Essay On Christopher Columbus Hero

Words: 689
Pages: 3

"True heroism is remarkably sober, very undramatic. It is not the urge to surpass all others at whatever cost, but the urge to serve others at whatever cost” (Arthur Ashe). In 1492, Christopher Columbus set sail on a mission to claim land for the king and queen of Spain. During his voyage, he encountered many foreign people. His exchange with them was not pleasant at all. Columbus only cared about claiming land and nothing else mattered, not even people. He was harsh to them in ways that deemed him cruel. The interactions that Christopher Columbus had with the American Indians did not make him heroic. Christopher Columbus inflicted an abundance of pain and suffering on the American Indians. Before Columbus invaded their land, the …show more content…
Not only was Christopher Columbus a hero to the Spaniards, but he was also a hero to some of the people he encountered. When Columbus discovered new people he treated them fairly. For example, Columbus explained in Source B, “...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.” Columbus was very nice to the people he came across. He gave the people many gifts and even became friends with them. He did not torture or kill any of the people. He cared about the wellbeing of these people just like he cared about the Spaniards. For instance, in “The Log of Christopher Columbus”, Columbus stated, “I was attentive, and took trouble to ascertain if there was gold” (Source B). Columbus looked for things that would be beneficial for Spain. He would do anything that it would take for the Spaniards. Land and other items of value were his priority to find. Gold was a good find for Columbus since it was valuable. The king and queen of Spain could use gold to trade or sell with their own people. This would benefit their economy greatly. Columbus was a heroic conqueror for