FREE ESSAY ON COLUMBUS AND CABEZA DE VACA

COLUMBUS AND CABEZA DE VACA

Columbus and Cabeza de Vaca: 
The audiences role in their writings
Christianity was found to be a necessity in Spain under the rule of King Ferdinand and
Queen Isabella. They were known as the "Catholic Kings" due in part to the Spanish
Inquisition. The Inquisition, which started in 1478, led to the persecution of all
non-Catholics. The persecution of the non-Catholics included the expulsion of the Jews
from Spain in 1492. When the Jews were ran out of Spain it gave way for German and
Italian Financiers to capitalize on Spain's economy. The need for the people of Spain to
have a strong belief of Christianity is clearly presented in Columbus's "Journals" and in
Cabeza de Vaca's "Relation." The major role that Christianity played in the lives of
Spaniards in the late 1400's is shown in Columbus and Cabeza de Vaca's writings through
their audience, their purpose in writing to each audience, and how the audience informs
tone and subject matter.
The major role that Christianity played in the life's of Spaniards in the late 1400's is
shown in Columbus's "Journals" and Cabeza de Vaca's "Relation" through their audience.
The audience of these men was the royalty of Spain. Columbus was sent on his voyages
directly under the order of Queen Isabella and he uses "your Highnesses" when referring
to royalty back in Spain. Cabeza de Vaca was appointed by Emperor Carlos V as treasurer
to an expedition headed to explore the Gulf coast. Both Columbus and Cabeza de Vaca wrote
their journals with the intention of their superiors reading them.
The major role that Christianity played in the life's of Spaniards in the late 1400's is
shown in Columbus's "Journals" and Cabeza de Vaca's "Relation" through their purpose in
writing to each audience. Columbus and Cabeza de Vaca wrote to their superiors in order
to shed a positive light on themselves and to make it seem that they are succeeding with
their missions. Not only did Columbus make it clear that he was doing
All he could to help Spain prosper but he also reminded the Queen to pursue the
conversion of the Indians to Christianity "They very quickly learn such prayers as we
repeat to them, and also to make the sign of the cross. Your Highnesses should therefore
adopt the resolution of converting them to Christianity, in which enterprise I am of
opinion that a very short space of time would suffice to gain to our holy faith
multitudes of people, and to Spain great riches and immense dominions..." (Columbus,
124). Cabeza de Vaca was very concerned with letting Emperor Carlos V know that his whole
mission became devoted to converting the Indians to Christianity. Cabeza de Vaca also
gave God credit for guiding the men to their destiny "Reflecting on all this, we agreed
to think of the subject with more deliberation, and the conversation dropped from that
day, each going his way, commending our course to God, our Lord, that he would direct it
as should best serve him..." (Cabeza de Vaca, 132). By Cabeza de Vaca's reasoning the
fact that God chose him to convert the Indians to Christianity proved that he himself was
a good Christian. Ultimately the purpose in writing to their audiences was to show that
they were trying to meet their objectives in the best possible manner while obeying God.

The major role that Christianity played in the life's of Spaniards in the late 1400's is
shown in Columbus's "Journals" and Cabeza de Vaca's "Relation" in how the audience
informs tone and subject matter. The writers tended to set the tone while viewing the
world through rose colored glasses even if they weren't in such a rosy position. The
subject matter included a fair amount of information regarding the Indians reaction to
Christianity "These people were found to be of the same race and manners with those
already observed, without any religion that could be discovered; they had never remarked
the Indians whom they kept on board these ships to be engaged in any sort of devotion of
their own, but they would, upon being directed, make the sign of the cross, and repeat
the Salve and Ave Maria with the hands extended towards heaven."(Columbus, 121). Cabeza
de Vaca noted that the Indians had been exploited by other Christians. The Indians never
were convinced that he was actually a Christian. According to Cabeza de Vaca they thought
he and his men were from the heavens because they did no damage as the Christians did.
Columbus and Cabeza de Vaca made many discoveries and decisions respectively. God was
thanked on each occasion that they came to a conclusion about one of these discoveries or
conclusions. Christianity found it's way into just about everything that the men wrote
about.
In Spain's late 1400's Christianity was a ruling factor. One could be put to death or
exiled if they were perceived as being against the church. It seems that Columbus and
Cabeza de Vaca didn't set out to blatantly lie about their adventures. However they did
make sure they were viewed as proper Christians at all times. For it was decidedly
unacceptable to be anything but Catholic in the late 1400's under the reign of Spain's
"Catholics Kings".