HISTORY TODAY really disastrous is hard to judge dispas- sionately. The loss of population in the early colonial period was probably due to other causes. In the long run, colon- ial Hispaniola proved able to maintain a large population and a spectacular material culture. Lèse-majesté? Spanish rebels being hanged in the New World by Columbus and his brothers (Theodor de Bry). Since it was first broached in Col- day, the debate about the mor- ality of the colonisation of the New World has had three intense periods: in the sixteenth century, when the issues of the justice of the Spanish presence and the iniquity of maltreatment of the natives were raised by religious critics in the late opportunists; late and foreign eighteenth century, when Rousseau and Dr Dr Johnson agreed in preferring the uncorrupted wilderness which was thought to have preceded colonisation; and in our own day. Until recently, Columbus managed largely to avoid implication in the sins of his succes- sors. Las Casas revered him, and pitied, rather than censured, the imperfec- tions of his attitude to the natives. Eighteenth-century sentimentalists re- gretted the colonial experience as a whole, generally without blaming Col- umbus for it. This was fair enough. Columbus' own model of colonial society seems to have derived from Genoese precedents: the trading fac- tory, merchant quarter and family firm. The The idea of a 'total' colony, with a population and environment revolu- tionised by the impact and image of the metropolis, seems to have been im- posed on him by his Castilian masters. In making him personally responsible for everything which followed - post hunc ergo propter hunc - his modern critics have followed a convention in- augurated by admirers, who credited umbur 8 Columbus with much that was nothing to do with him including, most absurdly of all the culture of the present United States. Columbus never touched what was to become US ter- come M ritory except in Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands. The values which define erry the 'American ideal' - personal liberty, lism, freedom of conscience, individualism, Farsun equality of opportunity and representa- tive democracy - would have meant nothing to him. the Columbus deserves the credit or blame only for what he actually did: which was to discover a route that permanently linked the shores of the Atlantic and to contribute - more sig- nally, perhaps, than any other indi- vidual to the long process by which once sundered peoples of the world. were brought together in a single net- work of communications, which ex- Book of Vanity publishing? Title page of th Privileges compiled by Columbus and referring to himself as 'Almirante Mayor. artas revileg Cedvlasn oras Escrituras Xpoul olon ayozg murante olar Occano Viforcy vouernador &la olas vicrra irme posed them to the perils and benefits of mutual contagion and exchange. Whether or not one regards this as meritorious achievement, there was a genuine touch of heroism in it - both in the scale of its effects and in the boldness which inspired it. There had been many attempts to cross the Atlan- tic in central latitudes, but all - as far as 1 because the explor- we know we know failed ers clung to the zone of of westerly winds in an attempt to secure a passage home. Columbus was the first to succeed pre- cisely because he had the courage to sail with the wind at his back. Home is in Historians, it is often said, have no business making moral judgements at all. The philosophy of the nursery. school ass and ssembly, in which role-models and culprits are paraded for praise or reproof, seems nowadays to belong to a hopelessly antiquated sort of history, the reality of the past ma tered less than the lessons for the pre- sent and the future. A great part of the historian's art is now held to consist in what the examiners call 'empathy' - the ability to see the past with the eyes, and to re-construct the feelings, of those who took part in it. If value judgements are made at all, they ought at least to be controlled by certain essential disciplines. First, they must be the facte consistent with the facts: it is unhelp- of 'genocide' for inst * a was ful to accuse of 'genocide', for instance, a colonial administrator who anxious for the preservation of the native labour force. Secondly, they should be made in the context of the value-system of the society scrutinised, at the time concerned. It would be impertinent to expect Columbus to regard slavery as immoral, or to uphold the equality of all peoples. Conquista- dors and colonists colonists are as entitled to be judged from the perspective of moral Thir relativism as are the cannibals and hu- A man-sacrificers of the indigenous past. Thirdly, moral judgements should be expressed in language tempered by respect for the proper meanings of words. Loose talk of 'genocide' twists a spiral to verbal hype. Useful distinc- tions are obliterated; our awareness of the real cases, when they occur, is dulled. Finally, when we presume to judge someone from a long time ago, we should take into account the practical constraints under which they had to operate, and the limited mental hori- zons by which they were enclosed. Columbus was in some ways a man of extraordinary vision with a defiant atti- tude to the art of the possible. Yet he could not anticipate the consequences of his discovery of the colonial enterprise confided to him. Five hun- dred years further on, with all our
HISTORY TODAY really disastrous is hard to judge dispas- sionately. The loss of population in the early colonial period was probably due to other causes. In the long run, colon- ial Hispaniola proved able to maintain a large population and a spectacular material culture. Lèse-majesté? Spanish rebels being hanged in the New World by Columbus and his brothers (Theodor de Bry). Since it was first broached in Col- day, the debate about the mor- ality of the colonisation of the New World has had three intense periods: in the sixteenth century, when the issues of the justice of the Spanish presence and the iniquity of maltreatment of the natives were raised by religious critics in the late opportunists; late and foreign eighteenth century, when Rousseau and Dr Dr Johnson agreed in preferring the uncorrupted wilderness which was thought to have preceded colonisation; and in our own day. Until recently, Columbus managed largely to avoid implication in the sins of his succes- sors. Las Casas revered him, and pitied, rather than censured, the imperfec- tions of his attitude to the natives. Eighteenth-century sentimentalists re- gretted the colonial experience as a whole, generally without blaming Col- umbus for it. This was fair enough. Columbus' own model of colonial society seems to have derived from Genoese precedents: the trading fac- tory, merchant quarter and family firm. The The idea of a 'total' colony, with a population and environment revolu- tionised by the impact and image of the metropolis, seems to have been im- posed on him by his Castilian masters. In making him personally responsible for everything which followed - post hunc ergo propter hunc - his modern critics have followed a convention in- augurated by admirers, who credited umbur 8 Columbus with much that was nothing to do with him including, most absurdly of all the culture of the present United States. Columbus never touched what was to become US ter- come M ritory except in Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands. The values which define erry the 'American ideal' - personal liberty, lism, freedom of conscience, individualism, Farsun equality of opportunity and representa- tive democracy - would have meant nothing to him. the Columbus deserves the credit or blame only for what he actually did: which was to discover a route that permanently linked the shores of the Atlantic and to contribute - more sig- nally, perhaps, than any other indi- vidual to the long process by which once sundered peoples of the world. were brought together in a single net- work of communications, which ex- Book of Vanity publishing? Title page of th Privileges compiled by Columbus and referring to himself as 'Almirante Mayor. artas revileg Cedvlasn oras Escrituras Xpoul olon ayozg murante olar Occano Viforcy vouernador &la olas vicrra irme posed them to the perils and benefits of mutual contagion and exchange. Whether or not one regards this as meritorious achievement, there was a genuine touch of heroism in it - both in the scale of its effects and in the boldness which inspired it. There had been many attempts to cross the Atlan- tic in central latitudes, but all - as far as 1 because the explor- we know we know failed ers clung to the zone of of westerly winds in an attempt to secure a passage home. Columbus was the first to succeed pre- cisely because he had the courage to sail with the wind at his back. Home is in Historians, it is often said, have no business making moral judgements at all. The philosophy of the nursery. school ass and ssembly, in which role-models and culprits are paraded for praise or reproof, seems nowadays to belong to a hopelessly antiquated sort of history, the reality of the past ma tered less than the lessons for the pre- sent and the future. A great part of the historian's art is now held to consist in what the examiners call 'empathy' - the ability to see the past with the eyes, and to re-construct the feelings, of those who took part in it. If value judgements are made at all, they ought at least to be controlled by certain essential disciplines. First, they must be the facte consistent with the facts: it is unhelp- of 'genocide' for inst * a was ful to accuse of 'genocide', for instance, a colonial administrator who anxious for the preservation of the native labour force. Secondly, they should be made in the context of the value-system of the society scrutinised, at the time concerned. It would be impertinent to expect Columbus to regard slavery as immoral, or to uphold the equality of all peoples. Conquista- dors and colonists colonists are as entitled to be judged from the perspective of moral Thir relativism as are the cannibals and hu- A man-sacrificers of the indigenous past. Thirdly, moral judgements should be expressed in language tempered by respect for the proper meanings of words. Loose talk of 'genocide' twists a spiral to verbal hype. Useful distinc- tions are obliterated; our awareness of the real cases, when they occur, is dulled. Finally, when we presume to judge someone from a long time ago, we should take into account the practical constraints under which they had to operate, and the limited mental hori- zons by which they were enclosed. Columbus was in some ways a man of extraordinary vision with a defiant atti- tude to the art of the possible. Yet he could not anticipate the consequences of his discovery of the colonial enterprise confided to him. Five hun- dred years further on, with all our
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Question
Felipe Fernandez Armrest Columbus VILLIAN OR HERO. Write a commentary on the work. First, identify the author’s argument...if there is one. If the author is trying to convince you of a specific position or point of view, that is an argument. If the work is purely informational and takes a neutral stance towards the topic examined, then it does not make an argument. After that, discuss how the author supports their position with the evidence they cite. If the piece does not have a clear argument, discuss how the evidence used in the piece only provides information without attempting to make any larger point. DON’T REJECT THE QUESTION PLEASE ALLOW SOMEONE ELSE TO ANSWER PLEASE AND THANK YOU.
Transcribed Image Text:to avoid
Said,
HISTORY TODAY
posed them to the perils and benefits of
mutual contagion and exchange.
Whether or not one regards this as
meritorious achievement, there was a
genuine touch of heroism in it – both
in the scale of its effects and in the
boldness which inspired it. There had
been many attempts to cross the Atlan-
tic in central latitudes, but all -as far
as far as
the explor-
to the zone of westerly winds
to secure a passage home.
we know - failed because
in an
Columbus was the first to succeed pre-
cisely because he had the courage to
sail
with the
Historians, it is
business
all. The philosophy of the nursery-
school assembly, in whie
and culprits are paraded for praise or
reproof, seems nowadays to belong to a
hopelessly antiquated sort of history,
for which the reality of the past mat-
tered less than the lessons for the pre-
sent and the future. A great part of the
historian's art is now held to consist in
wind at his back.
t is often
making moral judgements at
have no
which role-models
Lèse-majesté? Spanish rebels being hanged in the New World
by Columbus and his brothers (Theodor de Bry).
really disastrous is hard to judge dispas-
sionately. The loss of population in the
carly colonial period was probably due
to other causes. In the long run, colon-
ial Hispaniola proved able to maintain a
large population and a spectacular
Columbus with much that was nothing
to do with him - including, most
absurdly of all - the culture of the
present United States. Columbus never
touched what was to become US ter-
what the examiners call 'empathy'
the ability to see the past with the eyes,
and to re-construct the feelings, of
those who took part in it. If value
ritory except in Puerto Rico and the
Virgin Islands. The values which define
the 'American ideal' – personal liberty,
individualism, freedom of conscience,
judgements are made at all, they
at least to be controlled by certain
material culture.
Since it was first broached in Col-
umbus' day, the debate about the mor-
ality of the colonisation of the New
World has had three intense periods: in
the sixteenth century, when the issues
the justice of the Spanish presence
and the iniquity of maltreatment of the
rere raised
essential disciplines. First, they must be
consistent with the facts: it is
day.
unhelp-
o accuse of 'genocide', for instance,
equality of opportunity and representa-
tive democracy
nothing to him.
Columbus deserves the credit or
blame
which was to discover a route that
permanently linked the shores of the
Atlantic and
nally, perhaps, than any other indi-
vidual
once sundered peoples of the world
were brought together in a single net-
work of communications, which ex-
ful
would have meant
a colonial administrator who was
anxious for the preservation of the
native labour force. Secondly, they
should be made in the context of the
only for what he actually did:
value
-system
of the society scrutinised,
natives were
by
religious critics
and forcign opportunists; in the late
eighteenth century, when Rousseau
and Dr Johnson agreed in preferring
the uncorrupted wilderness which was
thought to have preceded colonisation;
and in our own day. Until recently,
Columbus managed largely to
implication in the sins of his succes-
sors. Las Casas revered him, and pitied,
rather than censured, the imperfec-
tions of his attitude to the natives.
at the time concerned. It would be
impertinent to expect Columbus to
regard slavery as immoral, or to uphold
the equality of all peoples. Conquista-
dors and colonists are as entitled to be
judged
relativism as are the cannibals and hu-
to
contribute - more sig-
to the long process by which
from
the perspective of moral
Vanity publishing? Title page of the Book of
Privileges compiled by Columbus and
referring to himself as 'Almirante Mayor'.
man-sacrificers of the indigenous past.
Thirdly, moral judgements should be
expressed in language tempered by
respect for the proper meanings of
words. Loose talk of 'genocide' twists a
Eighte
gretted the colonial experience as a
whole, generally without blaming Col-
umbus for it. This was fair enough.
Columbus' own model of colonial
h-century sentimentalists re-
artas Srevileg spiral to verbal hype. Useful distinc-
tions are obliterated; our awareness of
the real cases, when they occur, is
dulled.
society seems to have derived from
Genoese precedents: the trading fac-
tory, merchant quarter and family firm.
The idea of a 'total' colony, with a
population and environment revolu-
tionised by the impact and image of the
metropolis, seems to have been im-
posed on him by his Castilian masters.
In making him personally responsible
for everything which followed - post
y oiras Efcrituras
OXpouil.olon
Imurante ayozs
OlPSarccano Oildrey
vSoucinador &las
slas v hera irmc
Finally, when we presume to judge
someone from a long time ago, we
should take into account the practical
constraints under which they had to
operate, and the limited mental hori-
zons by which they were enclosed.
Columbus was in some ways a man of
extraordinary vision with a defiant atti-
tude to the art of the possible. Yet he
could not anticipate the consequences
of his discovery or of the colonial
enterprise confided to him. Five hun-
dred years further on, with all our
hunc ergo propter hunc - his modern
critics have followed a convention in-
augurated by admirers, who credited
8.
Transcribed Image Text:HISTORY TODAY
(Right) A Great Step for
Mankind? Salvador
Dali's The Discovery of
America by
Christopher Columbus
advantages of hind-
sight, we can only
boast a handful of 'suc-
cessful' colonial
experiments - in the
United States, Siberia,
Australia and New
Zealand - in all of
which the indigenous
populations have
been exterminated or
swamped. The Spanish
empire founded by
Columbus was strictly
unprecedented and,
in crucial respects, has
never been parallel-
led. The problems of
regulating such vast
dominions, with so
many inhabitants, so
far away, and with so
few resources, were
unforeseeable and
proved unmanage-
able. Never had so
many people been
conquered by cul-
ture-shock or their im-
mune-systems in-
vaded by irresistible
disease. Never before
had such a challenging
environment been so
suddenly transformed
in an alien image. In
these circumstances,
it would be unreason-
able to expect Col-
umbus' creation to
work well. Like Dr
Johnson's dog, it de-
serves some applause
for having performed
at all.
So which was Col-
umbus: hero or vil-
lain? The answer is
that he was neither but has become
both. The real Columbus was a mixture
of virtues and vices like the rest of us,
not conspicuously good or just, but
generally well-intentioned, who grap-
pled creditably with intractable prob- precious to discard. Kinship with a
lems. Heroism and villainy are not,
however, objective qualities. They
exist only in the eye of the beholder.
In images of Columbus, they are now
firmly impressed on the retinas of the
upholders of rival legends and will
never be expunged. Myths are versions
of the past which people believe in for
irrational motives - usually because
they feel good or find their prejudices
confirmed. To liberal or ecologically-
conscious intellectuals, for instance,
who treasure their feelings of superior-
ity over their predecessors, moral
indignation with Columbus is too
sed the real Columbus and, judged by
their effects, have outstripped him in
importance. For one of the sad lessons
historians learn is that history is influ-
enced less by the facts as they happen
than by the falschoods men believe.
culture-hero is too profound a part of
many Americans' sense of identity to
be easily excised.
Thus Columbus-the-hero and Col-
umbus-the-villain live on, mutually sus-
tained by the passion which continuing
controversy imparts to their suppor-
ters. No argument can dispel them,
however convincing, no evidence,
however compelling They have eclip-
FOR FURTHER READING:
J.H. Elliott, The Old World and the New (Cam-
bridge University Press, 1970): AW. Crosby.
Columbian Exchange Biological and Cultural
Consequences of 1492 (Greenwood, 1972): J
Larner, The Certainty of Columbus', History,
Ixxiii (1987). F. Fernández-Armesto, Columbus
(Oxford University Press, 1991).
Felipe Fernández-Armesto is a member of The
Faculty of Modern History of Oxford University.
9.
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