Christopher Columbus and His Expeditions to America

(Pamphlet, 2nd edition)

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Description

While past histories depict Christopher Columbus as either god-sent angel or bloodthirsty demon,Simple History series author J. Gerlach opts to let the events stand on their own, giving readers the tools they need to draw up their own conclusions. This heavily illustrated history provides a fair and objective portrait of the oft-maligned man. As Gerlach says, "Columbus' importance is debatable. His drive and courage put him in position to 'discover' America, but his greatness depends on your definition of the word 'great.'" The story presented here is one of wholesale murder, wild ambition, and supersized gold lust. It's a dark piece of our history made even darker with facts generally left out of textbooks. In this age of heavily biased "news" media and propaganda-as-documentary, this brand of objective history-telling is refreshing and much needed.

Reviews

Columbus, with its bibliography full of Howard Zinn and James W. Loewen, presents a digestible version of a narrative that is not as familiar as it should be. It's a useful, friendly zine. Even the title makes it sound like a congenial outdoor excursion by two friends: Columbus and his Expeditions! At last, together again! - Utne Reader