The Voyage of Christopher Columbus & The Conquest of Peru

The journal of Christopher Columbus outlines his conquest of the New World as though to update the King and Queen of Spain on his progress. He describes the land as more beautiful than anything he has ever seen, and the people he credits as being “well built, finely bodied and handsome in the face” with varying degrees of civility and intelligence which he measured by their ability to bargain and imitate the new language being exposed to them. While he speaks highly of these places his intentions are obviously to enslave the people as well as convert them to Christianity, as well he evaluates the land for its ability to produce resources to be controlled by Spain.

 

The notion that he has made this journey in the name of the King and Queen as well as Christianity seems to offer him a degree of disassociation. He deceives his crew by reporting inaccurate distances and times; he essentially kidnaps locals, which is more apparent when he recounts a number of them jumping overboard to escape; he also insults locals by declining certain gifts from the locals he deems not sufficient to impress the King and Queen. In comparing the two texts, it is also apparent that there is a level of misreporting as Columbus reports docile cooperative Indians, while The Conquest of Peru notes violence and cruelty towards the Natives particularly when they refuse to adopt Christianity and were firm in their own traditions.

 

Columbus’ obvious desire to impress the King and Queen also seems to result in him and other of his peers with similar interests embellishing events and findings. These tall tales are noted in the writings of Guaman Poma de Ayala where Canida “said that the people wore clothes and shoes all of gold and silver that they walked on floors of gold and silver and that on their heads and in their hands they carried gold and silver”. In trying to appeal to the church he he contradicts himself particularly at one point by describing the people as without any notable religion, but also remarks on these same people asking if Columbus and his crew had come from heaven and proceeding to come to them “each bringing something and giving thanks to god”. Similarly, when exposed to the Bible, the Inca Atagualpa insisted he only worshiped the Sun as well as wacas and other gods.

 

The determination and colonial mindset is well illustrated in Columbus’ journal as he explains that his goal is to conquer every island he passes and to reach as many islands as possible in his time. He also captures people for the specific purpose of educating in the Spanish way to bring it back to their people.

1 Thought.

  1. Columbus’ journal never shows us his own opinions or thoughts, its is much more objective. Your interpretations of the texts show another side to Columbus’ mind. His personality can be evaluated based upon his actions. The simple actions of not receiving the gifts from the natives, for example, are details in which would affect the interactions between the Spaniards and the Native people.

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