Lies: On Columbus

I found the chapter on Columbus very interesting. The chapter gave points of view I’ve never even thought of before. Yes I’ve heard that the people from Northern Europe (Norway, Sweden, and Finland) could have sailed to the Americas prior to Columbus’ voyage. A table of possible explorations to the Americas can be seen on page 40-41 in the text. I’ve never heard of a Phoenician; let-alone an Afro-Phoenician. Their possible nautical accomplishments were new to me. I really hope I’m not the only one whole had heard of this for the first time.

I do still tend to view Columbus’ mark in history as a legitimate one. But first, put aside the traditional statement that Columbus was the first to discover the Americas, he wasn’t. The evidence is in his journal entries. “I was very attentive to them (natives), and strove to learn if they had any gold,” (Lies, 54). People where already inhabiting the “New World.” Columbus is an important mark in history because of his promise of wealth, specifically gold, and trade, to Spain and eventually Europe. Loewen tells how the gold found in the Americas transformed power in Europe. “Gold and silver from America replaced land as the basis for wealth and status,” (Lies, 63). This identifies Columbus’ real contribution to history as someone that help spur Europe’s rise to being a global power. This is a huge step in history. Notice I didn’t say a great step. I don’t want to get into that debate.

I am glad that Loewen gave a concession to Columbus towards the end of the chapter. Up until that point I had been imagining a Europe of barbarians. By today’s moral standards slavery is wrong. In general, I think that can be agreed. During the time of Columbus slavery wasn’t as frowned upon by Europeans, Africans, Native Americans, etc.. Yes there where people that condemned it, like Bartolome de Las Casas. Condemning Columbus on a social acceptable practice of the time is unfair. “In 1493 the world had not decided that, for instance, that slavery was wrong…. To attack Columbus for doing what everyone else did would be wrong,” (Lies, 68). Do we really want to be judged by future societal standards?

Was Columbus the saint that students learn about? Probably not. Should he be idolized as a saintly explorer? No. But did he make a contribution to world history. For good or bad I think he did.