Early agreements between King
Ferdinand, Queen Isabel and Christopher Columbus do not discuss the
importance of religion to the task of exploration. "Spreading the gospel
would come later… [This was a] commercial enterprise." [1] However,
later documentation shows that indeed, religion played a part in the service
Spanish explorers performed for Spanish monarchs. Ferdinand and Isabel agreed
to pay the cost of the expedition that was envisioned to bring them the riches
of the Orient. If Columbus were successful these riches would allow the
monarchs the wealth needed for "trade and empire." [2] In
return Columbus was given two titles which effectively made him nobility, and a
chance to explore. This made him a representative of Spain, therefore all land
he discovered would become Spanish territory. In addition, Columbus was allowed
to invest in some of the costs of the voyage, which would then give him a share
of the profits. During this time, Ferdinand and Isabel were making great
strides in unifying Spain. Therefore, it is reasonable to suggest that the
expedition could be seen as an attempt at "state building."[3] Also,
at this time they were seeking to unify Spain religiously as Catholic, and so began
the persecution of Jews and Muslims. In the "medieval Spanish crusading tradition"
or Reconquista,[4]
Columbus’s expedition plays an important role. As the monarchy expanded their
role and reinforced their role as Catholic, it stands to reason any new lands
that they claimed for their own, and therefore any peoples living on those
lands, would be expected to convert to Catholicism. It was noted by his
contemporaries[5]
that Columbus was indeed a devout Catholic.[6] Given
this fact about Columbus, it is no great surprise that he requested Queen
Isabel use any riches he found in her name, to help reclaim the holy land and
Jerusalem. A vow, she did indeed make.[7] After
his third voyage to what was thought of as the Indies, Columbus reinforced his
religious vision in a letter to Ferdinand and Isabel. In this document he
outlined the ways in which he felt the Lord "favored"[8] his
life and choices. Columbus outlined his arguments for the spreading of
Catholicism and reminded the monarchs, of how important he felt reclaiming
Jerusalem was. Therefore, although not always explicit, the importance of
religion for the purposes of exploration is certainly implied in much of the documentation
regarding Christopher Columbus and his expeditions.
[1] Geoffrey
Symcox and Blair Sullivan, Christopher
Columbus and the Enterprise of the Indies: A Brief History with Documents. (Boston:
Bedford/St. Martins 2005), 13-14.
[2] Ibid. 13.
[3] Ibid. 11.
[4] Ibid. 11.
[5] Gonzalo
Fernandez De Oviedo, “On Columbus as “First Discoverer” 1535-ca 1549. (Jesus
Carrillo, ed., and Diane Avalle-Arce, trans., Oviedo on Columbus, Repertorium Columbianum 9 (Turnhout, Belgium:
Brepols, 2000), 40, 90.) ed Geoffrey Symcox and Blair Sullivan, Christopher Columbus and the Enterprise of
the Indies: A Brief History with Documents. (Boston: Bedford/St. Martins
2005), 57.
[6]Bartolome
De Las Casas, “On Columbus’s Appearance,
Education and Character”. Ca. 1527-1563. (Nigel Griffin, ed and
trans.,intro. Anthony Pagden, Las Casas
on Columbus: Background and the Second and Fourth Voyages, Repertorium
Columbianum 7 (Turnhout, Belgium: Brepols, 1999), 25-28.)Ed Sullivan, Blair,
Symcox, Geoffrey, Christopher Columbus
and the Enterprise of the Indies: A Brief History with Documents. (Boston:
Bedford/St. Martins 2005), 47.
[7] Ibid. 48.
[8] Christopher
Columbus to Fernando and Isabel, undated 1500-1502. (Roberto Rusconi, ed and
Blair Sullivan, trans., The ‘Book of Prophesies’
Edited by Christopher Columbus, Repertorium Columbianum 3 (Berkeley:
University of California Press, 1997), 67-77.) ed Geoffrey Symcox and Blair
Sullivan, Christopher Columbus and the
Enterprise of the Indies: A Brief History with Documents. (Boston: Bedford/St.
Martins 2005), 51-55.
