Columbus Riff
Years before the stumbling upon the so-called New World the Portuguese had already penetrated the Western coast of Africa and they bring home gold dust, strange fruits and African slaves.. They beat back the bush like a lion tamer with a whip and leave but nothingness in their wake. They conduct business with others who can not fathom the destiny of this trade.
Portugal dominates the global stage then.. Columbus, married to the daughter of a Portuguese nobleman, is witness to the rise of this empire. It is a convenient marriage for them both—he procures access to the Royal Court and her family receives hopefully, relief from their poverty.
The exploration of the Atlantic and the pushing back of the Horizon is in the air. The magnitude of the destruction can not be reckoned with, especially among a people who do not fear death. Fortresses are built and Portugal’s only real enemy is not the people who inhabit this coast, but from within, therefore, she can not look without.
Fast forward and so Columbus enters Spain a 34 year-old widowed destitute. He will not make history until he is 39. Columbus’ success hangs on serendipity: Spain fights the crescent with the cross and sweeps it’s Jews out of its way. What is at stake in the end is not the amount of gold, or even how large the empire. What is at stake, in the end, is the way in which history is written. Like a jealous sister, Spain is bent on eclipsing her sister, Portugal. Spain is interested in Columbus’ ideas, but she is distracted. He approaches Portugal yet again, but this time at the height of her African triumph. Columbus finds that Portugal, having found the sea route to the Indies along Africa’s coast, is now in want of nothing. Truly it can be said that one man’s discovery is ( wittingly or unwittingly), the other man’s destruction. But he does not allow himself to be destroyed. Spain continues her battle against the moors, where even Isabella herself dons armor and sword. Granada falls and a spirit of invincibility intoxicates the Spanish crown enough to give in to the folly of Columbus.
So in the end Columbus sets sail to convert the heathens he already assumes is out there, while hopefully fattening the purse of the Spanish treasury. In his possession is a letter of introduction from the King and Queen of Spain, a crude compass that is not reliable and the crew of 90 or so men who are disgruntled to be under the command of a foreigner.
For a foreigner Columbus is. Remember, he is Genoese and like his crew, he has his prejudices. Venetians, as far as he is concerned, can not be trusted, although it is Marco Polo he adores. But when the Spanish Court grants Columbus his wish they, of course do it at another’s expense. The town of Palo would be the town so honored to supply Columbus with two ships and a crew. Its citizens hear of this honor in a former mosque, now church, at a mass. From Palos was given the Nina and Pinta—the girl and the whore. But let us not forget Santa Maria’s humble beginnings—first as Naughty Mary and then to Holy Mary. But foreigner or not, Columbus is successful in launching, finally his dream-- this journey to Cipangu that promises to make him Admiral of the Sea and finally, rich.
From its port he sails to the ancient land of the Quenches, or man of Tenerife, who years before have suffered the very same fate their so-called New World brothers and sisters are destined to face.
Portugal dominates the global stage then.. Columbus, married to the daughter of a Portuguese nobleman, is witness to the rise of this empire. It is a convenient marriage for them both—he procures access to the Royal Court and her family receives hopefully, relief from their poverty.
The exploration of the Atlantic and the pushing back of the Horizon is in the air. The magnitude of the destruction can not be reckoned with, especially among a people who do not fear death. Fortresses are built and Portugal’s only real enemy is not the people who inhabit this coast, but from within, therefore, she can not look without.
Fast forward and so Columbus enters Spain a 34 year-old widowed destitute. He will not make history until he is 39. Columbus’ success hangs on serendipity: Spain fights the crescent with the cross and sweeps it’s Jews out of its way. What is at stake in the end is not the amount of gold, or even how large the empire. What is at stake, in the end, is the way in which history is written. Like a jealous sister, Spain is bent on eclipsing her sister, Portugal. Spain is interested in Columbus’ ideas, but she is distracted. He approaches Portugal yet again, but this time at the height of her African triumph. Columbus finds that Portugal, having found the sea route to the Indies along Africa’s coast, is now in want of nothing. Truly it can be said that one man’s discovery is ( wittingly or unwittingly), the other man’s destruction. But he does not allow himself to be destroyed. Spain continues her battle against the moors, where even Isabella herself dons armor and sword. Granada falls and a spirit of invincibility intoxicates the Spanish crown enough to give in to the folly of Columbus.
So in the end Columbus sets sail to convert the heathens he already assumes is out there, while hopefully fattening the purse of the Spanish treasury. In his possession is a letter of introduction from the King and Queen of Spain, a crude compass that is not reliable and the crew of 90 or so men who are disgruntled to be under the command of a foreigner.
For a foreigner Columbus is. Remember, he is Genoese and like his crew, he has his prejudices. Venetians, as far as he is concerned, can not be trusted, although it is Marco Polo he adores. But when the Spanish Court grants Columbus his wish they, of course do it at another’s expense. The town of Palo would be the town so honored to supply Columbus with two ships and a crew. Its citizens hear of this honor in a former mosque, now church, at a mass. From Palos was given the Nina and Pinta—the girl and the whore. But let us not forget Santa Maria’s humble beginnings—first as Naughty Mary and then to Holy Mary. But foreigner or not, Columbus is successful in launching, finally his dream-- this journey to Cipangu that promises to make him Admiral of the Sea and finally, rich.
From its port he sails to the ancient land of the Quenches, or man of Tenerife, who years before have suffered the very same fate their so-called New World brothers and sisters are destined to face.
Comments
This is a very nice essay on "Christophe Columb". I remember reading a report last year that Columbus was an incredibly cruel "explorer and conquerer" of the New World. He subjected the native peoples of the islands under his control to a level of torture and murder that upset even the Spanish Court back in Europe. We must search for that revealing historical study on Christopher Columbus and perhaps include it in our joint history project this year.