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Excerpt from the Italian American Heritage Project, ©2018-2022 Janice Therese Mancuso.
Copyright 2018-2024 Janice Therese Mancuso
Contact: jtmancuso@earthlink.net Subject: IAHP
Columbus and the Natives
Before
news
of
Christopher
Columbus’s
western
voyage
with
his
discovery
of
a
new
land
was
distributed
throughout
Europe,
others
had
made
the
trip.
Most
well
known
is
Leif
Erickson,
who
landed
somewhere
on
the
north
coast
of
America
around
1000
AD.
Remains
of
an
“11-century
Viking
settlement” on the northern tip of Newfoundland are cited as “the earliest evidence of Europeans in North America.”
Earlier
than
the
Vikings
is
the
legend
of
the
Irish
monk,
Saint
Brendan,
who
sailed
to
America
in
the
sixth
century;
and
closer
to
Columbus’s
arrival,
several
historians
support
the
theory
of
Muslim
Chinese
explorer
Zheng
He
reaching
the
east
coast
of
America
in
the
early
1420s.
Other
legends
abound
citing
theories
about
the
Polynesians,
Egyptians,
and
Romans
all
arriving
on
the
uncharted
land
pre-1492.
Additionally,
a
controversy
brews
over
the
origins
of
the
Olmecs.
Some
claim
they
are
of
African
descent,
and
although
others
cite
various
genetic
studies
showing
North
and
South
Native
Americans
have
the
same
ancestry
with
Siberian
roots,
other
studies
maintain
they
“share
traits
with
present-day
Australasians (indigenous groups in Australia, Melanesia, and island Southeast Asia).”
According
to
these
reports,
a
connection
with
Europe,
Africa,
and
possibly
further
east
had
already
been
established
with
the
continents
to
the
west
before
Columbus’s
exploration
of
the
islands.
What
made
Columbus’s
landing
extraordinary
were
the
reports
of
his
discovery
that
spread
throughout Europe, taken from the letters he wrote on his return voyage that were copied by hand, translated, and printed.
The
actual
letters
written
by
Columbus,
to
date,
have
not
been
found.
Columbus’s
journal,
dated
from
August
3,
1492
to
March
15,
1493
is
also
a
copy
of
the
original
that
has
not
been
found.
It
was
transcribed
by
Bartolomé
de
las
Casas
from
a
hand-written
copy.
Most
of
the
passages
in
the
journal
give
reports
of
navigating
the
islands
and
descriptions
of
the
land;
but,
in
the
journal
–
as
in
the
letters
–
the
writings
show
Columbus
had
a
high regard for the natives.
From
The
Journal
of
Christopher
Columbus
(During
His
First
Voyage,
1492-93)
and
Documents
Relating
to
the
Voyages
of
John
Cabot
and
Gaspar Corte Real
(p.39):
(October
12th)
Presently
many
inhabitants
of
the
island
assembled.
What
follows
is
in
the
actual
words
of
the
Admiral
in
his
book
of
the
first
navigation
and
discovery
of
the
Indies.
“I,”
he
says,
“that
we
might
form
great
friendship,
for
I
knew
that
they
were
a
people
who
could
be
more
easily
freed
and
converted
to
our
holy
faith
by
love
than
by
force,
gave
to
some
of
them
red
caps,
and
glass
beads
to
put
round
their
necks,
and
many other things of little value, which gave them great pleasure, and made them so much our friends that it was a marvel to see.”
They
have
no
iron,
their
darts
being
wands
without
iron,
some
of
them
having
a
fish's
tooth
at
the
end,
and
others
being
pointed
in
various
ways.
They
are
all
of
fair
stature
and
size,
with
good
faces,
and
well
made.
I
saw
some
with
marks
of
wounds
on
their
bodies,
and
I
made
signs
to
ask
what
it
was,
and
they
gave
me
to
understand
that
people
from
other
adjacent
islands
came
with
the
intention
of
seizing
them,
and
that
they
defended themselves.
They
should
be
good
servants
and
intelligent,
for
I
observed
that
they
quickly
took
in
what
was
said
to
them,
and
I
believe
that
they
would
easily
be
made
Christians,
as
it
appeared
to
me
that
they
had
no
religion.
I,
our
Lord
being
pleased,
will
take
hence,
at
the
time
of
my
departure,
six
natives for your Highnesses, that they may learn to speak.
(October
13th)
As
soon
as
dawn
broke
many
of
these
people
came
to
the
beach,
all
youths,
as
I
have
said,
and
all
of
good
stature,
a
very
handsome
people.
Their
hair
is
not
curly,
but
loose
and
coarse,
like
horse
hair.
In
all
the
forehead
is
broad,
more
so
than
in
any
other
people
I
have hitherto seen. Their eyes are very beautiful and not small, and themselves far from black, but the colour of the Canarians.
I
was
attentive,
and
took
trouble
to
ascertain
if
there
was
gold.
I
saw
that
some
of
them
had
a
small
piece
fastened
in
a
hole
they
have
in
the
nose,
and
by
signs
I
was
able
to
make
out
that
to
the
.south,
or
going
from
the
island
to
the
south,
there
was
a
king
who
had
great
cups
full,
and
who
possessed
a
great
quantity.
I
tried
to
get
them
to
go
there,
but
afterwards
I
saw
that
they
had
no
inclination.
I
resolved
to
wait
until
to-morrow
in
the
afternoon and then to depart …
(October
15)
I
came
upon
a
man
alone
in
a
canoe
…
He
came
alongside
the
ship,
and
I
made
him
come
on
board
as
he
desired,
also
getting
the
canoe
inboard,
and
taking
care
of
all
his
property.
I
ordered
him
to
be
given
to
eat
bread
and
treacle,
and
also
to
drink:
and
so
I
shall
take
him
on
to
Fernandina,
where
I
shall
return
everything
to
him,
in
order
that
he
may
give
a
good
account
of
us,
that,
our
Lord
pleasing,
when
your
Highnesses shall send here, those who come may receive honor, and that the natives may give them all they require.
(October 16) They do not know any religion, and I believe they could easily be converted to Christianity, for they are very intelligent.
(October
21)
After
breakfast
I
went
on
shore,
and
found
only
one
house,
in
which
there
was
no
one,
and
I
supposed
they
had
fled
from
fear,
because
all
their
property
was
left
in
the
house.
I
would
not
allow
anything
to
be
touched,
but
set
out
with
the
captains
and
people
to
explore
the
island.
…
Also,
while
in
search
of
good
water,
we
came
to
a
village
about
half
a
league
from
our
anchorage.
The
people,
as
soon
as
they
heard
us,
all
fled
and
left
their
houses,
hiding
their
property
in
the
wood.
I
would
not
allow
a
thing
to
be
touched,
even
the
value
of
a
pin.
Presently
some
men
among
them
came
to
us,
and
one
came
quite
close.
I
gave
him
some
bells
and
glass
beads,
which
made
him
very
content
and
happy.
That
our
friendship
might
be
further
increased,
I
resolved
to
ask
him
for
something;
I
requested
him
to
get
some
water.
After
I
had
gone
on
board,
the
natives
came
to
the
beach
with
calabashes
full
of
water,
and
they
delighted
much
in
giving
it
to
us.
I
ordered
another
string
of
glass
beads
to
be
presented to them, and they said they would come again to-morrow.
(October
29)
He
sent
two
boats
on
shore
to
a
village
to
communicate,
and
one
of
the
Indians
he
had
brought
with
him,
for
now
they
understood
a
little,
and
show
themselves
content
with
Christians.
All
the
men,
women,
and
children
fled,
abandoning
their
houses
with
all
they
contained.
The
Admiral gave orders that nothing should be touched.
(November
12)
The
Admiral
says
that,
on
the
previous
Sunday,
the
11th
of
November,
it
seemed
good
to
take
some
persons
from
amongst
those
at
Rio
de
Marcs,
to
bring
to
the
Sovereigns,
that
they
might
learn
our
language,
so
as
to
be
able
to
tell
us
what
there
is
in
their
lands.
Returning,
they would be the mouthpieces of the Christians, and would adopt our customs and the things of the faith.
(December
12)
…
three
sailors
strolled
into
the
woods
to
see
the
trees
and
bushes.
Suddenly
they
came
upon
a
crowd
of
people,
all
naked
like
the
rest.
They
called
to
them,
and
went
towards
them,
but
they
ran
away.
At
last
they
caught
a
woman;
for
I
had
ordered
that
some
should
be
caught,
that
they
might
be
treated
well,
and
made
to
lose
their
fear.
…
So
they
took
the
woman,
who
was
very
young
and
beautiful,
to
the
ship,
where
she
talked
to
the
Indians
on
board;
for
they
all
speak
the
same
language.
The
Admiral
caused
her
to
be
dressed,
and
gave
her
glass
beads,
hawks’
bells,
and
brass
ornaments;
then
he
sent
her
back
to
the
shore
very
courteously,
according
to
his
custom.
He
sent
three
of
the
crew
with
her, and three of the Indians he had on board, that they might open communications with her people.
Note: In late November 1492, Martín Alonso Pinzón steered the Pinta on another course, returning on
(January
10,
1493)
As
soon
as
he
[Pinzón]
heard
from
the
Indians
that
the
Admiral
was
on
the
coast
of
the
same
island
of
Espaiiola,
and
that
he
could
not
avoid
him,
Pinzón
came
to
him.
He
wanted
all
the
people
of
the
ship
to
swear
that
he
had
not
been
there
more
than
six
days.
But
his
treachery
was
so
public
that
it
could
not
be
concealed.
He
had
made
a
law
that
half
of
all
the
gold
that
was
collected
was
his.
When
he
left
this
port
he
took
four
men
and
two
girls
by
force.
But
the
Admiral
ordered
that
they
should
be
clothed
and
put
on
shore
to
return
to
their
homes.
“This,”
the
Admiral
says,
“is
a
service
of
your
Highnesses.
For
all
the
men
and
women
are
subjects
of
your
Highnesses,
as
well
in
this
island
as
in
the
others.
Here,
where
your
Highnesses
already
have
a
settlement,
the
people
ought
to
be
treated
with
honour
and
favour,
seeing
that
this
island
has
so much gold and such good spice-yielding lands.”
After the First Voyage
Columbus
headed
back
to
Spain
in
the
middle
of
January.
The
first
voyage
was
a
successful
mission.
A
remarkable
connection
between
an
Old
World
and
a
New
World
had
been
established,
and
although
Columbus
had
taken
some
natives
back
to
Spain,
he
treated
the
natives
with
respect.
Additionally,
his
actions
were
a
common
practice
of
the
time;
and
could
be
compared
to
the
negativity
now
imposed
on
him
as
a
common
practice
of this time.
His
discovery
of
a
land
–
new
to
Europe
–
would
bring
a
transfer
of
people,
animals,
food,
and
pathogens
known
as
the
Columbian
Exchange.
Much
has
been
written
about
the
advantages
the
Old
World
gained
from
this
exchange
to
the
detriment
of
the
people
of
the
New
World;
but
of
all
the
commodities
that
traveled
to
the
New
World,
one
of
the
largest
gains
was
the
introduction
of
livestock
–
cattle,
horses,
pigs,
and
sheep.
The
horses,
especially,
were
a
major
asset
providing
a
more
efficient
way
of
traveling
and
hunting;
and
an
equalizer
in
battles.
The
most
devastating,
though, was disease.
It’s
difficult
to
determine
how
many
natives
were
on
the
islands
–
or
on
the
continents
–
when
Columbus
landed.
With
no
written
documentation,
those
who
research,
write,
or
study
the
events
of
this
time
period
may
establish
their
own
numbers,
based
on
their
interpretations
of
available
data;
and
new
methodologies
produce
new
numbers.
Subsequently,
the
percentages
or
number
of
deaths
cannot
be
accurately
calculated;
and
while
most
agree
it
was
the
diseases
of
the
Europeans
that
caused
the
demise
of
the
natives,
some
have
written
papers
or
books
that
dispute
this
explanation.
Additionally,
not
all
agree
as
to
when
the
illnesses
began,
but
historical
accounts
show
that
the
deadly
pathogens
started
to
take
effect about 11 years after Columbus died (or 25 years after his first landing).
The
number
of
deaths
may
be
substantial,
but
the
number
of
deaths
attributed
to
the
Plague
during
the
fourteenth
century
in
Europe
is
equally
considerable.
In
1882,
throughout
America,
Columbus
was
a
hero.
The
400-year
anniversary
was
a
nationwide
event,
celebrated
with
the
Chicago
Columbian
Exposition
held
the
following
year.
Proclaimed
a
national
holiday
by
President
Benjamin
Harrison,
schools
would
have
a
new
flag
salute,
and
the
ceremonies
would,
“Let
the
national
flag
float
over
every
schoolhouse
in
the
country
and
the
exercises
be
such
as
shall
impress
upon
our
youth
the patriotic duties of American citizenship.”
In
1980,
The
People’s
History
of
the
United
States
by
Howard
Zinn
was
released;
and
shortly
before
the
quincentennial
of
Columbus’s
landing
The
Conquest
of
Paradise:
Christopher
Columbus
and
the
Columbian
Legacy
by
Kirkpatrick
Sale
and
Columbus:
His
Enterprise:
Exploding
the
Myth
by
Hans
Koning
were
published.
In
2008,
Zinn’s
book
was
sent
to
4,000
teachers
throughout
the
United
States
and
his
ideology
of
American
history
–
and
the
denigration
of
Columbus
–
began
to
infiltrate
the
schools
of
America.
In
September
2016,
“The
Zinn
Education
Project
joined
the
campaign
to
Abolish
Columbus
Day
by
providing
resources
and
tools
that
include
a
downloadable
14-page
packet,
sample
resolutions,
a
resource
list, and a poster that teachers and students can use in campaigns to rename Columbus Day to Indigenous Peoples Day.”
The unwarranted assault continues.
Was Columbus responsible for connecting European and American
continents or to blame for wiping out native populations?
PRIMARY SOURCES
L’Anse aux Meadows National Historic Site
(Viking Settlement)
The Ancient Olmec Civilization
Genetic Evidence for Two Founding Populations of the Americas
A New History of the First Peoples in the Americas
There's a New Theory About Native Americans' Origins
Geographic Diffusion of Columbus’s First Letter
Introduction to Christopher Columbus, Journal of the First Voyage
The
Journal
of
Christopher
Columbus
(During
His
First
Voyage,
1492-93)
and
Documents
Relating
to
the
Voyages
of
John
Cabot
and
Gaspar Corte Real
The Columbian Exchange
Alfred W. Crosby on the Columbian Exchange
(Author of the book and creator of the term)
American Indian Horse History
The History of the Small Pox
by James Moore
The Black Death: Bubonic Plague
Proclamation on the 400th Anniversary of the Discovery of America by Columbus
The World’s Columbian Exposition
Christopher Columbus The Hero
Admiral of the Ocean Sea: A Life of Christopher Columbus
. Samuel Eliot Morison; Little Brown, 1942