The Lie of Columbus

  The popular consensus and current legacy of Christopher Columbus is that of Christopher Columbus discovered the "new world".  An Italian explorer, his voyages financed by Spain over five-hundred years ago was for profit and prestige for Spain.  Christopher Columbus had many voyages during his explorations and solidified his place in history as one of the greatest explorers that has ever lived.  The popularity of Columbus is celebrated in the western world.
    The elementary school teachings that Christopher Columbus proved the earth was flat is wrong.  Regrettably this is the lie that we were taught in school.  Proof of a round planet earth was already known by ancient scholars.  According to Wikipedia.org, "The rounded shape of the earth has already been known in ancient times, although this came to be largely forgotten in the Middle Ages."  Recently, the popular opinion of Christopher Columbus discovering the world is not flat is changing.  Columbus sailed west to find a shorter route to Japan because he thought that the world was far smaller than previously thought.  The trip was about setting up a shorter trade route and becoming wealthy.
    Christopher Columbus did not discover America.  What he did discover was the West Indies.  According to Teacher Vision, the crew of Columbus finds land and meets the Arawak peoples.  Columbus asks them if they are in Japan; however, his discovery becomes clear that these people are not Japanese, so Columbus thinks they have landed in India.  This is why we have the term "Indians."  He claims the land for Spain and names it San Salvador.  The Arawak peoples currently inhabiting the land will soon be used as slave labor to mine gold and other riches for the Spain.  In no uncertain terms, this begins the genocide of the Arawak peoples. 
    Although Columbus sailed to Florida; crediting Christopher Columbus for the discovery of America is wrong.   Columbus promised his men would be rich; nevertheless, his men did not become wealthy as promised.  However, in the age of Columbus he would tell his men anything to sail with him as incentive.
    I feel that Christopher Columbus did not discover America, nor should he be praised as a hero.  The legacy of Christopher Columbus, in my opinion, is horrendous piece of misinformation that is taught to the children of the United States in our classrooms.  I feel that changing historical inaccuracies would be best and Christopher Columbus should be remembered for what he is.  An explorer who simply wanted to profit and be recognized for his accomplishments, and because of his greed and lust for power many indigenous peoples of "claimed" land suffer because of Columbus' actions.
   

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Reference Websites

http://library.thinkquest.org/J002678F/columbus.htm
http://www.teachervision.fen.com/explorers/discovery/6832.html