Christopher Columbus

Christopher Columbus’ Discovery and Subsequent Impact on Native Americans Although Christopher Columbus used his courage and navigation skills to voyage to a place unknown to the western part of the world many native people suffered from his voyages to the west. In 1492 Columbus set out to find a shorter route to Asia by sailing west to get east. His adventures and discoveries cost the Native Americans more than just their land. In the years after …

…would have welcomed the Europeans with open arms as they did. Christopher Columbus brought invaders, slavery and disease to a pristine land and his actions caused many Natives to die. On an ironic note however, the Native Americans made their own longer lasting impact on Europe by sending syphilis and hepatitis with the returning sailors. These diseases haunt us to this day during a time when smallpox has been eliminated and influenza a minor irritation.