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Columbus Accomplishments

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In all, the first voyage was a major accomplishment; it resulted in only a few blunders and it was impressive that Columbus was able to even make it back to Spain, let alone with two ships still somewhat intact. This speaks largely to the character of Columbus, it no doubt took someone with charisma, strong leadership, confidence, and steely determination to carry out the task he set himself on.
The second greatest accomplishment that Columbus is responsible for is the foundation of Santo Domingo, a new city suitable for waterfront commerce and less harsh than other settlements Columbus had tried to start. Previously to the foundation of Santo Domingo, Columbus had brought 1,500 settlers to the original colony from his first voyage consisting …show more content…
The characterization of Columbus in Martin Dugard’s The Last Voyage of Columbus is one of greed, obsession with power, and deep flaws which leads readers to form a less than positive impression of him. However, in his letter home from Santo Domingo during the rebellion of the colonists, he writes that he told crowds of those wishing to come that it would be hard and that gold would need to be mined and spices picked and dried instead of just picking both up off the ground. It seemed to astound him that the colonists did not see this and that they would hate Santo Domingo so fervently because he expected colonists to be as curious and adventurous as he himself was. Additionally, Columbus seemed to be quite confident in his leadership, skills, and knowledge of sailing and navigation. In another letter home he describes “armchair” navigators in Spain asking why he did this or that and he retorts that he would like to see them in a moment of panic when a ship is taking on water and the only availale tool is a cooking pot. Despite the portrayal of Columbus as unlikeable, an account from one of Columbus’s loyal sailors describes a suicide mission Columbus has asked volunteers to sign up for. Nobody except Diego Mendez stands up so Columbus kisses diego on the cheek and says he knew diego is the only one brave enough to stand. After this diego seems pleased, even going so far as to have this printed on his tombstone, which demonstrates the polarizing attitudes people held of him, but also how he must have treated his friends and inspired loyalty in

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