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Started By
Message
Feb 29, 1504. Columbus Plays Dirty Trick on Indians
Posted on 2/29/24 at 11:32 am
Posted on 2/29/24 at 11:32 am
quote:
Italian explorer Christopher Columbus, the man who discovered America, certainly found this to be true in 1504. Nine months earlier he had become marooned on the island that we now know as Jamaica, his ship fatally damaged by a woodworm epidemic.
Fortunately, the native people – Arawak Indians – were friendly and were happy to provide food and shelter for Columbus and his crew. At first.
But as the months went by the Arawaks grew tired of this one-sided arrangement and became annoyed, according to some historians, by the “arrogant and overbearing” attitude of Columbus himself. Things came to a head when some Arawaks were killed in a fight with the crew. So they stopped the supply of food to the castaways.
Facing starvation, the explorer came up with an ingenious plan. After consulting an almanac in his cabin, he learned that a total lunar eclipse would occur on Thursday, February 29, 1504 – in just three days’ time.
He then told the Arawaks that his Christian God was angry with them for stopping the food and that as a sign of His anger He would soon make the moon appear “inflamed with wrath” as a signal to them of the punishments He would inflict.
Sure enough, on the third night, the normally bright new moon appeared as a bloody and dim ball in the sky. According to Columbus’s son, Ferdinand, the Arawaks were terrified and "with great howling and lamentation came running to the ship laden with provisions and beseeching the Admiral to intercede with his God on their behalf”.
Columbus said he would have to think about it and went to his cabin. He did not emerge for nearly an hour – shortly before the end of the eclipse – and then told the Arawaks that his God had pardoned them.
On This Day
17
Posted on 2/29/24 at 11:34 am to blueridgeTiger
No one wants to talk about it, but when the Europeans arrived, these people hadn’t even invented the wheel.
Posted on 2/29/24 at 11:36 am to SloaneRanger
Why do we call them injuns if they never invented internal combustion?
Posted on 2/29/24 at 11:37 am to SloaneRanger
quote:
these people hadn’t even invented the wheel
But they could at least feed themselves
Posted on 2/29/24 at 11:40 am to blueridgeTiger
Fun fact. He also stole their deli meats from them.
Posted on 2/29/24 at 11:50 am to Ancient Astronaut
Prob why they burned the fort and killed all his men after he left
Posted on 2/29/24 at 12:16 pm to blueridgeTiger
How was Columbus able to communicate so well with them to explain the lunar eclipse and God?
Posted on 2/29/24 at 12:19 pm to SUB
quote:
How was Columbus able to communicate so well with them to explain the lunar eclipse and God?
Exactly what I was thinking
And even if he could communicate how did he command an audience to tell them this if they hated him and his crew so much they would let them starve
Posted on 2/29/24 at 12:34 pm to Adam Banks
Here is what Bing Copilot said about that:
quote:
Christopher Columbus and his crew faced significant language barriers when interacting with the Arawak Indians during their time in Jamaica. As far as historical records indicate, Columbus did not fully learn the Arawak language. Instead, he relied on interpreters, gestures, and basic communication methods to convey his intentions and negotiate with the indigenous people.
Given the limited duration of their stay and the urgency of their situation, Columbus likely prioritized survival and practical communication over mastering the Arawak language. His primary goal was to secure provisions and maintain control over the situation, especially during the critical period when they were stranded on the island.
In summary, while Columbus did not become fluent in the Arawak language, he used other means to communicate and navigate the challenges posed by the language barrier during his time in Jamaica.
Posted on 2/29/24 at 12:40 pm to blueridgeTiger
Good for him, people have been outsmarting their opponents and taking over each other since the beginning of time, not sure why I should feel bad about this instance. Especially when it has a direct correlation to the creation of the greatest country the world has ever seen (not saying we don't have our problems), but it's tough to argue.
Posted on 2/29/24 at 12:53 pm to BhamBlazeDog
quote:
Good for him, people have been outsmarting their opponents and taking over each other since the beginning of time
Exactly. And I am sure the group of people who were conquered/captured by the Arawak would be somewhat incredulous that we refer to the Arawak's as "natives".
Posted on 2/29/24 at 1:07 pm to blueridgeTiger
quote:
Italian explorer Christopher Columbus, the man who discovered America,
Why on earth are we still spreading this BS? Even when I was told this as a kid, being regaled with stories about Columbus and native people, I was not buying it. I remember asking about it...we had a text book with illustrations and when we came around to old Chris there he was stepping out of a boat, with a flock of natives there to greet him. I asked "why did he bring the indians?" and was told, dismissively, that he didn't bring them, they were already there. Of course, being curious, I asked "then how did he discover America"? That sort of insolence wasn't allowed in Clayton County Georgia elementary schools in 1972. It went really south when I was told the legend of how they came to be called Indians (for those who came through school in a more enlightened time the story was the stupid bastard thought he was in India LOL). I am pretty certain that teacher retired shortly after our meeting...
Posted on 2/29/24 at 1:16 pm to SloaneRanger
quote:
No one wants to talk about it, but when the Europeans arrived, these people hadn’t even invented the wheel.
They also had not been practicing, what the Europeans that "discovered" a continent that the native people had been living on for about 20,000 years a past time they later gave a name, The Inquisition. The practice of torturing non-christians until they converted was going gang busters in Spain 100 years before Columbus sailed the ocean blue. Wheel, the inquisition, potato, potata....
Posted on 2/29/24 at 1:20 pm to blueridgeTiger
quote:
“He discovered America is what he did. He was a brave Italian explorer. And in this house, Christopher Columbus is a hero. End of story.” – Tony Soprano
Posted on 2/29/24 at 1:25 pm to blueridgeTiger
quote:
Things came to a head when some Arawaks were killed in a fight with the crew. So they stopped the supply of food to the castaways.
How could they treat those poor refugees so terribly!?
Posted on 2/29/24 at 1:36 pm to AwgustaDawg
You're just arguing a different side. You aren't more correct than anyone else. Were Europeans savage? Yes. Were the inhabitants of this unnamed continent savage? Also, yes. It seems like Europeans are being held to a historically higher standard because of their vastly advanced technology. But they shouldn't be. It was a fight for survival for everyone.
Also, it's not "potato, patata". There is no such thing as a patata. The point of the saying to confirm that there is more than one way to look at the same thing. E.g. more than one way to pronounce the same word (with a short "a" or a long "a"). I.e. most people living in the 1500s were brutes by today's standards. Because we only know the Inquisition was awful because it was documented. What do you think the people who became human sacrifices to the gods of mesoamerica (oops I did it again) would have written if they could write?
Also, it's not "potato, patata". There is no such thing as a patata. The point of the saying to confirm that there is more than one way to look at the same thing. E.g. more than one way to pronounce the same word (with a short "a" or a long "a"). I.e. most people living in the 1500s were brutes by today's standards. Because we only know the Inquisition was awful because it was documented. What do you think the people who became human sacrifices to the gods of mesoamerica (oops I did it again) would have written if they could write?
This post was edited on 2/29/24 at 1:45 pm
Posted on 2/29/24 at 1:39 pm to SloaneRanger
quote:
No one wants to talk about it, but when the Europeans arrived, these people hadn’t even invented the wheel.
No one likes to lose either. Iroquois wiped out entire tribes, evil whitey came over and beat them at their own game and people hate it. Much like the Palestinians have no issue killing and stealing from their own people, no issue terrorizing other countries, they just don’t like it when Israel puts them in their place. I guess apologies are in order for the colonists, for making the most successful country on earth.
Posted on 2/29/24 at 1:41 pm to blueridgeTiger
Fwiw, the people Columbus encountered and driven the natives from the island some 2000 or so years prior, enslaving their decendants.
Posted on 2/29/24 at 1:42 pm to blueridgeTiger
So he did what he had to do to survive?
Posted on 2/29/24 at 1:49 pm to bulletprooftiger
quote:
You're just arguing a different side. You aren't more correct than anyone else. Were Europeans savage? Yes. Were the inhabitants of this unnamed continent savage? Also, yes. It seems like Europeans are being held to a historically higher standard because of their vastly advanced technology. But they shouldn't be. It was a fight for survival for everyone.
Also, it's not "potato, patata". There is no such thing as a patata. The point of the saying to confirm that there is more than one way to look at the same thing. E.g. more than one way to pronounce the same word (with a short "a" or a long "a"). I.e. most people living in the 1500s were brutes by today's standards.
Not arguing anything, just adding some thoughts. As far as a patata goes only a fricking idiot of epic proportions would think anyone did not know what the saying was and what it was meant to convey...or an a-hole with nothing to add at all. Your post is saying exactly the same as mine, the people Columbus "discovered" had not invented the wheel, an item they had no use for as they did not carry loads that they could carry or drag (they certainly used logs to roll things on though) and they had also not been practicing torture to persuade others to convert to their religion. Man is a savage, Europeans no more or less than native Americans....
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