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At the Heart of Colonialism
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As it is often taught, the colonial endeavor largely revolved around the thrill of exploring the unknown. What exists beyond the European continental limits? What biodiversity and what kinds of people makes up land masses that have yet to be discovered by Europeans? However, the thrill of exploration in itself seems to be Columbus's weakest skill and motivation. Columbus is overtly inept in the fields that would be required for proper exploration, namely botany, biology, ethnography, and geography. Additionally, he lacks interest in exploring these fields in depth. In describing the different plants, he manages to say, "I have seen many trees very unlike our own, many of them with a host of different branches emerging from the one trunk, one branch differing from another to such a degree that the variation is astonishing" (36). He reiterates several times in his journal entries that he does not have the time, the resources, nor the incentive to explore the islands thoroughly. He reinforces these comments by repeating the main objective, gold. This would strongly suggest that the true motivations of colonization have little to do with expanding the knowledge of humankind, but rather with producing subjects of the state, expanding Christendom, building stronger militaries, and, most importantly, enriching the Motherland.
Columbus describes the indigenous as intelligent because "they quickly repeat everything said to them (30). He continues, " I believe they would readily become Christians; it appeared to me that they have no religion" (30). Columbus's definition of intelligence is that of docile submission; someone who exhibits near to zero critical spirit and repeats what they are told. In order to make the indigenous colonial subjects, Columbus suggests converting them to Christianity. Once Christian, they could be controlled through faith. Those who resist will receive the wrath of the Spanish knights as expressed in Guaman Poma's excerpts.
Columbus was also motivated in searching for resources that could increase the might of the Spanish navy, such as pine wood for building ships. At the heart of the expedition was the search for gold and riches. It is through this strong desire for gold that the myth that is seemingly alluded to in Guaman Poma's excerpts, El Dorado, is generated.
read full post >>The Meeting of Two Worlds
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What I really enjoyed about these readings was the fact that one was through the perspective of a Quechua noble man and the other through a European explorer and colonizer—two sides of the conquest. I found this to be very helpful in understanding the historic moment that transformed the entire continent of America. Both readings […] read full post >>
The Journal of Christopher Columbus and Guaman Poma
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The Journal of Christopher Columbus shed a great deal of light on colonialism and its eurocentric attitude. I knew of this previously to reading the journal, however, to read such discourse written in the first person was enlightening. I found it interesting how quickly Columbus seems to understand what the natives are saying. I wonder how much of this communication was reality and how much was based on assumption. Columbus seems to be a person who was quick to assume. Especially when it comes to the native people. He automatically assumes that they have no religion, and interestingly, he also assumes they think that he comes from heaven, or the sky. To me, it seems obvious that they have some form of worship however Columbus seems to ignore this, and put more importance on his own flattery. This same assumption of superiorty of Christianity is evident in the pages from the Guaman Poma reading. Fray Vicente say’s to Atagualpa that he should worship god and nothing else. To imagine the world so long ago is made easier with Columbus's description of the land. I envision his eyes widening at the sight of this land he has just set foot on and quickly claims his own by each footstep he takes. The lush forest and the tropical fruits he describes makes me think of how the search for a pristine, ‘untouched’ paradise is still happening in our current culture. It makes me think of the photographs we see in tourism posters or magazines of seemingly unpopulated stretches of beach. Is there still some evidence of colonialist behaviours or ideas in our society today? Perhaps not as extreme? In the Guaman Poma reading, and in the journal of Columbus, I got a strong sense of confidence from the Spaniards compared to the native people. Perhaps because they come from a more advanced civilization in regards to technology- they have more weapons. and they are not very quick to trust. The natives, although they are intimidated, seem somewhat trusting of their invaders. I almost find their trust to be more brave than the Spaniards who come armed.
read full post >>The First New Chronicle
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Reading the First New Chronicle I was struck by one thing in particular. "Gold" Throughout the text Guaman mentions the Conquistadors lust for gold and silver many times. This to me highlights one of the huge post Columbus drivers of exploration to the... read full post >>
The Journal of Christopher Columbus and Guaman Poma
Posted by: feedwordpress
The Journal of Christopher Columbus shed a great deal of light on colonialism and its eurocentric attitude. I knew of this previously to reading the journal, however, to read such discourse written in the first person was enlightening. I found it interesting how quickly Columbus seems to understand what the natives are saying. I wonder how much of this communication was reality and how much was based on assumption. Columbus seems to be a person who was quick to assume. Especially when it comes to the native people. He automatically assumes that they have no religion, and interestingly, he also assumes they think that he comes from heaven, or the sky. To me, it seems obvious that they have some form of worship however Columbus seems to ignore this, and put more importance on his own flattery. This same assumption of superiorty of Christianity is evident in the pages from the Guaman Poma reading. Fray Vicente say’s to Atagualpa that he should worship god and nothing else. To imagine the world so long ago is made easier with Columbus's description of the land. I envision his eyes widening at the sight of this land he has just set foot on and quickly claims his own by each footstep he takes. The lush forest and the tropical fruits he describes makes me think of how the search for a pristine, ‘untouched’ paradise is still happening in our current culture. It makes me think of the photographs we see in tourism posters or magazines of seemingly unpopulated stretches of beach. Is there still some evidence of colonialist behaviours or ideas in our society today? Perhaps not as extreme? In the Guaman Poma reading, and in the journal of Columbus, I got a strong sense of confidence from the Spaniards compared to the native people. Perhaps because they come from a more advanced civilization in regards to technology- they have more weapons. and they are not very quick to trust. The natives, although they are intimidated, seem somewhat trusting of their invaders. I almost find their trust to be more brave than the Spaniards who come armed.
read full post >>Columbus Journal Articles
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The journal entries of Christopher Columbus were very interesting to read. There are a few things that stuck out to me. In the first handful of journal entries, Columbus writes how far the ship has traveled and than he reports that he told the crew a lesser distance. He does this so often that the […]
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read full post >>Introduction
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Hello, I am Julian Heavyside, a fourth year Biology student at UBC. I am particularly fond of birds and this interest has taken me on many great adventures. Last year, knowing next to nothing about the place, I set out on a four month trip to Peru to study bird communities from the high Andes […]
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read full post >>Guaman Poma Reflection
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When I read the Guaman Poma text I empathized with Inca Atagualpa because where I come from, El Salvador, religion is also something that is enforced on people and if you’re not Roman Catholic then people will see you as cursed or as if there’s really something wrong with you. Nevertheless, it’s not as gruesome […] read full post >>
Guaman Poma Reflection
Posted by: feedwordpress
When I read the Guaman Poma text I empathized with Inca Atagualpa because where I come from, El Salvador, religion is also something that is enforced on people and if you’re not Roman Catholic then people will see you as cursed or as if there’s really something wrong with you. Nevertheless, it’s not as gruesome […] read full post >>
The First New Chronicle
Posted by: feedwordpress
Reading the First New Chronicle I was struck by one thing in particular. "Gold" Throughout the text Guaman mentions the Conquistadors lust for gold and silver many times. This to me highlights one of the huge post Columbus drivers of exploration to the... read full post >>
