dbq
The Age of Exploration was a period of discovery and establishment for various European nations who had new technology for voyaging. Christopher Columbus’ voyage across the Atlantic Ocean inspired other nations to make voyages to the West. The Age of Exploration affected the natives of the new colonies because they were enslaved and sold, forced to relocate, and converted to Christianity.
Columbus’ chain reaction of voyages led to a new trade route with all the new goods found in the West, however, among these goods being traded were people and in Documents A, B, E, and I, slavery is present. Document A is a letter by Columbus, describing an encounter with natives. This document shows that Columbus takes a quick note of the fact that the natives he met were young, very well built, and handsome. He then writes that they would be good skillful servant since they follow directions very well. This perception of the natives is from a superior point of view, he is looking down upon them as useful and strong pawns he will and can use for his own bidding, and maybe to trade since they are good looking. However, Columbus uses the word “servants” in his letter, which may be how he will use them as until he commercializes them as they become slaves. Document B is a poster of slave traders in Africa, where a European man is depicted discussing with a colored man, with two barely clothed people in the back. This is probably an African slave owner trading his slaves for the European’s newly discovered goods. This document shows the slave trade in action, the Europeans needed slaves to work the lands of their newly found colonies, so they traveled to Africa where slavery was established already. They had new goods from the west to trade, so it was easier to get these slaves since the Africans needed the new goods. Document I is someone’s thoughts upon slavery. The natives of the kingdom of Benin are described to be wonderful people who are peaceful and honest. This document shows that these natives were already under the European’s control since the observer said that they were honest unless the white men had taught them otherwise. The rest of the document thoroughly describes how they got ready to trade these natives, first they were examined and then marked. The slaves were stripped of everything they had and thrown into extremely crowded ships where a great amount of them would die. Alongside the horrible conditions came the horrible treatment by the whites, they were basically gruesomely tortured for every mistake they made, like dismembering and burning alive. These very honest and great natives were dominated by the easterners and treated horribly and sold. Document E is a brief account of the devastation of the Indies by Bartolome de las Casas. This document shows that conquistadors would torture these peaceful yet weak natives horribly. The remaining natives after the massacres would be divided amongst themselves and kept as slaves. Since most...
