The Voyages of the Explorers to the New World, Misunderstood Motivations

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Some explorers may also be seen as emissaries in charge of spreading European culture and religion in conquered territories. A socialization of the indigenous people would allow the colonization process to unwind more fluently. The Spanish Conquistador Hernàn Cortés embodies this idea in his letter “Second Letter to the Spanish Crown” as he tells about the native people, “They must know that there was only one God, Lord of all things, who had created heaven and earth and all else and who made all of us.” (Cortés 41) This assertion demonstrates that the explorers and their crew were ready to force the indigenous people to abandon their culture in order to make them accept the European norms and beliefs.

In conclusion, the explorers' attitude towards the New World was not only inspired by a mission given to them by their respective sovereigns but also by personal prospering to a new status and a wealthier life. The two examples from Columbus and De Vaca's letters have shown that both were naive to believe that to achieve this mission successfully would thrive them towards a higher social status.

Works Cited

Columbus, Christopher. “Letter to Luis de Santangel Regarding the Fourth Voyage.” The Norton Anthology of American Literature. Shorter Eighth Edition. Ed. Nina Baym et al. New York, NY: W.W. Norton & Company, 2008. 26-28. Print.

Cortés, Hernàn. “Second Letter to the Spanish Crown.” The Norton Anthology of American Literature. Shorter Eighth Edition. Ed. Nina Baym et al. New York, NY: W.W. Norton & Company, 2008. 38-42. Print.

Vaca, Àlvar Núñez Cabeza De. “From The Relation of Àlvar Núñez Cabeza De Vaca.” The Norton Anthology of American Literature. Shorter Eighth Edition. Ed. Nina Baym et al. New York, NY: W.W. Norton & Company, 2008. 29-35. Print.

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