NIARI Curriculum Project

The Truths of Columbus

Use "arrival" or "landing", instead of "discovery".
Use timelines that portray and respect the sophistication, advancements and accomplishments of Native societies and cultures at the time of his "arrival".
Christopher Columbus wasn't his true name, only the English version of it.
He wasn't always a "sailor", more accurate his is described as a "tradesman" or "jack-of-all-trades".
He never thought to prove the world was round, that concept had been rethought and reproved long before his first voyage.
He was merely looking for "profit", by finding an easier and faster way to reach China and India.
His motive was "wealth", not spreading Christianity.
Queen Isabella did NOT pawn the royal jewels to finance his voyage, even though she did offer to, they managed through financial juggling and loans to raise the necessary funds for such a costly venture.
Columbus demanded 10% of all the bounty for all subsequent voyages, not just his own, because of his "pioneering" effort.
Columbus was NOT the first person to sight land. One of the crewmen on the Pinta first shouted "Tierra" (land) and since the royalty of Spain promised great riches to the first person to sight land, Columbus paid the crewman a small amount and then wrote in his own log it was he, Columbus, that had first sighted land.

Adapted from An American Indian Perspective on Columbus by Esther Stutzman.