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Columbus the Crusader's Legacy Endures

Americans forget religious fervor drove the 1492 expedition

By Nick McMaster, Newser Staff

Posted Oct 12, 2009 4:45 PM CDT

(Newser) – This Columbus Day, James Carroll invites us to reconsider the man and his motivations. Pop culture has secularized Columbus, concentrating on his mission in search of gold, spices, and trade routes. That ignores his central motivation: expanding the dominion of Christianity. An “old Crusader” ambition motivated Columbus, Carroll writes for the Boston Globe. Europe had failed to kick the Muslims out of the Holy Land, and "freedom from Islamic control was the point."

Thus Columbus wrote to his royal sponsors, as fellow “enemies of the sect of Mahomet” confirming his intention to see the people of India, and “the manner in which may be undertaken their conversion to our Holy Faith.” He pledged all gold he might find to “be spent in the conquest of Jerusalem.” We'd do well to consider that the Islamaphobia, apocalyptic impulse, and obsession with Jerusalem whitewashed from Columbus' story remain “pillars of the American problem today.”

[Images (3)]

[Quotes (1)]

1492, Genoese explorer, Christopher Columbus (1451 - 1506), exhorts his men to persevere on their voyage of discovery to the New World. (Getty Images)

Circa 1490, Christopher Columbus (1446-1506), the Genoese discoverer of the Americas, in armour and ruff. (Getty Images)

circa 1900: Christopher Columbus (1451-1506) Italian-born explorer of the New World. Photograph of a replica of his flagship, the 3-masted carrack, Santa Maria. (Getty Images)

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An apocalyptic impulse informed the New World project at its birth; the project assumed hostility to Islam; and its ultimate purpose involved Jerusalem. Those three facts remain pillars of the American problem today.
- James Carroll, Boston Globe

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COMMENTS

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Showing 3 of 29 comments

rajanKazhmin

Oct 13, 2009 7:39 AM CDT

Jayster has some serious mental health issues. A Christian Theocracy would mean nothing less than a return to the dark ages. Yeah, those were some great times we'd all benefit from going back to. Get a clue.

Guest

Oct 13, 2009 7:10 AM CDT

@freethemall; a muslim who truely believes in his religion has to offer others the message of islam. If god wants he will give the man guidance. But the muslim has done his job by just saying the message. I dont know where u get the death threats from.

freethemall

Oct 13, 2009 7:02 AM CDT

Christian fundamentalists would be about as bad as islamic fundamentalists if they had the power. When they had the power, they conducted the inquisition. At this time there are no Christian fundamentalist in control of a nation state. The same cannot be said for Islamic fundamentalist. Any, of whatever persuasion, who believe they have the exclusive knowledge of the will of God, are dangerous.

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Columbus the Crusader's Legacy Endures