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Book review on christopher columbus by zachary kent

During the end of the 15th century, almost everyone have the idea that the world was sphere in shape. However, the question at stake was focused on the circumference. Columbus, through his voyage to find Asia and discovery of the Americas, miscalculated the circumference of the earth by one-forth of the actual size ((Laufer in Columbus Mythbusters). His life and his explorations were filled with myths; these may be based on little evidence studied by scholars who previously and devotedly reviewed his professional and personal life.

The text presented new views about the life and discoveries of Christopher Columbus providing with sufficient evidence on recreating the events that happened during his voyage. His quest on trying to reach Asia, opened new opportunities for him to calculate a close approximate of the circumference of the earth and to discover new islands which includes the Bahamas Islands, Cuba, Puerto Rico and Hispaniola; which is now known as Haiti and the Dominican Republic (Carroll in Honorning Christopher Columbus).

The brilliant navigational skills of Christopher Columbus had earned him the respect of Queen Isabella which trusted and funded him for the next voyages he led. During his first voyage, it was believed that Queen Isabella sold her crown jewels to finance it. It was true that she had offered it. However, it was no longer necessary to do that because she was advised that the voyage can be funded using different means. As soon as Columbus reached his first island of discovery, he found a group of people which he referred to as the “ Indians”, thinking that he had finally found India.

But in fact, it was the American Indians whom he founded. These people are the Taino who were loving and peaceful people. On the other stretch of the Caribbean Island, the Caribs, were cannibals. They captured and eat people as part of their daily diet. Down across the island was Mexico, where people were more civilized, practice human sacrifice as part of their ritual. This had been verified by historians (Carroll in Honorning Christopher Columbus). This point leads us to conclude that the Pocahontas-like-stories; where peaceful and loving Indians were no threat until the Europeans came into the picture; were myths.

Columbus was in the right place at the right time. He had met and interacted with the Tiano who had been described as loving and peaceful people. If he had encountered the Caribs during his quest, it will change the history and the discovery of America. Then will also end the voyage of Columbus. Like in any voyages, the search for herbs, spices and gold were a few major concerns. Disappointment came into the way since Columbus failed to find gold on the islands he discovered except from Hispaniola which had few gold resources. They headed back to Spain.

Back in Spain, his success has been celebrated. After which, he was sent to another voyage and provided well in terms of ship and crew. As he returned to America, he encountered the Cribs and lost some men. In Hispaniola, he found out that the crew that he left from the previous voyage became lousy and attacked the Indians. We are all make mistakes. No one is perfect. Columbus, armed with frustration, illness and anger and the inability to control his men, he sent thousands of Indians to be slaves. They were forces to collect gold.

Columbus blamed them for the misfortune that he was experiencing and for the low production of gold. As soon as Queen Isabella heard about this, she commanded that the slavery will be stopped. Columbus was not the oppressor. However, he was not able to control those people who should be under him. The purpose of this book is to fill up the gaps between the myths and the facts that surrounded the life and discoveries of Columbus. Filling up the missing link can lead us to more understanding of our heritage. It offers no bias on what Columbus had achieved and failed to do.

It doesn’t mean that he failed to lead and control his people, he will be denied of honor for his contributions in the navigation system, evangelization of America, discoveries of new land and his undying belief in his mission as God’s instrument to discover. He might had gone challenging and adventurous encounters to improve the quality of our life today. His example forms an image of a hero without cape and super powers. We don’t have to have the ability to fly or to own a magic wand. With out him, the American Indians may still be cannibals, eating human flesh as part of their diet.

They may still be offering human life as a sacrifice to their Gods. These facts are seen and recognized in the book. This book is also written in such a way that even younger readers can enjoy. Unlike other history books; Christopher Columbus by Zachary Kent, provided maps, pictures and paintings to illustrate the life and discoveries of Columbus. It is very attractive and colorful to children especially for ages ten to fourteen. Each page offers an adventure that will open the eyes of children’s imagination.

With this, Columbus lives in every child. History doesn’t have to be boring. It doesn’t have to state only events that happened in the past the led us to our present. It is the story of man, our story. It involves interesting facts and events that contributed in the culture that is formed today. It stretched out the influence of these people that changed the course of our lives. And without them and their courage to widen the world around us, we are still hunting and gathering food, living in caves and use animal skin for clothing.

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