Document Interpretation 1: From the Journal of Christopher Columbus

Q1: Where did Columbus land? Where did his subsequent voyages take him?

Q2: How did Columbus describe the native peoples he encountered? What plans did he have for them?

Q3: How long did the voyage to the New World take? What factors would inspire people to undergo
such a journey?

The document that I chose to interpret was, From the Journal of Christopher Columbus. I have never
familiarized myself with the history of Christopher Columbus' voyage, but only know what I was taught
in elementary school. The document I chose is the direct writing from Columbus himself detailing his
journey to the Indies (Asia) from a western route as opposed to the known eastern routes. I only read
about 3 days from his journal describing his voyage from Granada to the Indies which took place in the
year 1492. (1) Christopher Columbus set out in search for new trade routes to the Indies and new
Christian converts, yet his route led him to an unknown continent where he would quickly interact with
the indigenous people. This unknown continent would later be known as North America. However,
Columbus landed on various Caribbean islands that we now as the Bahamas.

(3) According to the journal of Columbus, he set sail for what he believed would be Asia on Friday,
August 3rd 1492 and arrived to the new world on Thursday, October 11th of that same year. It took
Columbus a little over 2 months to find the new continent. Columbus found the new world at two
o'clock in the morning. (2) The indigenous people of the new world where described by Columbus as
follows, "[....] But they seemed on the whole to me to be a very poor people [...] All whom I saw were
young, not above thirty years of age [....] I saw some with scars of wounds upon their bodies (Columbus
C. 1492)." Furthermore, Columbus states, at the beginning of his journal and once again at the first
encounter with the indigenous people, the intentions of his journey. (2) These are Columbus' plans for
the Other, "It appears to me, that the people are indigenous, and would be good servants [...] they
would very readily become Christians [...] I intend at my return to carry home six of them to your
Highnesses (Columbus C. 1492)." Columbus planned to convert the indigenous people to Christianity
and use them as slaves in the new world possibly even the old world. More in depth research could
include additional plans Columbus may have had for the native people.

In conclusion, Columbus motives for setting were clear from the beginning of his journal. (3)
Columbus states in the following, "Your Highnesses [...] determined to send me [...] to the above-
mentioned countries of India, to see the said princes, people, and territories, and to learn their
disposition and the proper method of converting them to our holy faith (Columbus C. 1492)." Columbus
was determined to convert the people he believed he would encounter on his journey to the Indies. His
passion and desire to spread the Christian faith seems to be a great factor as to why he would partake in
such a voyage.

Interpretation

In reading the aforementioned document myself I came to my own interpretation. In short, Columbus
set sail on a new route to an already known land with the hopes of finding new converts. However, to
his surprise he found a new land with indigenous people who from his initial encounter came of
as friendly; therefore easy to accept his ideology. Through reading the journal entry, I came to the
conclusion that Columbus saw the "Other" as inferior. He had predetermined plans for human beings as
if they had no say with their own life. Nevertheless, the native people pictured the "Other", from my
perspective, as their equal or quite possibly their superior. The indigenous people presented many gifts
to Columbus and greeted them warmly without any aggression. Since there isn't any primary sources in
how the native people viewed Columbus it is unclear if they had any malice aforethought plans for their
new visitors. However, the writings of Columbus do not seem to suggest any evil intentions the people
may have had. Further research in this subject will potentially change my interpretation in the near
future.

Feel free to comment on my interpretation, so that I may better understand this topic.