With the discovery of the American continent, a “New World” was found from the perspective of Europe. This is the beginning of a tale of woe for the indigenous peoples of the continent, because the European conquerors bring diseases with them, exploit them and systematically oppress them.
In the following article we will first go into detail about Christopher Columbus, who is considered to be the «discoverer» of America. But was he really? We then discuss the consequences for the indigenous population that resulted from the European conquest. At the end of the article we discuss the terminology «Discovery of America».
Christopher Columbus is considered the discoverer of America
In the 15th century, the navigator and adventurer Christopher Columbus and his team set sail to find a transatlantic sea route to Asia. They wanted to find a way to India and after months they reached 1492 land. Columbus thought they had finally arrived in India, but their voyage ended on an island in the Bahamas. And this is what we call the discovery of America. Basically, the discovery of America happened by accident, because Columbus actually wanted to go to Asia. Columbus is said to have assumed until his death that they really were in India. For Columbus, India was a country of longing because it was perceived as the land of gold and spices. It promised both adventure and wealth.
This was the first of Columbus’ four voyages to America. On the one hand, as a result of the gradual exploration of the country, America began to be perceived as a continent. For this reason, the year 1492 is often perceived as a turning point in human history from a European perspective. On the other hand, the discovery of America by Columbus initiated the colonization of Latin America by the Spanish crown.
What did Spain have to do with the discovery of America?
Columbus wanted to find the sea route to India. In order to be able to implement his plan, however, he needed support. First he turned to the Portuguese royal family and presented his idea. The path should be shorter than the previously known. To do this, he wanted to sail east from Portugal past the African continent. Columbus already knew at this point that the world is a sphere and he assumed that he would then land on the other side of India. Of course, he didn’t know that this wouldn’t work. As a basis for his considerations, he had calculated an incorrect and too small circumference of the earth. However, the Portuguese did not support this idea, so he turned to the Spanish royal family.
The Spaniards found the proposal interesting and supported it. For them it was a chance to catch up with Portugal. At that time, the Portuguese had been looking for a way to India for years and had also discovered the first sea routes.
The Spanish royal couple provided him with three ships and crews. According to records, they then put to sea on August 3, 1492. They first sailed in the direction of the Canary Islands and then traveled further west – always with the goal – India – in mind. In October 1492, exhausted and discouraged, they finally sighted land. Columbus’ first act upon entering the country was to plant the Spanish flag in the coastal sand. A little later he officially founded the first Spanish colony in Haiti, which he called «Hispaniola».
Consequences for the population after the discovery of America
The «New World» America
From the perspective of Europe, America is perceived as the «New World». However, people lived there before the arrival of the Europeans. The local indigenous peoples first gave the team a warm welcome. Among other things, Columbus had brought glass beads and colored coins with him from Europe as gifts to present. The residents responded to the trade and also offered gifts. For example, they gave tamed parrots as gifts.
The incipient tyranny after the discovery of America
Columbus’ first voyage to America was still peaceful. In 1493 he already returned. He no longer had any peaceful motives, but had returned with aspirations of conquest. He brought with him a fleet of 17 ships and over 1200 people armed. He spread fear and terror among the population and began to systematically exploit people. For example, he demanded gold and other valuables from the people, otherwise he would enslave them. Columbus and his crew kidnapped women and burned people to death if they disobeyed. Even these few examples show that he traveled to America to use force to enforce his aspirations. He fought against the settled ethnic groups there and began enslaving them.
More conquerors in the discovered America
Columbus is just one of America’s many conquerors. For the Indigos, Columbus was only the beginning of a long period of terror. Supported by the Spanish crown, other conquerors traveled to America. In their home country, they claimed that they wanted to explore and learn about the continent, the people and plant diversity. However, this was not true. The conquerors Cortez and Pizarro went to America during the 16th century to enrich themselves. Upon arrival, they robbed the population, stole cultural treasures, destroyed sanctuaries, and further exploited and enslaved the people. Meanwhile, they established other colonies in the name of the Spanish crown.
The Discovery of America: Introduced Diseases
In addition, the Europeans brought diseases to America that were not there before. The indigenous population fell ill with the new pathogens in droves. Their immune systems were defenseless against influenza, measles and smallpox, and Europeans killed millions of people in Latin America with diseases.
The indigenous population and the descendants of those affected are still suffering from the consequences of the European policy of conquest. Because their ancestors were enslaved, cultural sites were destroyed and the indigenous culture was permanently changed by violent outside influences.
The discovery of America – was Columbus really the first?
We always associate the discovery of America with Columbus first. However, there is evidence that he was not the first and there is a presumption that he knew this.
In 1477 Columbus already traveled to Iceland, where he heard famous legends and stories about Leif Eriksson, who is said to have already sailed to America. According to the legends, he traveled from Greenland to Norway around the year 1000. On the return journey he then discovered unknown land. On further journeys he then discovered areas that we now associate with the North American coast.
For a long time these sagas and tales were thought to be merely myths, but archaeological finds and the excavation of a Viking settlement in Newfoundland provide evidence that these Old Norse tales are based on truth.
We also know that the regions were already inhabited around the year 1000. From this we can deduce that there have already been people who – however – found their way to America and they are the “true discoverers” of the continent.
Criticism of the term «discovery» of America
We know that America was already populated by the Aztecs, Incas and other peoples. Columbus «discovered» a region that was already known and populated. For this reason, it is discussed in the scientific context whether one can speak of a «discovery». When we talk about «discovery» we only take the European perspective and neglect the subsequent suffering of the Latin American people.
summary
- We associate Christopher Columbus with the discovery of America.
- In 1492 he reached the American mainland with his crew.
- He and other conquerors exploited the population, enslaved them and desecrated cultural sites.
- But Columbus wasn’t the first to conquer America, as the land was already settled.
- For this reason, it is also being discussed whether we can even speak of the «discovery of America».
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