Christopher Columbus died 500 years ago this year, but how should Americans remember him this Columbus Day? Was he the grand explorer deserving of the honor long accorded him, or was he a rank imperialist worthy of scorn? Was he a reflection of the historical circumstances that conditioned him, or was he a willing agent in the destruction of indigenous cultures?
To help form your own opinion, Britannica presents a detailed biography of the life of Christopher Columbus, as written by Britannica contributor Valerie I.J. Flint, a G.F. Grant Professor of History at the University of Hull, England and author of The Imaginative Landscape of Christopher Columbus. In addition, you can check out a three-minute video about Christopher Columbus as well as an animated map that illustrates Columbus' various voyages.
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Comments: 3
It is a shame that it took so long for history to finally speak the truth about this historical no good. But better late than never.
Long live the dead.
It's all irrelevant now. What the peons didn't know then about the Queen falsifiers matters not now.
Who's on first now really doesn't matter anymore. It's kinda like the Twins lost.
And the surprising holiday, who cares, we just, or that is some of us get the day off, except those that don't and the retired that just say. I didn't know it's a holiday, seems like any other day to me except the Post Office and the Bank are closed.
Not really. There are still petitions from Native American advocates in the Pope's office which demand reparations for the gold and other treasures stolen by Columbus on behalf of the Vatican. The Bible requires restoration and compensation for such thievery and those requests will not be withdrawn until the grievances they represent are redressed.
As for me, no, I did not get the day off.
Argh!!!!