Christopher Columbus: Columbus Reports on His First Voyage

A Student’s Guide to Essential Primary Sources
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Christopher Columbus: Columbus Reports on His First Voyage
Overview
https://doi.org/10.3735/9781935306856.book-part-008

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Abstract

This passage is from a report written by Christopher Columbus in 1493 after his first voyage to the Americas. In it, Columbus describes the recently discovered territories to the Spanish monarchs. Columbus, unaware that he had arrived at a continent previously unknown to Europeans, was interested in depicting a successful journey to Asia. Columbus wanted to secure privileges granted by the Spanish Crown as well as populate the area. To achieve this, Columbus exaggerated the advantages and benefits of the regions he was exploring and was purposely vague in his descriptions.

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