Columbus’ own writings reveal how tightly religion and conquest were intertwined from the start
The ‘Book of Prophecies’ shows how Columbus recast brutal colonization as a divine mission.
Christopher Columbus' writings from his 1493 letter reveal the deep intertwining of religion and conquest from the moment he set sail to the Americas. Long before his voyage, Europeans had a strong desire to expand their faith and territory. The Crusades in the Middle East, the Reconquista in Spain, and the colonization efforts of Portugal had all laid the groundwork for this mindset.
Columbus himself set out to find a quicker route to the Spice Islands, a goal that gained support from Queen Isabella and King Ferdinand of Spain. After his return, Columbus labeled the native people he encountered as "Indios," believing he had found Asia. His names for places and peoples, such as San Salvador and Santa Maria de Concepion, show his Christian intentions.
His intention to convert the Taino people to Christianity became a key part of his colonial plans. Upon his return to Spain, Columbus wrote that he desired to "teach them Spanish so they could tell us what they knew" about the new environments. He hoped this would "bring rejoicing to the whole of Christendom."
Columbus' words quickly spread across Europe, inspiring others to view their colonization efforts through a religious lens. His promotion of forced labor and conquest led to charges against him in 1500, but his legacy as a pioneer of religious expansion in the Americas remained.
Written by urgent.news from The Conversation's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
