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Columbus & the Caribbean. Who was Columbus?. Born in Genoa, Italy around 1451 Experienced sailor who worked with Portuguese traders May have been Jewish Devout Catholic. Marco Polo’s Image of Asia. Columbus Sets Sail. Denied funding by Portugal, France, & England
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Who was Columbus? • Born in Genoa, Italy around 1451 • Experienced sailor who worked with Portuguese traders • May have been Jewish • Devout Catholic
Columbus Sets Sail • Denied funding by Portugal, France, & England • Queen Isabel and King Ferdinand granted the right to rule any land Columbus found • 3 ships funded for exploratory mission to find a faster route to Asia
Who would Columbus Encounter? • Taino and the Carib • Taino farmed & fished • Caribs may have been cannibals
Lands first in the Bahamas • Sees the Taino’s gold jewelry on island of Hispaniola
The “Great Dying” • About 95% of the Caribbean Indians died in the first 25 years of Spanish contact Florentine Codex Illustration by de Las Casas
Changes in Hispaniola • First Royal Governor Fray Ovando established repartimiento system • African slaves brought for labor in 1505 & 1518 • Bartolome de las Cases writes The Destruction of the Indies in 1552 Bartolome de lasCasas Thedor de Bry’s Depiction of the Indies
End of Columbus’ Life • Returns to Hispaniola before his death in 1506 • Conflict with his sailors & arrest for mismanagement of Hispaniola harm his reputation