Christopher Columbus Documentary WBGH

 Christopher Columbus Documentary 

    Christopher Columbus starts off by taking anything he can get his hands-on from resources to animals. For Columbus to do this he knew he had to be resourceful in his ventures and quickly figured out how to use the locals to his advantage. When Columbus had his ship wrecked instead of writing it off as a total loss he was resourceful enough to turn it into a fort knowing he turn a bad situation into a good opportunity. "He caused a fort to be built here with the timbers of Santa Maria", Columbus used his newly constructed fort as both a show of force and way to bond with the native peoples. Columbus worked closely with the local people to build the fort and demonstrated the weapon capabilities of his canons. Showing that he could be a great friend or a great foe. Columbus was smart in that he knew exactly who he could take advantage of and who he shouldn't cross, he constantly sized people and situations up. 

    After the Santa Maria is wrecked the Pinta goes off on it's own and Columbus is left alone on the Nina. Columbus still manages to hold the crew together even though they are wary and ready to go home. In the nick of time Pinzon comes back with the Pinta and "Columbus decided to forgive the runaway captain". Again Columbus is a man who knew when to pick his battles and knew that he needed Pinzon to get back home so they stuck it out and made the return voyage home. This speaks to Columbus's abilities as a leader, he was a calculated and stubborn man who always thought several steps ahead. I think Columbus keeping his crew together without any major mutiny speaks to his ability to lead.

    It is apparent that Columbus sets up a bad omen of things to come for the native peoples. "it is said the Spaniard that came later hunted and killed the Indians", the natives would eventually be killed off through disease and by colonists who were looking to enslave and subjugate the native people. Columbus has no regard for the people he meets and only allies with them to use them as tools for his conquest. Columbus sees his entire journey as a business trip constantly scouting out the land for resources and on a hapless quest for gold. Columbus is wowed by the Caribbean beauty but at the end of the day doesn't care about any of it. This entire voyage is a means to an end for Columbus, one to aid in his hapless and bloodthirsty quest for gold. 

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