Is Exploration a Good Thing?
Exploration by definition is “the investigation of unknown regions”. (http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/exploration). This can be related to anything; the arts, science, math, literature, geography, even food and cooking techniques. However, exploration, particularly exploration during the Renaissance, has meant something more to western civilization that what the definition suggests. The exploration conducted during the late renaissance, has forever changed the way that we look at the arts, our building techniques, our architecture, and the lands that we live. Great explorers like Christopher Columbus, pioneered western interests and exploration all over the world, but did not always fit the heroic characteristics that history has given them.
Perhaps the most famous explorer of the late renaissance period was Christopher Columbus. The saying “Christopher Columbus sailed the ocean blue in 1492” is taught in schools and known by people throughout North America and Europe. Early in the morning of October 12, 1492 Christopher Columbus, his three ships, and his men made landfall in the Caribbean. Soon after wards the native people come out in interest of these new comers and were amazed at the technology they had. The natives at that time had never seen iron or horses or ships like the ones Christopher Columbus had. (http://www.fordham.edu/halsall/source/columbus1.html) Columbus’ journey brought technology and knowledge to the Americas that the natives had never seen before. What was common knowledge and centuries old technology in Europe, might never had been discovered in the Americas without voyages such as Columbus’.
The voyage of Columbus did not have solely good effects. The exchange of diseases between the native people and Columbus’ men took a toll on populations in both the New World and Europe. Small pox in the New World and tropical diseases and syphilis brought back to Europe killed thousands of natives and Europeans alike. (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christopher_Columbus).
Columbus also did not view these natives as his equals. He thought he and his men were clearly better than the indigenous people because of their better technology and wealth. In his journal he said, “I thought then, and still believe, that these were from the continent. It appears to me, that the people are ingenious, and would be good servants and I am of opinion that they would very readily become Christians, as they appear to have no religion. They very quickly learn such words as are spoken to them. If it pleases our Lord, I intend at my return to carry home six of them to your Highnesses, that they may learn our language.” (http://www.fordham.edu/halsall/source/columbus1.html) Columbus had clear plans to bring the natives back as servants and perhaps even had plans to completely conquer them as he said in another passage from his journal. “Weapons they have none, nor are acquainted with them, for I showed them swords which they grasped by the blades, and cut themselves through ignorance. They have no iron, their javelins being without it, and nothing more than sticks, though some have fish-bones or other things at the ends.” (http://www.fordham.edu/halsall/source/columbus1.html). Columbus knew that they would be at a complete disadvantage to the Europeans superior technology and weapons, and he could easily defeat them in any type of battle.
Exploration during the Renaissance forever changed the way that western civilization lives and works. Because of explorers like Christopher Columbus, new worlds, technologies, and ideas have been added to that already in place in western culture. But was Christopher Columbus the hero that everyone made him out to be? Without a doubt, there are huge benefits to his exploration, but was the death toll, not only in the Americas but also in Europe, really worth it? Exploration of new lands, like everything, has both good effects and bad effects on humanity. Every great accomplishment has consequences on the rest of the world.
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