530 years ago, on October 12, 1492, the expedition of Christopher Columbus reached the island of San Salvador in the Bahamas. This day is considered the official date of the discovery of America. Columbuswrote: “I took possession of all discovered islands for our most fortunate King by making public proclamation and unfurling his standard, no one making any resistance” (2020, pp. 2). This historical even has become a turning point in the history of the world, and a beginning of the future United States. The discoveries of Columbus contributed to the breaking of the medieval worldview and were closely connected with the general course of development of the capitalist mode of production and colonial expansion. To develop a comprehensive picture of the changes Columbus’s exploration of America brought, this research will focus on its main stages and both historical and cultural consequences up to this day.
Literary Work and Additional Research
The key source that will be used in the study is the Letter of Discovery (1493) written by Columbus himself. It contains a retelling of the exploration process and Columbus’s notes on the Indigenous population and culture, thus, it will serve as a background for analyzing the event. Additionally, other sources might be used in the study, as factual evidence could be needed to justify more claims about exploration’s consequences. Up to date, this is the research that will need to be made to ensure that the information in the study is correct and objective.
Final Project Form, Its Feasibility, and Appropriateness
After the project is completed and finalized, it should take the form of a demonstrative essay, as it seems the most feasible strategy for such study. Review of the Letter of Discovery (1493) by Cristopher Columbus (2020) and evidence from literature will offer a basis for analyzing the historical event and drawing conclusions about it. The appropriateness of such plan is supported by the fact that. in the United States, the personality and historical role of the Columbus are perceived rather ambiguously. The arrival of European settlers marked the beginning of mass colonization, the slave trade, and the extermination of Indigenous people. In the Letter, Columbus himself states that “as soon as I had come into this sea, I took by force some Indians from the first island, in order that they might learn from us” (2020, pp. 5). In the light of recent events, such as the rise of Black Lives Matter movement and multiple racial scandals occurring in the United States, the Columbus’s discovery appears in another light. Thus, it only seems fair to critically assess one of the main historical events of American history from this specific side.
Concerns Associated with the Project and Its Completion
It is one of the study’s main concerns – to provide a review of the event from different perspectives, especially the viewpoint of Indian and Black people. This topic, while appearing as quite simple and rather one-sided, should not focus only on the positive implications of Columbus’s discovery, but on the grief and destruction it had brought. The statements and claims that will be made in the final essay may be a bit opposite to what historians usually say about Columbus’s discovery, which might seem concerning at first. Still, there seems to be no real complications associated with completing this study, as it does not hold any controversial or radical opinions on Columbus and the exploration of America.
Work Cited
Columbus, Cristopher. “Letter of Discovery (1493) by Christopher Columbus.” American Literature I: An Anthology of Texts From Early America Through the Civil War, edited by Jenifer Kurtz, VIVA Open Publishing, 2020.