BELL RINGER List at least 5 things you know about Christopher Columbus

Spain wanted a share of the Asian spice trade so… Portuguese sailors had found a water route around Africa to the East Indies to use as trade routes for spices

Columbus planned to reach the East Indies by sailing west across the Atlantic Ocean

In August of 1492, Columbus set out with 3 ships and a crew of 90 sailors Columbus commanded the Santa Maria (the largest ship) Nina, Pinta, and Santa Maria

King Ferdinand and Queen Isabella of Spain financed a voyage of exploration by… Christopher Columbus (Italian sea captain)

The crew went a month without seeing any land then… Columbus decided to follow a flock of birds Southwest

On October 12, 1492… a lookout finally spotted land

Columbus rowed ashore and planted the banner of Spain on the beach He was convinced he had reached the East Indies in Asia

Columbus had actually reached the West Indies (islands off the coast of North and South America Columbus explored the islands for almost 3 months before returning to Spain to report his success

A.P.P.A.R.T.S. Primary Source Analysis 1 st – Read through once with a highlighter – highlight things that stick out to you about what is described, circle terms or phrases you are unfamiliar with 1 st – Read through once with a highlighter – highlight things that stick out to you about what is described, circle terms or phrases you are unfamiliar with 2 nd time – Answer the questions on the worksheet and go back to the reading to find EVIDENCE to support your response 2 nd time – Answer the questions on the worksheet and go back to the reading to find EVIDENCE to support your response **USE QUOTES! **USE QUOTES!

My statement: At first, Columbus hoped to gain the trust and friendship of the natives by giving gifts. Evidence: On October 12 th 1492, Columbus describes “because I knew that they were a people who could better be freed and converted to our Holy Faith by love than by force, [I] gave to some of them red caps and to others glass beads..”

Columbus Told King Ferdinand and Queen Isabella of the Indians he met (the Tainos) He explained that the Tainos could be converted to Christianity and used as slaves

2 nd voyage ( ) 4 TH voyage ( ) 3 RD voyage ( ) Columbus made three more voyages, exploring and conquering the Caribbean, Central America and parts of South America

Columbus and the Spanish in the Caribbean…the later trips Gold and slave raids dominate Spanish policy in the Caribbean – natives had gold quota to fill every three months…or else  Gold and slave raids dominate Spanish policy in the Caribbean – natives had gold quota to fill every three months…or else  Resistance by natives did happen, Resistance by natives did happen, but Spanish armor, muskets, swords, horses…etc. overpowered them Within 5 years, half the population Within 5 years, half the population of the Caribbean had been killed of the Caribbean had been killed Within 30 years of Columbus’s arrival between 80-90% had been killed from violence and disease Within 30 years of Columbus’s arrival between 80-90% had been killed from violence and disease

Bartolome de las Casas … Husbands and wives were together only once every eight or ten months and when they met they were so exhausted and depressed on both sides...they ceased to procreate. As for the newly born, they died early because their mothers, overworked and famished, had no milk to nurse them, and for this reason, while I was in Cuba, 7,000 children died in three months. Some mothers even drowned their babies from sheer desperation...In this way, husbands died in the mines, wives died at work, and children died from a lack of milk...and in a short time this land which was so great, so powerful and fertile...was depopulated...my eyes have seen these acts so foreign to human nature, and now I tremble as I write... - Bartolome de Las Casas from “Short Account of the Destruction of the Indies”

Columbus and the Cannibal myth In his journal, Columbus refers to another tribe in the area the “Caribs” or “Canibs” and describes them as “man-eaters” this is the first record of the cannibal myth in the Caribbean In his journal, Columbus refers to another tribe in the area the “Caribs” or “Canibs” and describes them as “man-eaters” this is the first record of the cannibal myth in the Caribbean The myth continues to this day The myth continues to this day Why does this matter? Why does this matter? Think from the native perspective: Think from the native perspective:

So who is to blame for the destruction of the Taino people? YOU DECIDE! DEFENDANTS: Columbus Columbus Columbus’s men Columbus’s men King Ferdinand and Queen Isabella King Ferdinand and Queen Isabella The Tainos The Tainos The System of Empire The System of Empire Each of these defendants is charged with murder: Each of these defendants is charged with murder: The murder of the Taino people in the years following 1492 In your group you must: –A – Defend yourself against the murder charge POINT/COUNTERPOINT –B – Explain who you think is guilty and why –Percentage guilt will be assigned (EX: Columbus 50% guilty, King and Queen 50% guilty)

Point – Charge against you Counter-point – your defense Point 1. King and Queen financed Columbus’s mission Counterpoint 1. Just because we paid for it doesn’t mean we should take the blame for what happened while he was there. What if a parent pays for a child’s ticket into a movie and they misbehave while watching, is this the parent’s fault?