Columbus to You
• In your view, why do you think Christopher Columbus is important in our study of the
history of the Americas?
Christopher Columbus is important to our study of the history of America because of the impact
he had on through his discovery of the Americas and the controversy surrounding him. Although
the textbooks that I read as an elementary schooler did outline Columbus’s major
accomplishments, they left out many aspects of what he did once he discovered the Americas
and his relationship with the natives. The textbooks portrayed him as a great hero however as I
have grown older, I have learned that this is not the case. Studying Christopher Columbus helps
teach that the discovery and colonization of the Americas were not purely positive events and
that they did have dark elements and awful acts that were committed in the process.
Columbus to Brinkley
• Read the section in Brinkley on Columbus. In a few sentences summarize why Brinkley
suggested Columbus was important. What were the words/concepts that were key to his
narrative? (You can also read in American History textbook, pages 13-17)
