There are many people who can be considered the indirectfounding fathers of The United States. Such people are TheChristian Crusaders, Marco Polo, Cortez, Pizarro, andMartin Luther. The Crusades were a series of holy warsfought to win the holy land of Christianity from those whofollow Mohammed. Even though these wars failed in therespect of winning the land back, they did triumph in anotheraspect. The crusaders introduced a lifestyle to the Europeansin the Holy Land that was more appealing than they knewbefore.
Following the wars the Europeans returned and theycreated a market to deliver the desirable goods they cameaccustomed to in the Holy Land. This was one reason forthe beginning of exploration, and ultimately led to thediscovery of America. Marco Polo was a great explorer ofhis time. He wrote a manuscript on his voyage entitled, “ TheVoyage of Marco Polo.” In this manuscript it said how theKahn of China lived in riches, used fine china, decoratedwith gold, and used spices. When the manuscript reachedthe people of Europe they realized how life could better ifthey had the materials as did the Khan. This discoveryencouraged people to find new places to find these riches. Cortez founded the city of Tenochtitlan, which was createdby the Aztecs in central Mexico.
He said how the people ofthis town lived with the riches of a Khan. They city wasadvanced further than any European had seen in the NewWorld. The ruler of this land, Montezuma, lived in hugeroom filled with “ jewels, precious stones, silver, and anastonishing amount of gold.” Soon after his arrival the Aztecsrebelled.
Cortez had Indian and Spanish allies and won thebattle against the Aztecs. News of the conquest of Mexicocreated a rush of Spanish to America and led to furthersettling of the continent. Francisco Pizarro found the empireof the Incas in the Andes Mountains region. This empire, likethe Aztec Empire, was advanced and rich in gold and silver. Inca, the head of the Empire and was considered a God, was killed by Pizarro.
This lessened the spirit of the Incasand made it easier for Pizarro and his men to succeed amongthem. This success, again, encouraged the Europeans tosettle their own area. One of the best known reformers, Martin Luther, can be considered a founding father of TheUnited States. Luther tried to reform the Church of England, and rid it of Catholic ways. He wrote his 95 Thesis thatattacked the ways of the church and helped to better it. Hisresentment of Rome and Catholicism helped to spread thereformation into Northern Europe. This in return created adream in adventurers like Columbus to look for a new routeto India in search for worthy goods.
By avoiding Italy hediscovered America. Without Luther’s ideas, Columbuswould never have the dream to find the route. Each of thesepeople can be considered the founding fathers of the UnitedStates. They all played an important role in history, and inthe making of the United State.
