Christopher Columbus

From RationalWiki
(Difference between revisions)
Jump to: navigation, search
(Lies-to-Children)
Line 2: Line 2:
  
 
<noinclude>[[File:P5230068.JPG|thumb|The Columbus home in Santo Domingo]]</noinclude>
 
<noinclude>[[File:P5230068.JPG|thumb|The Columbus home in Santo Domingo]]</noinclude>
In most of North and South America, Cristóbal Colón, or '''Christopher Colombus''' in [[English]], is recognized as the most significant of the early [[Europe]]an explorers of the [[America]]s.
+
In most of North and South America, Cristóbal Colón, or '''Christopher Colombus''' in [[English]], is recognized as the most significant of the early [[Europe]]an explorers of the [[America]]s.  
  
 
==Controversial Columbus==
 
==Controversial Columbus==
  
Despite small visits and settlements by earlier explorers, especially from Scandinavia, Columbus was backed by the power of the empire of Spain, opening the door for the large-scale exploration and exploitation of the Americas. Mentioning any previous expeditions by Europeans to the Americas is considered by [[Andrew Schlafly|some]] to be "anti-Christian", as Columbus was a good Christian boy, therefore worthy of the credit, not some Norse pagans with bad body odor.
+
Despite small visits and settlements by earlier explorers, especially from Scandinavia, Columbus was backed by the power of the empire of Spain, opening the door for the large-scale exploration and exploitation of the Americas. To shamelessly quote [[Wikipedia]] on the subject ''He is regarded more accurately as the person who brought the Americas into the forefront of Western attention. "Columbus' claim to fame isn't that he got there first," explains historian Martin Dugard, "it's that he stayed."'' Howeverm, mentioning any previous expeditions by Europeans to the Americas - or even perhaps whatever excursion that caused ''native'' Americans to get there - is considered by [[Andrew Schlafly|some]] to be "anti-Christian", as Columbus was a good Christian boy, therefore worthy of the credit, not some Norse pagans with bad body odor.
  
 
Current controversies surrounding Columbus in the [[United States|U.S.]] involve the implications of his "discoveries" for the native populations (i.e., enslaving them, [[genocide]]).  The Italian-American community often sponsors Columbus Day celebrations, and Native American groups often protest these.
 
Current controversies surrounding Columbus in the [[United States|U.S.]] involve the implications of his "discoveries" for the native populations (i.e., enslaving them, [[genocide]]).  The Italian-American community often sponsors Columbus Day celebrations, and Native American groups often protest these.

Revision as of 11:52, 2 August 2009

Bouncywikilogo.gif
There is a broader, perhaps slightly less biased, article on Wikipedia about Christopher Columbus
The Columbus home in Santo Domingo

In most of North and South America, Cristóbal Colón, or Christopher Colombus in English, is recognized as the most significant of the early European explorers of the Americas.

Contents

Controversial Columbus

Despite small visits and settlements by earlier explorers, especially from Scandinavia, Columbus was backed by the power of the empire of Spain, opening the door for the large-scale exploration and exploitation of the Americas. To shamelessly quote Wikipedia on the subject He is regarded more accurately as the person who brought the Americas into the forefront of Western attention. "Columbus' claim to fame isn't that he got there first," explains historian Martin Dugard, "it's that he stayed." Howeverm, mentioning any previous expeditions by Europeans to the Americas - or even perhaps whatever excursion that caused native Americans to get there - is considered by some to be "anti-Christian", as Columbus was a good Christian boy, therefore worthy of the credit, not some Norse pagans with bad body odor.

Current controversies surrounding Columbus in the U.S. involve the implications of his "discoveries" for the native populations (i.e., enslaving them, genocide). The Italian-American community often sponsors Columbus Day celebrations, and Native American groups often protest these.

Origins

Columbus's origins are an area of debate, especially among amateur historians. He is believed to have been born in Genoa, but others posit that he may have been Jewish, escaping the inquisition that engulfed Spain after the expulsion of the Moors.

Lies-to-Children

Schoolchildren are often taught the following rhyme to remember when Columbus found America (even though he thought it was India and was definitely not the one to "discover" it):

In fourteen hundred and ninety two,
Columbus sailed the ocean blue.

Another legend and so-called factoid around Columbus is that he sailed around the Earth to prove that it wasn't flat - and that his sailors were fearful that he would cause them to fall off the edge. Thus, before Columbus and Columbus alone, everyone thought the Earth was flat. As it was known to ancient Greeks that the world certainly was round this is, of course, nonense (although whether common people were aware of the fact is debatable, as many people even today don't think the earth is billions of years old, despite conventional wisdom and modern science saying that it is). The myth further gets confused by conflicting legends that it was Columbus who thought the Earth was flat and that the sailors thought the world was round and they would "slip off the rounded edge" or something.

External links

See also

Footnotes

Personal tools
Namespaces

Variants
Actions
Navigation
Community
Tools
support