Where Knowledge Rules

Christopher-columbus

CHRISTOPHER COLUMBUS, A MAN OF CONTRADICTIONS

Christopher Columbus was a man of contradictions who ascended to legendary proportion.  He rose from commoner to nobleman.  His strong spiritual side often struggled with his ambitious side for worldly goods.  Even though he loathed the power welded by the ruling-class, he eagerly sought their privileges.  A legacy of destruction, cruelty and inhumanity followed him back to Spain.  The once celebrated explorer was stripped of his title, but history continued to exemplify him as a fearless explorer and great navigator of the world.   In recent years Christopher Columbus is more a mystery than ever.  Who was he . . . what was his real name . . . where did he come from . . . did he discover America . . . why all the secrecy . . . was he a spy . . . was there a conspiracy theory?  

 

I hope this site will answer some of these questions, and perhaps give us a better understanding of the man, Christopher Columbus.   

 

All About Christopher Columbus

Everything you ever wanted to know about Christopher Columbus and his explorations in the New World.

No

by Judy Thompson

I have a personal opinion about this since I am a mixed blood Native American. When growing up, all ...More>
24 articles  Write NowDebate It

Yes

by Dan Zinski

The U.S. must continue observing Columbus Day. If we don't, then people will forget all about Columb...More>
25 articles  Write NowDebate It

IN 1492 HE SAILED THE OCEAN BLUE . . . old poem from school-days

IN 1492

In fourteen hundred ninety-two
Columbus sailed the ocean blue.

He had three ships and left from Spain;
He sailed through sunshine, wind and rain.

He sailed by night; he sailed by day;
He used the stars to find his way.

A compass also helped him know
How to find the way to go.

Ninety sailors were on board;
Some men worked while others snored.

Then the workers went to sleep;
And others watched the ocean deep.

Day after day they looked for land;
They dreamed of trees and rocks and sand.

October 12 their dream came true,
You never saw a happier crew!

"Indians!  Indians!"  Columbus cried;
His heart was filled with joyful pride.

But "India" the land was not;
It was the Bahamas, and it was hot.

The Arakawa natives were very nice;
They gave the sailors food and spice.

Columbus sailed on to find some gold
To bring back home, as he'd been told.

He made the trip again and again,
Trading gold to bring to Spain.

The first American?  No, not quite.
But Columbus was brave, and he was bright.

by Petra Newman

"We arouse and arrange our memories to suit our psychic needs." (Michael Kammen, professor of American History and Culture at Cornell University)When our forefathers left England, they also left behin...More>
5 articles  Write NowWrite

by Padre Art

In the year 1405 AD, Chinese emperor Zhu Di ordered a fleet of 100 ships to sail to the ends of the earth in what was the first effort at globalization. There is evidence that the Chinese oceanic voy...More>
  Write NowWrite

VOYAGES OF ZHENG HE

There's speculation the Chinese reached the America's before Columbus.  During the Ming Dynasty  it's believed the Chinese ruled the seas.  Admiral Zheng He had the largest, most advanced fleet in the world at that time (fifteenth century). He kept a logbook detailing each of his eight voyages with nautical charts.  At the time the charts were the first of its kind in the world.  These charts verify that China was possibly the most advanced in the technology of ship-building and science navigation. 

by Beth Ramsay

Before 1663 New France was a mess with few settlers and a dying fur trade. (ILC 2008, p. 2) The new King: Louis XIV changed this by instituting Royal Government in 1663. (ILC 2008, p. 2) He did this s...More>
23 articles  Write NowWrite

1492 THE CONQUEST OF PARADISE . . . CHRISTOPHER COLUMBUS

by Joyce Wheeler

This is a great topic for a unit study for a variety of ages. Many Homeschool families contain multiple children at different learning levels. Having a unit study geared towards all levels helps to ma...More>
  Write NowWrite

Was CC Portuguese?

WAS CHRISTOPHER COLUMBUS REALLY PORTUGUESE ?

Columbus: Continuation of a Genocidal Legacy

This video depicts the inhumane treatment given to the natives by Columbus.  The images and literature is violent and graphic and may offend some people.  Viewer discretion is advised.

1421; THE YEAR CHINA DISCOVERED AMERICA: PART 1

1421 The Year China Discovered America (videos 1through 12 are sourced from the BBC special)

 

The hypothesis is based on Menzies' unconventional interpretations of evidence from shipwrecks, old Chinese and European maps, a translation of an inscription set up by Zheng He, Chinese literature that survives from the time, DNA evidence, and accounts written by navigators such as Christopher Columbus and Ferdinand Magellan.  Did Zheng He reach America before Columbus?  The twelve videos by the BBC have recreated the journey taken by Zeng He.  The videos are fascinating and whet the appetite to delve deeper into the past.

1421; THE YEAR CHINA DISCOVERED AMERICA: PART 2

1421; THE YEAR CHINA DISCOVERED AMERICA: PART 3

1421; THE YEAR CHINA DISCOVERED AMERICA: PART 4

Evidence that Welsh Prince Madoc visited North America in 1170.

SEEKING COLUMBUS'S ORIGIN, WITH A SWAB

RSS Feed has moved to http://www.nytimes.com/glogin?URI=http://www.nytimes.com/2007/10/08/us/08columbus.html&OQ=_rQ3D1Q26partnerQ3DpermalinkQ26exprodQ3Dpermalink&OP=e0a739dQ2F2Q3E5p2Q5B,Q23Q24q,,0S2SQ2FQ2FQ3A2-Q2F2Q2FQ2A2!Q242Q2FQ2AQ23,Q26!dp!Q24yQ600dQ26

by The Historian

For many years, history has seen Christopher Columbus as a type of crusader against the superstitions of his contemporaries. Many people today still believe that he set out in the Nina, the Pinta, and...More>
  Write NowWrite

by Petra Newman

A shroud of mystery and controversy continue to swirl around Christopher Columbus. Why all the secrecy, who was Christopher Columbus? Like any good mystery it intrigues and begs to be uncovered. Fi...More>
  Write NowWrite

THE LEGACY OF CHRISTOPHER COLUMBUS

CHRISTOPHER COLUMBUS

1421; THE YEAR CHINA DISCOVERED AMERICA: PART 5

1421; THE YEAR CHINA DISCOVERED AMERICA: PART 6

1421; THE YEAR CHINA DISCOVERED AMERICA: PART 7

1421; THE YEAR CHINA DISCOVERED AMERICA: PART 8

Comments (1 to 10 of 18)

zteve t evans
Nov 25, 09 at 08:32 PM
Petra, This is interesting and informative. Very impressive work!
Petra Newman
Sep 03, 09 at 04:52 AM
Thanks shaheen; I always look forward to your comments. I enjoyed making this zone and am trying to find some new, interesting facts about Columbus. It's great hearing from you again.
Shaheen Darr
Aug 26, 09 at 06:45 AM
Came back for another look Petra, very well researched, love the old school poem...that must bring lots of memories :)
Petra Newman
Jun 08, 09 at 12:26 AM
Thank you, E. Moore and olivia for your comments. They are greatly appreciated. At first I didn't know how this subject would fly, but I'm glad there are other history buffs out there:) The welcome mat is always here:)
Olivia Bredbenner
Jun 05, 09 at 02:42 PM
Petra, Great site, lots to show your insight and creativity along with an interesting history lesson...I'll be back :) Olivia
EMoore
May 29, 09 at 07:34 PM
I am impressed. You have a great zone. It is packed with Columbus lore. Well thought out.
Petra Newman
May 11, 09 at 03:16 AM
Thanks for your comments Mona and Sharon. I love history and Christopher Columbus wasn't who I thought he was. It makes me wonder about other historical figures.
Sharon Mazaka
May 11, 09 at 02:40 AM
This is a very nice zone. It has a lot of good information.
Mona Gallagher
May 09, 09 at 04:43 PM
Very nice page.
Petra Newman
May 09, 09 at 02:28 AM
Thanks Ethel; I had fun trying to find just the right images for the articles:) And as for the neatness, I guess this has to do with the template. I really had nothing to do with it. I'm so glad you like the zone, I learned alot about Christopher that I didn't know before. It makes me want to investigate other historical figures:)
Journalist: Petra Newman
Helium member since Jun 21, 07
Number of Zones: 4

Related Zones

    by Moe Zilla

    "Goodbye, Columbus" was a surprisingly good soundtrack. The album contains four overlooked songs by The Association - and six swinging instrumental tracks by Charles Fox. 29-year-old Fox co-authored...More>
      Write NowWrite

    GOODBYE COLUMBUS, BY THE ASSOCIATIONS, LIVE CONCERT IN 1989

    by EMoore

    In writing about history one needs to understand the times of the historicl fact and if there is any comparison to today done, it should be done without aggressiveness or blame. Of course you can take...More>
      Write NowWrite

    Helpful Related Links


    photo by Seaners4real

    by Darian Peters

    The Knights of Columbus is a Roman Catholic men's organization originally set up 1881 in New Haven, Connecticut, by Father Michael J. McGivney. It was set up as a mutual benefit society, aimed at enha...More>
    4 articles  Write NowWrite

    no such file to load -- amazon/aws/search

    COLUMBUS DAY

    SHOULD WE CONTINUE TO CELEBRATE COLUMBUS DAY?
    No . . . because he wasn't the first to discover North America.
    Yes . . . because he was a great explorer.
    Definitely not . . . he should be condemned for his atrocities, not celebrated.
    Yes . . . eventhough all his shortcommings, he was a man of the times, a time before humanity was discovered.

    COLUMBUS; EXPLORER, NAVIGATOR, HERO OR MONSTER, FACT OR FICTION

    Medieval Sourcebook: Extracts from Christopher Columbus Journal.

     

    This document is the from the journal of Columbus in his voyage of 1492. The meaning of this voyage is highly contested. On the one hand, it is witness to the tremendous vitality and verve of late medieval and early modern Europe - which was on the verge of acquiring a world hegemony. On the other hand, the direct result of this and later voyages was the virtual extermination, by ill-treatment and disease, of the vast majority of the Native inhabitants, and the enormous growth of the transatlantic slave trade. It might not be fair to lay the blame at Columbus' feet, but since all sides treat him as a symbol, such questions cannot be avoided.

    http://www.fordham.edu/halsall/source/columbus1.html

     

    500 NATIONS - NATIVE AMERICANS - COLUMBUS ARRIVAL PART1

    1421; THE YEAR CHINA DISCOVERED AMERICA: PART 9

    1421; THE YEAR CHINA DISCOVERED AMERICA: PART 10

    1421; THE YEAR CHINA DISCOVERED AMERICA: PART 11

    1421; THE YEAR CHINA DISCOVERED AMERICA: PART 12
    Was this Zone helpful?Zone Rating: 99
    Managed by:

    What is Helium? | User Guide | All Tags | Community | Helium's Official Blog | Link to Helium | Privacy | User agreement | DMCA

    Copyright © 2002-2009 Helium, Inc. All rights reserved.

    Helium, Inc.
    200 Brickstone Square Andover, MA 01810 USA