The People vs Columbus et al
“Gold is a treasure, and he who possesses it does all he wishes to in this world, and succeeds in helping souls into paradise,” said Columbus in his journal before reaching the new land. Christopher Columbus sailed from Europe to the Americas perceiving it as the Indies. He took along a handpicked crew and was funded by King Ferdinand and Queen Isabella of Spain. Multiple voyages were made to this land to spread Catholicism and gain resources such as spices and gold. In this process, the previous inhabitants and owners of the land, the Taino Indians, were put to harm. The Tainos greeted the Spaniard conquistadors as friends and offered them many things and even gave them a little …show more content…
Although the King, Queen, Columbus, and the citizens of Spain were living under the System of the Empire, it is the fault of the people and how they interpreted it. First, the System of the Empire was the general idea of a system that values property and wealth over people. One must have a sufficient amount of land and wealth to be successful and safe in the country or they are unprotected and vulnerable. Poor people must fight and gain wealth and property to be noticed. It also instituted the spread of Catholicism over newly discovered land.This system reigned over people for a long time, but it only controlled them partially. The way people looked at the system and understood it was different. Kings and Queens would have different ways of enforcing and displaying it to people. It was a specific way in Spain at the time. The System was also used in many other countries such as Portugal, Great Britain, parts of Western Africa, and parts of Asia. The spread of religion and gain of new land was done without the killing of millions of inhabitants. No torture or terror was necessary, even if slave trade was active. Land was gained slowly and shared in peace. Religion was spread and it steadily grew into communities over time. For example, Portugal founded many new settlements and spread religion while Great Britain’s trade and infrastructure grew while sailors were …show more content…
Others would call it a tragic part of the American and European history. Even though he found gold and new resources for Spain, Columbus enslaved and killed millions of Tainos in the process. Tainos were killed, abused, and enslaved for terror to show that they have the power in the new land and for religion. As said by Bartolome De Las Casas in his journal, “They spared no one, erecting especially wide gibbets on which they could string their victims up with their feet just off the ground and then burn them alive.” The horrible genocide has four suspects: King Ferdinand and Queen Isabella, Columbus, Columbus’s men, and the System of the Empire. Each of these suspects had at least some small portion of guilt in the crime, however our job as the jury was to figure out who to blame for most of the guilt and the largest charges. As an united and impartial jury, we ruled King Ferdinand and Queen Isabella guilty and charged them with 40% of the crime. Christopher Columbus was charged with 30% and Columbus’ Men were charged 20%. The System of Empire was least to blame and was only charged with 10% of the crime. The percentage of guilt was decided by the role each individual had in the massacre. In conclusion, the King and Queen of Spain are the most to blame as they executed and funded this voyage and did nothing to do to stop the brutality while the System of the Empire was the least to blame as it is an inanimate object
“Gold is a treasure, and he who possesses it does all he wishes to in this world, and succeeds in helping souls into paradise,” said Columbus in his journal before reaching the new land. Christopher Columbus sailed from Europe to the Americas perceiving it as the Indies. He took along a handpicked crew and was funded by King Ferdinand and Queen Isabella of Spain. Multiple voyages were made to this land to spread Catholicism and gain resources such as spices and gold. In this process, the previous inhabitants and owners of the land, the Taino Indians, were put to harm. The Tainos greeted the Spaniard conquistadors as friends and offered them many things and even gave them a little …show more content…
Although the King, Queen, Columbus, and the citizens of Spain were living under the System of the Empire, it is the fault of the people and how they interpreted it. First, the System of the Empire was the general idea of a system that values property and wealth over people. One must have a sufficient amount of land and wealth to be successful and safe in the country or they are unprotected and vulnerable. Poor people must fight and gain wealth and property to be noticed. It also instituted the spread of Catholicism over newly discovered land.This system reigned over people for a long time, but it only controlled them partially. The way people looked at the system and understood it was different. Kings and Queens would have different ways of enforcing and displaying it to people. It was a specific way in Spain at the time. The System was also used in many other countries such as Portugal, Great Britain, parts of Western Africa, and parts of Asia. The spread of religion and gain of new land was done without the killing of millions of inhabitants. No torture or terror was necessary, even if slave trade was active. Land was gained slowly and shared in peace. Religion was spread and it steadily grew into communities over time. For example, Portugal founded many new settlements and spread religion while Great Britain’s trade and infrastructure grew while sailors were …show more content…
Others would call it a tragic part of the American and European history. Even though he found gold and new resources for Spain, Columbus enslaved and killed millions of Tainos in the process. Tainos were killed, abused, and enslaved for terror to show that they have the power in the new land and for religion. As said by Bartolome De Las Casas in his journal, “They spared no one, erecting especially wide gibbets on which they could string their victims up with their feet just off the ground and then burn them alive.” The horrible genocide has four suspects: King Ferdinand and Queen Isabella, Columbus, Columbus’s men, and the System of the Empire. Each of these suspects had at least some small portion of guilt in the crime, however our job as the jury was to figure out who to blame for most of the guilt and the largest charges. As an united and impartial jury, we ruled King Ferdinand and Queen Isabella guilty and charged them with 40% of the crime. Christopher Columbus was charged with 30% and Columbus’ Men were charged 20%. The System of Empire was least to blame and was only charged with 10% of the crime. The percentage of guilt was decided by the role each individual had in the massacre. In conclusion, the King and Queen of Spain are the most to blame as they executed and funded this voyage and did nothing to do to stop the brutality while the System of the Empire was the least to blame as it is an inanimate object