Discovery
The story begins in 1492, when explorer Christopher Columbus sailed across the Atlantic Ocean, looking for a better route to the Orient. He sailed for 33 days, until he discovered the Island that he called San Salvador. He encountered some natives, who he called Indians for he thought this was India. He described the natives as "timid and full of terror." He claimed the Antilles for Spain, and returned with 25 captives but only 8 survived. He then told the King and Queen of Spain about his travels, and the resources and lush lands that Spain could exploit. One of the most valuable islands was Hispaniola, full of "various kinds of species, gold and metals." This caused Portugal to also have interest. Some land disputes were solved by the Bull Inter Caetera, which stated that "said line to be distant one hundred leagues towards the west and south from any of the islands commonly know as the Azores or Cape Verde.
Devastation
The Native cultures that inhabited the New World were described as "the most guileless, the most devoid of wickedness and duplicity, and the most obedient and faithful to their native masters and the Spanish Christians who they serve." The natives had no iron, no wheels, no guns, and no idea of land ownership. However, the islands of the Caribbean were once described as a "beehive of people" but were eventually almost depopulated, with Hispaniola having a population of almost 200 people. The same can be said for the other islands and the Mainland. Almost all of the people that lived in these lands were killed or sent into slavery. Some escaped with the help of someone, and the Spaniards sent a ship to look for them. The supposed reason for doing this is that the Spaniards have an ultimate goal, to acquire gold. The Natives decided to take up arms, but this was ineffective because their technology is very far behind. This entire event was know as the "Columbian Exchange," when things like ideas, crops, religion, and disease were spread between both "Worlds."
The Demand for Slaves
With the boom of Sugar Cane Plantations, people needed cheap labor to work the fields. When the plantation owners ran out of Native Americans, they turned to an untapped source - The Dark Continent. The Pope authorized Portugal to "reduce to servitude all infidel people." At first, the process was slow and inefficient - going to each port and picking up a few until you have enough for a trip. Then they raided entire villages, and tempted nations with goods and guns to sell some people. Those sold then had to make a very long journey, thousands dying, to the ports to be shipped. Before they were shipped, they were marketed in a port city, and once sold, put into "Slave Dungeons" until they had enough to ship. Once they were on the ship, months have passed. On the ship, it was so crowded that "they could neither turn, nor stand, nor squat, nor sit. There were 2 ways of packing slaves: those who just packed them all on to try to get the most on, and those who gave them "breathing space" so that the most people would survive the journey. The daily meal was very small, and they had to perform "The Dancing of the Slaves" where some slaves had to dance for exercise. Slave trading was a risk business, but it managed to pull millions from Africa to the Americas and some parts of Europe.
In conclusion, Columbus discovered the New World, which was then overrun by Spaniards and killed off most of the native population. Because of this, they did not have enough slaves left to meet demand for resources. So they turned to Africa for slaves, and Millions were displaced in the process. All, because of God, Gold, and Glory.
In conclusion, Columbus discovered the New World, which was then overrun by Spaniards and killed off most of the native population. Because of this, they did not have enough slaves left to meet demand for resources. So they turned to Africa for slaves, and Millions were displaced in the process. All, because of God, Gold, and Glory.
Sources:
Landing of Columbus, 1492.
The Price of Man
Columbus Reports on His First Voyage, 1493
Bartolomé de Las Casas, Brief Account of the Devastation of the Indies (1542)
The Black Legend, Native Americans, and Spaniards: Crash Course US History #1
The Doctrine of Discovery, 1493 by Pope Alexander VI
Landing of Columbus, 1492.
The Price of Man
Columbus Reports on His First Voyage, 1493
Bartolomé de Las Casas, Brief Account of the Devastation of the Indies (1542)
The Black Legend, Native Americans, and Spaniards: Crash Course US History #1
The Doctrine of Discovery, 1493 by Pope Alexander VI