When I first heard of Christopher Columbus I was in 3rd grade. I remember learning about Columbus on Columbus Day much like how you read the “I Have a Dream” speech on Martin Luther King Jr. Day except Martin actually gave that speech and most things I was told about Columbus were lies. When I was little I was told About how great of a hero Columbus was and often that he saved and helped the Natives and treated them with respect. This is not true but is what I was taught. Early in high school, I was told more about how Columbus was a thug and a crazed lunatic. Later in high school, I was taught that neither of these views was completely true. It is documented that Columbus often advocated for the natives. It has also been documented that he transported slaves most of these slaves would have been considered criminals but in no regard does this justify his actions. He also often tried to persuade these natives to Christianity as he was a religious person himself. Columbus also should have kept better control of his men many of whom did commit senseless atrocities and his rediscovery also led to worse people such as Francisco Roldan. Our discussions this week have made me take a greater look at some of the practices and policies Columbuses deisvovey led to such as practices outlined and derived from the Doctrine of Discovery which we read and talked about in class. Specifically the passage “The Bull stated that any land not inhabited by Christians was available to be “discovered,” claimed, and exploited by Christian rulers”. Much like the Econendia system outlined by Roldan it gave the Spanish the right to land and in some cases Natives as they were not Christians and led to terrible atrocities being committed against these people. This is often the case going forward of not respecting the cultures or practices of the Natives and so slave trade racism and social and political systems were made and placed against the Natives because they were not Christian and were seen as savages.