Christopher Columbus’ Letter, Essay Example

Christopher Columbus on his voyage to the Americas wrote his first letter ( Letter to Luis de Santangel) describing the first voyage in 1493.  He compared the land to that of an “earthly paradise”  with boundless potential for European colonization.  The letter was of a positive note about the Americas, as contrasted to the fourth voyage and his subsequent letter to Ferdinand and Isabella where he told of mutinies on the voyage and the harsh realities being faced in the colonization process.  His reputation in shreds Columbus returned to Spain where he died in an impoverished state in 1506. (Anon, 2001)

The Letter to Luis de Santangel is retained in the archives of  Simancas but this is not in Columbus’s original writing. It is believed that the original manuscript was lost. It is believed this script was “doctored” by King Ferdinand and Queen Isabella.  As such it is difficult to accurately portray the emotions of Columbus at that time.  (Phillips, 1992). In general terms the note was optimistic and of a positive nature ” Since I know that you will be pleased by the great victory which Our Lord has given me on my voyage, I am writing you this letter, from which you will learn how in twenty days  I crossed to the Indies with the fleet which the King and Queen, our most illustrious sovereigns, gave me. I found there very many islands inhabited by people without number, and I have taken possession of them all on behalf of Their Highnesses by proclamation and by unfurling the royal standard, and I was not contradicted”  (Anon, Early Modern Spain : Kings College London, 2005)

Works Cited

Anon. (2001, 12 17). Christopher Columbus Statue. Retrieved 11 11, 2009, from NYC.com: http://www.nycgovparks.org/sub_your_park/historical_signs/hs_historical_sign.php?id=11972

Anon. (2005, 7 25). Early Modern Spain : Kings College London. Retrieved 11 11, 2009, from Santangel letter: http://www.ems.kcl.ac.uk/content/etext/e022.html

Phillips, W. D. (1992). The World of Christopher Columbus. In W. D. Phillips, The World of Christopher Columbus. Cambridge : Cambridge University Press.