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| Christopher Columbus |
Christopher Columbus is often credited with "discovering America" after his famous voyage in 1492. While searching for a quicker route to Asia, Columbus believed he could find such a route by sailing West. Unbeknownst to Columbus - and the rest of Europe - there were two great land masses filled with people and an untold number of resources standing in the way.
This is where the legacy of Columbus hits a roadblock. His crew stumbled upon numerous groups of indigenous people, which means he couldn't have discovered this part of the world. For years, the inhumane treatment of the Arawak by the hands of Columbus and his men was overlooked to celebrate the glory of his discovery.
We can give credit to Columbus in this regard: He "opened the door" to the West for the rest of Europe. With that came the first example of globalization and a great trading of resources between the Old and New Worlds. Sadly though, that open door also allowed for Europeans to rush through, exploit the indigenous cultures, and colonize North and South America for their own interests.
