Why is Christopher Columbus Considered a Controversial Figure?

Christopher Columbus had set sail for the New World by wanting to reach the East by travelling west across the Atlantic Ocean. After years of seeking financial aid for his expedition, he received it from Spanish monarchs, Ferdinand and Isabella. He had tried to get aid from Portugal and had waited over eight years to get help from the Spanish monarchs. In 1492, Columbus received aid, and the main reason was because the Turks had cut off the overland trade route in the West Indies which left Western Europe in need of finding another way to the East. Also like Columbus, Ferdinand and Isabella were devout Christians and they all wanted to advance the religion.

For many years, history incorrectly billed him as the true discoverer of the New World which is part of the reason he remains a controversial figure. The native people living in America at the time were the real discoverers of the new lands. These people have been said to have migrated to America as early as 50,000 B.C., when they came acorss the Bering Straight from Asia to what is now North America. These native people eventually reached South America around 8,000 B.C. However, Columbus is billed by many as the first European to discover the New World where he encountered these native people. But there are accounts of European contact with the New World prior to Columbus' discovery. Columbus actually did not reach the New World until 1498, his third voyage as many believe he did so in 1492.

It is the treatment of these native people by Columbus as to why he is surrounded by controversy. He was investigated by the Spanish in 1497 for his dealings with the Indians. His case was heard by the king and queen, but the charges were dropped. This was followed by rumors, and Columbus was arrested in 1500. He and his brothers, Bartolome and Diego, were also arrested and chained before being brought back to Spain. He was later released to continue explorations as he made one more trip to the New World in the early 1502. This is where Columbus believed he had been near China. So Columbus in fact never found a westward path to the Indies. He did discover the Caribbean islands that now known as the West Indies. The native people that originally discovered North and South America were called "Indians".

Columbus had lost all his honor after being arrested, and would never regain his stature as an explorer. Columbus would live the rest of his life in poverty and neglect before he died in 1506 in the Spanish city of Valladolid.

Columbus' body had still travelled around the world after death. His body was first kept at Sevilla then transferred to what is now Santo Domingo. The French eventually took over and his remains were transferred to Havana, Cuba. Then when Cuba became free after the Spanish-American War, his body was moved back to Sevilla. But it was discovered that Columbus' body may have been left in Santo Domingo when bone fragments were found in 1877. So to settle the dispute, his body was relics were moved to Havana and that he was left buried in a cathedral in Santo Domingo. DNA testing in 2003 showed that parts of Columbus' body has some remains in Sevilla after the results were released in October of 2006. The authorities in Santo Domingo have not allowed his body to be exhumed to find out if he remains there.

In his life, he was surrounded by plenty of controversy. Then long after his death, more controversy would come. So despite being a hero to many North and South Americans, he is one of the most controversial figures this world has ever known. This has not changed even over 500 years later after his death in 1506.