HIST 2055 Lecture Notes - Lecture 1: Sweet Potato, Syphilis, Smallpox
Document Summary
All educated people knew that the world was round. Columbus believed it to be much smaller than estimated. Quickest way to east asia was to west from portugal. Portuguese deny him, believing they were wasting their money on him throwing it into the ocean . Spanish just finishing reconquista- converting to catholicism: in a time of great success and happiness, agree to take a chance on columbus. Arrives in cuba, believes he"s in india (east asia) Bartolome de las casas: protests and the black legend . Writings of de las casas presents debate on the humanity of the people. The black legend - propaganda against the spanish peoples; rooted in truth. A history of the life and voyages of christopher columbus . Most of what we learn about columbus is from irving"s revision- myth; all others thought the world was flat- created by irving. Make history into stories of moral instruction.
