Columbus: hero or villain?
Photo by Victoria Van
January 10, 2018
Each year, Christopher Columbus seems to be resurrected and spark the never ending debate: greatest explorer or indigenous destroyer? The 15th century explorer’s voyages brought so much knowledge to the world, along with riches and glory, but with these revolutionary discoveries came devastation— like the destruction of indigenous culture and the deaths of thousands.
Born in 1451, Christopher Columbus’s life began just as it ended— by the sea. He was only a teenager when he began his first maritime expedition on a merchant ship where he remained until 1470 when the ship was attacked by Privateers. As the boat sank, Columbus floated to the Portuguese shore where he started to design his plan for western domination.
In 1491, Columbus presented his plan to the Spanish monarchs, King Ferdinand and Queen Isabella. Columbus’ lust for fame and fortune equally matched the monarchs’, along with the desire to spread Catholicism. On Aug. 3, 1492, Columbus set sail for the new world and brought about with him a new era of truth and lies.
Textbooks frequently credit Columbus with a glory not reasonably accepted as he only managed to find the Bahamas, not the continental U.S. Furthermore, this “discovery” was only found through inaccurate ideas about the earth’s size, wrong calculations and blind wandering throughout the Atlantic Ocean.
When he first arrived in Hispaniola, he was faced with the large indigenous population of the Taino peoples. These natives were kind to the travelers and freely traded jewelry, animals and food. In his diary, Columbus described the natives as “very well built with very handsome bodies and very good faces. They do not carry arms or know them … They should be good servants.” He continued to describe their ignorance of European technologies and how he planned to use this disadvantage to manipulate them.
Columbus forced the Tainos into slavery and punished them grotesquely if disobeyed, even resulting to murder as punishment. The spread of European disease and brutality such as public executions, floggings and rape of Taino women further show the barbarity of Columbus and his men.
Columbus set sail for the new world and brought about with him a new era of truth and lies.”
— Anderson
Despite his revolutionary discovery, we cannot forget the brutality and tragedy that Columbus and his men inflicted upon the indigenous people. His words and actions toward the Taino only reflected his sole intentions of economic gain— not knowledge or peace— regardless of any pre-existing societies and basic human rights. Through his lust for money and glory, he managed to destroy the centuries old culture of the indigenous Americans.
Recently, the states of Colorado, Phoenix, Arizona and Vermont have joined the rapidly increasing list of American states that have replaced Columbus Day with Indigenous Peoples Day. Recent interviews with CNN delve into the reasons for the change.
“Indigenous Peoples Day represents a shift in consciousness,” said Dr. Leo Killsback, assistant professor of American Indian Studies at Arizona State University and member of the Northern Cheyenne Nation. “It acknowledges that indigenous peoples and their voices are important in today’s conversations.”
Society still struggles in regards to the view of Columbus: hero or villain? The truth, however, is that history cannot be simplified into such blackness and whiteness. We cannot negate his contributions to the world, such as knowledge of the Western Hemisphere and expansive knowledge of new cultures, farming techniques and technologies. In an essay titled, “Honoring Christopher Columbus,” Warren Carol praises Columbus, despite his flaws.
“Christopher Columbus is the discoverer of America and by that discovery ultimately responsible for America’s evangelization; and for this we should forever honor him,” Carol said.
Although he wasn’t the best man to ever exist, we cannot call Columbus a villain. His discoveries changed the world forever and the entire course of history. Yet, at the same time, he should never be regarded as a hero. His treatment of humans was undeniably atrocious and should never be forgotten.

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I think that Columbus was a villain because he said he was the one that first spotted land on his ship when it was not him, it was somebody else on the ship but just to be mean and rude and popular and rich in his country he lied and when they got back he told people it was him when it wasn’t, but nobody believe the other guy, people just loved Columbus back then.
he committed genocide soooo… he’s a pretty *$%@^! person
Christopher Columbus was a Sailor that accidently found the Americas. Some people think he’s a hero because of his many discoveries. Others feel he’s a villain because he brought disease,death,and destruction to Hispanolia. I think he is a villain because he killed many people and spread disease over the country. When he arrived to land and spread a disease. And the disease wiped out a lot of people. A lot of people think he’s a hero but he’s really a villain because he spreaded a disease and made people destroy the world. He was an awful person and should have been locked up or put away for a long time. Christopher columbus also had a bad temper. He also had anger had anger issues I think that Columbus was a villain because he said he was the one that first spotted land on his ship when it was not him, it was somebody else on the ship but just to be mean and rude and popular and rich in his country he lied and when they got back he told people it was him when it wasn’t, but nobody believe the other guy, people just loved Columbus back then.
Columbus was an Amazing sailor. I give him that. However, Columbus was a murderer, he organized the rape of Indigenous women, he was a thief and he was a liar. Yes he opened the world up, to more atrocities, more brutalities and more murderous treatment of Indigenous Peoples and later to years of brutal enslavement of African peoples. His statues are tumbling, being toppling and being removed because we as a Nation have higher standards than just “opening the world and being a great adventurer”. He was a monster that should have been imprisoned or given a death penalty like he gave thousands of Indigenous Peoples. Let’s remove all statues and monuments that represent “man’s inhumanity to man”. Let’s celebrate our ability to be tolerant, patient and loving to each other. Let’s erect statues of Faith, Peace and justice. These abominable monuments to slave owners, murderers, rapists and thieves should all be toppled, ASAP!
i really think that he was a villan because he lied first of all, raped rons of women, killed so many native americans, he ws never the first one to find america and he also lied that is just strait up bad!!!!! i think the devil gave him that and i think he didnt go to heaven for making a deal with the devil