Episode #180- Columbus? (Part III)

Our Fake History

PodcastOne

History, Education, Society & Culture

4.7 • 3.7K Ratings

🗓️ 30 May 2023

⏱️ 100 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

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Summary

There is a long tradition of writers comparing Christopher Columbus to mythical figures. 16th century historian Peter Martyr believed Columbus was like a later-day Aeneas, the Trojan hero who travelled west to found a society in Italy that would one day become Rome. Over the centuries many Americans gravitated to the idea of Columbus as Aeneas--- a man who brought civilization west and gave it a new headquarters in America. However, more recently one historian has argued that Columbus is more like the tragic Greek hero Oedipus. In his estimation Columbus, like Oedipus, was a hero who brought about a tragedy unwittingly. Is this a fair analogy? While acting as the Viceroy of Indies and the Governor of Hispaniola, Columbus would personally oversee the enslavement of thousands of people and the institution of a tribute system so exploitative that it lead to one of history's more shocking humanitarian disasters. How "unwitting" can all of this really be said to be? Tune-in and find out how pear shaped globes, Columbus' chains, and America's worst statues all play a role in the story. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Transcript

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0:00.0	Hey, everyone, Sebastian here.
0:02.4	Before we get started today, I wanted everyone listening to know that today's episode is
0:06.7	going to be dealing with a number of very difficult topics.
0:10.9	We're going to be discussing sexual assault, suicide, and violence of all sorts.
0:18.7	Please use your discretion when it comes to how and when you listen to this show.
0:24.8	If you're listening with younger people, just be advised that there are some tough moments.
0:29.6	Alright, for everybody else, I hope you enjoy the show.
0:40.5	It always seemed strange to me that Christopher Columbus became so deeply wrapped up in the
0:46.1	national mythology of the United States of America.
0:50.4	It doesn't necessarily seem intuitive that a country whose identity is so deeply linked
0:56.7	to violently breaking away from its European colonial masters and rejecting monarchy would
1:03.3	gravitate towards a figure like Columbus.
1:07.1	After all, Christopher Columbus was a representative of the Spanish crown.
1:13.5	The man was nothing if not a devoted monarchist.
1:17.9	His exploits in the Caribbean were all about expanding a European empire and enriching
1:24.6	his royal patrons.
1:27.2	With the notable exception of the island of Puerto Rico, Columbus never set foot on any
1:33.8	piece of land that would become part of the United States.
1:38.6	Also consider how in the late 18th and early 19th centuries, American rhetoric was so deeply
1:45.8	anti-Spanish.
1:48.0	Barely a decade after drafting the Declaration of Independence, Thomas Jefferson suggested
1:53.7	that the United States might want to gobble up Latin America, quote, piece by piece,
	...

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