1st Paragraph: When Columbus accidentally found the “New World”, he decided that it was best to make assumptions and do what he wanted. His first sight of what he termed “Indians” was of a group of attractive, unclothed people. Speculation is that, to him, their nakedness represented a lack of culture, customs, and religion (Wilford 159). Columbus sees this as his chance, to do what he called “Spread the word of God”. Not taking any consideration to what the Natives have developed, he saw they could be easily exploited to do what he wanted. He believed that they would be easy to conquer because they appeared defenseless, easy to trick because they lacked experience in trade, and an easy source of profit because they could be enslaved (Fernandez-Armesto 83). He took no thought in to their language, ideals, culture or even their leaders. Their are many letters showing the arrogance of Columbus. One letter read, in so many words, “I have found many islands filled with people, and I have taken over as their highness...” Again, Columbus never stopped and thought if he could just come in to their land, take what he wanted and do what he wanted. These were not empty islands; they had Native peoples who have lived there for thousands of years only to be demeaned, destroyed and used for slave trading. All he wanted to do was create fame for himself and glorify Spain.
