In the late 1400s, commerce and religion linked many nations. The Ottoman Empire blocked direct contact between Europe and Asia, which caused oceanic trade to become a major undertaking for nations wanting to continue to exchange commodities. As Christianity grew in Europe, the upper class made it their duty to spread the faith to other nations. Certain monarchs used it to conquer and control other nations. Spain, the poster child for the Christian religion relied heavily on it as a warfare tactic. In 1492 Queen Isabella 1, also known as Isabel "The Catholic" reclaimed Granada from the Moors, sent Christopher Columbus to India to spread Christianity and began the process of exiling the Jews from Spain. Her passion for Christianity was so strong that in 1974 the Catholic Church of Rome granted the title "Servant of God".
Isabel funded the voyage of sea captain, Christopher Columbus to sail to India and convert them from Islam to Christianity. My paper will prove that religion was the motive for Columbus' voyage west and present evidence that he used Christianity to conquer the Americas and dispossess the Indians of their land. This thesis is important because it is different from other studies of Columbus Voyage that historically claim was to prove the earth round, to find a different trade rate or search for gold. Proving that Columbus was motivated by Christianity shows how powerful religious influence is in order to maintain a heightened awareness of future religious movements that could possibly be detrimental to society.
Table of Contents
I. Introduction
A. 15th century struggle for trade
B. Religion in the 15th century
C. Spain's need to spread Christianity to other nations
II. Literary Review
A. Columbus Overview
1. Who was Columbus
2. Relationship with Spain
3. Relationship with religion
B. Trade In Early 15th Century
1. Portugal
2. England
3. Spain
C. Christianity in 15th Century
1. The power of the Church
2. The power of the Monarch
3. Spread of Christianity
D. Columbus relationship with Spain
1. Life in Spain
2. Relationship to the Monarch
3. Request to sail west to India
E. Arrival at the New World
1. Meeting the Natives
2. Conquering the land and converting the natives
3. Spreading Christianity & the problem it posed for natives
4. Conquering the natives & dispossessing them of their land
F. The Downfall of Columbus
1. Chaotic conditions in colonies for lack of religious unity
2. Failure to deliver gold to Spanish monarch
3. Columbus death.
Research Objectives and Themes
The primary objective of this study is to examine the religious motivations behind Christopher Columbus' voyages to the Americas, specifically challenging the historical fallacy that his mission was purely for scientific exploration or geographic discovery. The research demonstrates that his actions were driven by a desire to spread Christianity and secure wealth to fund a crusade to reclaim Jerusalem from the Muslims.
- The influence of religious zeal on 15th-century Spanish expansion.
- The systematic use of Christianity as a tool for conquest and land dispossession.
- Deconstruction of the "flat-earth" myth surrounding the Columbus voyage.
- Analysis of the relationship between Columbus, the Grand Khan, and the Franciscan mission.
- Examination of primary sources, including Columbus' journal, to prove ideological intent.
Excerpt from the Book
Introduction-Project Overview and Significance
In the late 1400s, commerce and religion linked many nations. The Ottoman Empire blocked direct contact between Europe and Asia, which caused oceanic trade to become a major undertaking for nations wanting to continue to exchange commodities. As Christianity grew in Europe, the upper class made it their duty to spread the faith to other nations. Certain monarchs used it to conquer and control other nations. Spain, the poster child for the Christian religion relied heavily on it as a warfare tactic. In 1492 Queen Isabella 1, also known as Isabel "The Catholic" reclaimed Granada from the Moors, sent Christopher Columbus to India to spread Christianity and began the process of exiling the Jews from Spain. Her passion for Christianity was so strong that in 1974 the Catholic Church of Rome granted the title "Servant of God".
Isabel funded the voyage of sea captain, Christopher Columbus to sail to India and convert them from Islam to Christianity. My paper will prove that religion was the motive for Columbus' voyage west and present evidence that he used Christianity to conquer the Americas and dispossess the Indians of their land. This thesis is important because it is different from other studies of Columbus Voyage that historically claim was to prove the earth round, to find a different trade rate or search for gold. Proving that Columbus was motivated by Christianity shows how powerful religious influence is in order to maintain a heightened awareness of future religious movements that could possibly be detrimental to society.
Summary of Chapters
I. Introduction: Provides an overview of the 15th-century geopolitical climate, focusing on trade struggles and the religious impetus behind Spanish expansion.
II. Literary Review: Evaluates existing literature and primary documents, such as Columbus' journal, to build a foundation for the argument that religion was the primary driver of his voyages.
Keywords
Christopher Columbus, Christianity, New World, Jerusalem, Religious Conversion, Queen Isabella, Indigenous Peoples, Grand Khan, Conquest, Exploration, Crusades, Primary Sources, Colonialism, Spanish Monarch, Faith
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the core subject of this research paper?
The paper examines the role of religion, specifically Christianity, as the primary motivating force behind Christopher Columbus' voyages to the Americas, rather than purely scientific or economic factors.
What are the central thematic fields covered in the work?
The work explores the intersection of 15th-century European expansion, the political power of the Catholic Church, the crusading mentality of Spanish monarchs, and the impact of these factors on indigenous populations in the New World.
What is the primary research goal of this paper?
The goal is to provide evidence that Columbus utilized Christianity as a mechanism for conquest and the dispossession of land from indigenous peoples, while refuting the common myth that he sailed west to prove the earth was round.
Which scientific or historical methods are employed?
The author uses a qualitative historical analysis, relying on primary documents such as Christopher Columbus' journal and contemporary accounts, alongside a literature review of secondary scholarly sources to support the thesis.
What is covered in the main body of the document?
The main body investigates Columbus' relationship with the Spanish monarchy, the influence of Marco Polo's accounts, the mission to convert the Grand Khan, and the subsequent exploitation of native populations in the name of Christian zeal.
Which keywords characterize the work?
Key terms include Christopher Columbus, Religious Conversion, Jerusalem, Conquest, New World, and Spanish Colonization.
How does the author characterize the influence of the "flat-earth" myth?
The author argues that the "flat-earth" theory is a modern historical fallacy with no basis in Columbus' own writings, used by later historians to frame his voyage as a case for scientific exploration rather than religious expansionism.
What role did Queen Isabella play in the religious motivations of the voyages?
According to the document, Queen Isabella was deeply committed to the spread of Christianity and the exile of non-Christians from Spain, and she explicitly granted Columbus the authority to act as viceroy and governor to convert indigenous people to the Catholic faith.
- Quote paper
- Star Smith (Author), 2012, Christopher Columbus' Religious Campaign. The Use of Christianity to Seize Land From the Natives of the New World, Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/300739
