After reading Columbus’ and Cabeza de Vaca’s story our group has come up with a few conclusions regarding the two men and their different views.
For Columbus, we believe that he felt his people were greedy. Columbus had worked hard and waited a long time for the King and Queen’s “ok” to take ships out to explore. He felt very, very blessed to have had their approval and was excited to sail to search for new land. Upon reading this we came across a first example as to where he began to think they were greedy. On pg. 24 into 25 of Norton’s text it reads, “His series of four voyages between 1492 and 1504 produced a brief moment of wonder followed by a long series of disasters and disappointments. Apparently friendly relations with the Taino Indians on the island of Hispaniola in 1492 turned sour as the settles Columbus left behind demanded gold and sexual partners from their hosts.” Columbus had to take the fall for all of the ‘series of disasters’ his people created along his journey.
Another example we had come across was from his letter to Ferdinand and Isabella Regarding the Fourth Voyage on pg 27. He is addressing the King and Queen and telling them how thankful he is to have let him depart on his voyage. He states, “Now all, down to the very tailors, seek permission to make discoveries. It can be believed that they go forth to plunder, and it is granted to them to do so, so that they greatly prejudice my honor and do very great damage to the enterprise.” He felt as if he was doing a good thing for his people- finding new land and leading them to new discoveries- yet they were taking advantage of it and he had to take the blame for their wrongdoings.
For Cabeza de vaca we believe that he felt as if he was the ONLY one fit to find anything new; he always had a say and felt that his decisions were always right. One of the reasons as to why Álvar Núñez Cabeza de Vaca felt that he was always right, and was one of the best explorers was because of the reputation his family had. Cabeza de Vaca was born into a family with a history of achievement. Three of Cabeza de Vaca's relatives had significant roles in Spanish society and politics. One of his ancestors on his mother's side received the name "Cabeza de Vaca" when he was able to safely lead the way across a mountain using the skull of a cow in the war between Spain and the Moors. Also, when the Spaniards gained control of Grand Canary Island by defeating the Guanache people, it was Cabeza de Vaca's grandfather who was the man behind the operation. Finally, Cabeza de Vaca was the son of their village alderman.
Considering his family history, Cabeza de Vaca knew it would make a lot of sense for him to follow in the footsteps of his relatives by devoting his life to the service of his country. Cabeza de Vaca also had the advantage of his easily recognizable name that his country's people correlated to a national heroic figure. Because of his family’s history he was always trying to live up to his name and was very determined to follow his instincts. Another example we found was on pg. 30 of Norton’s text stating, “I can say for myself that I undertook the march abroad, on royal authorization, with a firm trust that my service would be as evident and distinguished as my ancestors.” He always had a firm view on things and felt his way was the right way- not only because of his personal motives but also because he felt he had to live up to his name.
I especially like the way that you brought out Columbus’ tone. You used very good examples of how he felt towards the Spaniards. Being Italian I’m sure he had an animosity towards the Spanish but had no choice but to deal with them so he could get his exploration. Also, him having to take the fall for his men on several occasions was so true. Europe at that time still lived by the doctrine of, “to the victor goes the spoils.” Columbus’ men not being as, “enlightened” as him were more concerned with getting their bounty then making discoveries.
ReplyDeleteGreat post, I like how you captured Cabeza de Vaca's attitude. It really makes you think about the sense of pride he must've had in exploring a new land, and how perhaps he felt he was living up to his name. It would also explain, as you said, why he may have felt that he was the ONLY one that had rights to explore new places and find new things, almost as if his family's past had instilled a sense of entitlement in him.
ReplyDeleteI agree with your idea that Columbus was excited to sail to search for new land. First al all, he tried to convince King John II of Portugal to sponsor a voyage to Asia. However, the king refused Columbus’ request. Then, Columbus appealed to the kings of France and England, but both of the kings also refused. Finally, he went to Spain. King Ferdinand and Queen Isabella at first refused to finance his expedition, but they agreed to support him at last. He must have been excited about the trip.
ReplyDeleteThe reading makes it sound like Columbus was blamed for all the failures that occurred in the "new world" and that he was being punished for the behaviors of the people with him. I question what Columbus's behavior was actually like. It states in the book that things in the new world were fine until he left, and then the people that he left behind created problems. I don't know if I truly believe this. The reading make it sound like Columbus did no wrong but then why was he punished by his people so severely. I have a feeling that Columbus was no different from the rest of the Europeans mentioned and only was looking out for himself and did what was best for him, not best for the country or new world.
ReplyDeleteI like how you commented on Cabeza de Vaca's pride and attitude. I had the same thought as to Cabeza de Vaca thinking he was the only one that could make a voyage. I picture him as someone that looks down on people and thinks he's above everyone. Feeling forced to do something to live up to the ancestors expectations seems to still happen today. If something like careers or athelets run in the family, a lot of people put the upcoming geteration to be as good or rise above the previous generation. Great post.
ReplyDeleteWhen I think about Columbus's attitude towards his people, the first thing that pops in my head isn't that he thinks they are "greedy." Still, I think you make some good points here--I think it's clear that he's disappointed to some extent by how his people acted. I am also curious by your group's remark that " was the ONLY one fit to find anything new" during the exploration--how was this the case? Could you perhaps clarify this?
ReplyDeleteI think Columbus was very disappointed in his people. He spent years trying to get a voyage sponsored to find a new route to the Orient, and finally Spain did so. I can just imagine how he felt on that first voyage as he landed on shore. I agree with you that in the beginning he was excited, but when he wrote the letter to Ferdinand and Isabella after his fourth voyage, he was very troubled and down-hearted, especially against his people. He spent most of his life on trips to explore the new world, and I beleive he thought he had laid claim to a land that would make his country even richer. No-one wanted to go or support him financially in the beginning, but after his letters were published, suddenly everyone wanted to go. I feel that part of this was his fault, since he had written is such an upbeat way in his first letter telling of the riches and the beauty of his discovery.
ReplyDeleteHe never told of the hardships and disasters that happened. He wasn't able to get a settlment established in the new world, and because of the distance from the homeland, there was no law and order there. The explorers were fighting among themselves and he couldn't control them. In the end, his own people turned against him. I think the statement he made in the beginning of the last letter "Of Espaniola, Paria, and the othe lands, I never think without weeping." (p. 27) says a lot about his disappointment with his people and his sense of failure.
I feel that the fact Cabeza de Vaca wanted to live up to his family's expectations was the main reason he not only joined 2 wars, but also went to the new world. To me, he seemed very adventurous and seeing Columbus in chains when he was a child must have stuck in his mind. I think he respected Columbus, and wanted to finish the job Columbus didn't do. The tone of his letter seems to be that he was trying to speak the truth. He told it like it was, with all the hardships and in the end, I felt his was kind of on the side of the Indians, after having lived with them so many year.
Maybe Columbus didn't think his men were greedy but instead he was embarrassed or maybe ashamed of their behavior. Back then this might have been the norm. Columbus might have been concerned with the fact that his men's behavior was a reflection on him and was sour that he had to take responsibility for it. I think he was feeling sorry for himself that his enterprise was damaged ~ maybe not so much with the behavior.
ReplyDeleteNice post guys. I really love the way you show Cabeza de Vaca's devotion to his family history. Who knows what he thought, just because his reletives served the country shouldn't mean that he would have to, so for him to make the decision for his life, I think it's honorable on his part. Maybe he went this route because he was afraid of being disowned by his family, or maybe he just felt the need to continue history.
ReplyDeleteI agree with your statements about Cabeza. He seemed to be objective in his writings. In his letter to "Sacred Caesarian Catholic Majesty" (pg 30) he states that his writings are true and strictly factual. Instead of exaggerating, he minimized things. His writings on the "Malhado Way of Life", and "Our Life Among the Avavares and Arbadaos" are very belivable and seem to be true and actual accounts of what took place. He did seem to have a great sense of his ancestry and perhaps felt obligated to live up to his family name.
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