Christopher Colombus

In the reading I did today on Christtopher Colombus I learned a few things. One thing I learned is that he arrived on an island. On the island he found a deserted house that were completely furnished. The natives fled when they saw Colombus' crew arrived. Colombus made sure that his crew took nothing from the house. He saw how beautiful and fertile the land was. There was no development, just foliage and lakes. He discovered the aloe tree and decided he would take some back. When they came upon a village of natives, the natives fled into the mountains. Finally natives came up to them. Colombus gave them glass beads and hawk's bells. In return, the natives brought them fresh water to stock their ships. Colombus spoke with the natives and asked about gold. The natives told him of Colba or Cuba. According to what Colombus heard there was an abundance of gold and spices there and that is where he would go. From my learning in past years I've learned that Colombus wasn't really as nice as he was portrayed in this story. I was taught that he took as much as he could get his hands on. Eventually he took control of La Hispanola or the Dominican Republic. He came and went bringing everything of "value" back to Spain. The natives had to gather a certain amount of gold per week or so or else they would either be beatin, killed or enslaved.