Let us remember that states would arrive, creators of important archaeology emerged as a science at the civilizations and builders of spectacular end of the 18th century. Until then, the cities. From the point of view of Europeans, interest in knowing and protecting the what had been achieved in fifteen centuries ancient cultural heritage, unless it was seen of evolution was simply better than what as a model to imitate (this happened in the they were finding. Added to this perception Renaissance with respect to classical Rome), was the fact that one of the reasons was practically non-existent. why Spain settled in the Indies was the evangelization of the pre-Hispanic Continuing with the proposed comparison, peoples. in the process of Romanization of the Mediterranean, we would find it hard And yet, even taking into account to imagine that the Romans, with their these premises, there is no systematic elaborate urban culture, would consider extermination of the cultural world before respecting the cultural achievements of 1492. Rather, we should speak of a the peoples they conquered. process of inculturation: a civilization is adapted in order to assimilate, as far And yet, in the case of the "Hispanicization" as possible, achievements that are not of America, many elements are detected incompatible with it. Within its evangelizing that make the colonization process enthusiasm, there certainly are acts that novel. In the first place, the ethnological today seem excessive, such as the burning interest that moves soldiers and missionaries of Mayan codices by Friar Diego de Landa, to write, while possibly in Spain they would or the destruction of Tenochtitlán by order not have developed such activity. The of Cortés, a considerable loss for the existence of the chronicles of the Indies historical heritage of humanity. is a clear example of the extent to which intellectual curiosity led them to leave Was it possible to demand a different a written record of the ways of life, attitude from those men who came from cultural and religious elements, and features a Christian and Renaissance Europe? of those peoples and lands.
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38 We have already said that, in the Andean root if it is spoken in the language of the space, where before the arrival of the listeners rather than if they are forced to Spaniards no type of writing had been learn Spanish. Many of these languages developed, the Latin alphabet serves as a have been maintained until today. vehicle to perpetuate the languages and traditions of the different peoples. Therefore, while there is no doubt that the Spanish considered their civilization With the creation of the academic advanced enough to project it (and centers, in a parallel way to the advance sometimes impose it) on the discovered of evangelization, chairs of indigenous lands, it is no less true that to the extent languages are created, and missionaries are they considered possible, they respected required to learn the languages of the places and transmitted the cultural elements where they are going to preach, since it of the inhabitants of those lands. will be much easier for Christianity to take
Are there reasons to celebrate the 12th of October?
We have arrived at the question that needs an end to the presence of images of to be asked after learning about some of the Columbus in some places in the Spanish and historical aspects surrounding the life of Anglo-Saxon America. Overcoming myths, Christopher Columbus. It was essential to putting emotions aside, and establishing address these aspects from a historical guidelines that allow us to discern a current point of view, in order to try to answer the issue in a historical way, has been our question posed by this paper. We have tried purpose when tackling this topic. to carry out this work in a rigorous way and respectful of the truth. The attacks on Columbus, as we have pointed out, are not directed to the life We thus undertake the task we set out at of the discoverer, but to his legacy. Those the beginning: understanding the reason who want to erase his presence in public behind why some people try to put or private spaces mention few details of
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39 the navigator's life. They limit themselves to project in time (even making him responsible for events of the 21st century) the consequences of his arrival in America.
We have pointed out several of the consequences of that event of October 12, 1492. Perhaps the most striking of all is the brutal decline of the pre-Hispanic population, mainly due to epidemics. This was a completely unwanted consequence. It would have occurred at the moment when, as a result of the explorations or some fortuitous event, the American populations, isolated in time for thousands of years, would have come into contact with Old World viruses for which they were not prepared. The passage of at least one generation was necessary so that at a continental level, the antibodies were generated to avoid that diseases like the flu or measleswould be deadly for the Amerindians.
And as for the alleged ethnocide and cultural devastation, perhaps we must look with historical honesty what the Spanish left in America over three centuries. Remember that those territories were kingdoms of the Hispanic monarchy. They formed a whole with the peninsular kingdoms. And, logically, there is a trade-off of resources between all the Hispanic territories. The gold and silver mines were certainly exploited without
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40 any consideration, practically until the women, schools for the children of caciques extinction of precious metals; it was the logic or mixed, where Spaniards, natives and of the moment: if that is as Spanish as Castile, mestizos were formed together. It is let us obtain resources for the benefit of all. worth remembering at this point that the integration of both populations was sought. There is less talk, in that exchange and flow Possibly as a consequence of her demanding of resources, of the investment made morality, Queen Isabella ordered her rulers in by the Crown in the Indies. Gold and America: "Marry Spaniards with natives silver came from there, but missionaries, and natives with Spaniards". This is how teachers, architects, doctors came from the the new face of America arises, which is peninsula... and as a result, a whole hospital neither Spanish nor Native: it is mestizo, and educational network was established that and the current demographic and social reached the places furthest away from the composition of the old Spanish America is an viceroyalty centers. The way to visualize the example of this. Spanish presence in the land of conquest was the construction of cities. And in these cities, next to the houses of government, the church, the hospital, the schools... The convents, as they were in the Middle Ages, became centers for the diffusion of knowledge, There is less talk, in for Spaniards and natives. that exchange and flow of resources, of Another medieval legacy is the construction the investment made of universities. Let us remember that the first by the Crown in the center, the University of Santo Tomás in Hispaniola, dates back to 1538; not Indies. Gold and silver fifty years had passed since the discovery. came from there, And that center will be followed by almost but missionaries, thirty universities founded before the teachers, architects, independence. The same can be affirmed by looking at the great assistance network built doctors came from up as the colonization advanced: hospitals the peninsula... for natives, houses for poor or abandoned
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41 A new era of knowledge
And what to say from the scientific languages, ethnology, architecture... and knowledge point of view. The in the same way that knowledge arrival of Columbus in America would crosses the Atlantic in both directions, eventually be an unstoppable driver there is also a flow of products that for the advancement of geographic, will enrich both. If wheat, vines, anthropological, scientific, technical, horses (extinct for centuries in the new and botanical knowledge. Humanity continent), pigs and printing presses would benefit from the advances made come to America from Europe, the same not only by Spaniards, but also by the goes other way round for the hammock, inhabitants of the four continents then which awakened so much pleasure in the known, who, supported by the first first sailors, toproducts that today are discoveries, will be able to go much basic as tomatoes, potatoes, quinoa, further. The knowledge of the Old and chocolate... we also must remember that New World would merge in subjects the cultivation of potatoes saved Europe as diverse as medicine, biology, from many famines in the Modern Age.
The Laws of the Indies
Finally, it is worth considering another ahead of its time. In modern times there topic that has emerged in these pages: was no declaration of human rights (it the Indian legislation. The Laws of the would be anachronistic to pretend that it Indies, promoted by the Catholic kings, existed), but a legal basis was developed and complemented in part by the advanced to ensure the protection of the most School of Salamanca, constitute a true vulnerable groups, in this case the juridical monument, in many aspects native populations. They were not always
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42 complied with, and the famous saying "you Such is the case of the residency trials, abide, but you don't comply with them" an inspection that was carried out on the applied to Crown officials in America actions of the authorities once they left went hand in hand with a reality more office. Such inspection was made on the frequent than kings would like. However, basis of questions to witnesses, and like mechanisms were also developed to any trial, could end with a sentence of ensure compliance, and the honesty of guilt or innocence in the use of power. those who wielded power in the Indies.
Bartolomé de las Casas speaks about Columbus
It is frequent that those who criticize preserved these copied texts, since many the Spanish performance in America of the originals disappeared. raise the work of the Dominican friar Bartolomé de las Casas as a Bartolomé de las Casas, who is excessive flag. The writings of the friar, which in his descriptions, was a true admirer had a huge diffusion in the centuries of Queen Elizabeth and Christopher after the colonization process, and are Columbus. Let's see some of the still frequently cited today, are a great paragraphs he dedicates to the navigator: weapon of anti-Spanish propaganda, and source of very negative views of the "The time of God's merciful wonders has colonization of America. However, few come, when in these parts of the earth stop to consider what Las Casas wrote (where the seed or word of life has been about Christopher Columbus. To elaborate sown) the undying fruit of the predestined his work on the History of the Indies, was to be taken from this orb, and the the Dominican used, among many other greatness of divine riches and infinite sources, the writings of Columbus himself. goodness, after being more widely known, In fact, we owe it to Las Casas to have was to be magnified, The divine and highest
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43 Master chose the illustrious and great Spanish island in the year 93, and from Columbus from among the sons of Adam other persons that accompanied him and that were on Earth in these times of ours, others that served him, he had a dear and it is convenient to know, first, about his fidelity and devotion and always kept name and his work as a settler, and then the Kings".
about his virtue, intelligence, industry, (Bartolomé de las Casas, History of the works, knowledge and prudence, to entrust Indies). one of the divine heroic deeds that he wanted to do in his world in this century". As we see, the Dominican who persevered for decades urging the Spanish rulers to And he adds a little further on: stop the excesses in the Indies, and even to abandon them, elaborates a sweetened “"He was a man of great courage, of portrait of Columbus, idealistic as few, great effort, of high thoughts, naturally and full of admiration for the work he inclined to what can be inferred from carried out, considering him a brilliant his life and deeds and writings and instrument of providence chosen to bring conversation, to undertake deeds and faith to those lands. works that were both ecclesiastical and marked. Patient and much suffered (as it Today we know that Bartolomé de will seem below), forgiving of insults, and las Casas is excessive in all his who wanted nothing else, as he is told, descriptions, and especially in his but that those who offended him should judgment of people linked to the know his errors and that criminals American colonization. In the same way should be reconciled with him. Very that we cannot accept as historical many constant and adorned with longevity in of the data that he provides in his work the works and adversities that always about the numbers of deaths as a result occurred to him, which were incredible of the wars of conquest, we will not take and infinite, he always had great trust for granted the image he presents of the in the Divine Providence, and truly, to Genoese. It illustrates something very what I understood from him, and from simple: when we lose perspective, we my own father, who was with him when do not contrast the data, and we get he returned with people to populate this carried away by enthusiasms that can be
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44 commendable, it is easy to fall into a rash The combination of these moves us away judgment. That is why the amendment to from those golden or black legends that the totality of a figure, or a historical fact prevent us from being honest in assessing is produced, and the serene and rigorous and understanding our history, approach to actions of the past that, like especially that legacy we share with the everything that men do, are composed of American continent. lights and shadows, is impossible.
¿Columbus Day? Yes, please. Practical guide to understanding the figure of Cristopher Columbus
45 Sources and Bibliography
Colón, Cristóbal: Diario de a bordo. Arlanza Ediciones. Madrid, 2002.
Colón, Cristóbal: Los cuatro viajes y testamento (Ed: Consuelo Varela) Alianza Editorial. Madrid, 1986.
Colón, Hernando: Historia del Almirante (Ed: Luis Arranz) Historia 16. Madrid, 1984.
Fernández Armesto, Felipe: Cristóbal Colón. ABC. Madrid, 1991.
Flores Arroyuelo, Francisco J.: “Cristóbal Colón ante el espejo: una vida y un destino.” Mvrgetana. Nº 132, Año LXVI, 2015. Pág. 9-34.
Hernández Sánchez-Barba, Mario: “Juan Manzano Manzano y la Historiografía del Descubrimiento”. Quinto centenario, Nº 15, Madrid, 1989, págs. 9-18.
Las Casas, Bartolomé: Historia General de las Indias (Ed. Juan Pérez de Tudela) Madrid, 1957.
Milhou, Alain: Cristóbal Colón y su mentalidad mesiánica en el ambiente franciscanista español. Cuadernos Colombinos. Valladolid, 1983.
Pérez de Tudela y Bueso, Juan: “Los Reyes Católicos y la oferta de Cristóbal Colón. Apunte introductorio a una historia tergiversada acerca de un horizonte de encubrimientos.” Cuadernos de historia moderna, Nº 13, 1992, págs. 9-46.
Saavedra Inaraja, María: La forja del Nuevo Mundo. Huellas de la Iglesia en la América española. Sekotia. Madrid, 2008.
Saiz-Álvarez, José Manuel: La cultura taína y los primeros asentamientos españoles en el Nuevo Mundo. Revista Hispano Americana, nº 8. Cádiz, 2018.
Varela, Consuelo: Cristóbal Colón. Retrato de un hombre. Alianza Editorial. Madrid, 1992.
46 ELECTRONIC RESOURCES:
Biblioteca Virtual Miguel de Cervantes. Portal Cristóbal Colón: http://www.cervantesvirtual.com/portales/cristobal_colon/
Página web Mitch O´Farrell: https://cd13.lacity.org/
Página web Premios Nobel: https://www.nobelprize.org/
PARES (Portal de Archivos Españoles): http://pares.mcu.es/
Organización de Naciones Unidas, Declaración de Derechos de los Pueblos Indígenas: https://www.un.org/development/desa/indigenous-peoples-es/declaracion-sobre-los-derechos-de-los- pueblos-indigenas.html
47 With the support of:
www.hispaniccouncil.org