You receive a message in a bottle from a tropical island. It’s a page torn from a ship’s log. The document is a little water sta
ined here and there, but you can read most of it. It's a log entry about people trading peacefully. At first glance, nothing seems to be wrong.
But along with the page, there’s another note from people who live on the island. They want to know more about this so-called admiral who visited their island. They have several questions about this log entry.
Now, read this passage from Christopher Columbus’s account for more information about the admiral’s visit:
At two o'clock in the morning the land was discovered . . . [We] saw trees very green, many streams of water, and diverse sorts of fruits. The Admiral called upon the two Captains, and the rest of the crew who landed to bear witness that he before all others took possession (as in fact he did) of that island for the King and Queen his sovereigns . . . Numbers of the people of the island straightway collected together. Here follow the precise words of the Admiral: "As I saw that they were very friendly to us, and perceived that they could be much more easily converted to our holy faith by gentle means than by force, I presented them with some red caps, and strings of beads to wear upon the neck, and many other trifles of small value, where with they were much delighted . . . Afterwards they came swimming to the boats, bringing parrots, balls of cotton thread, javelins, and many other things which they exchanged for articles we gave them, such as glass beads, and hawk's bells; which trade was carried on with the utmost good will.”
[Source: The Log of Christopher Columbus]
Now, think about the event as you read these secondary sources about exploration in the New World:
Age of Discovery
Age of Exploration
You will write a letter to the people of the island explaining who visited them and why. To prepare for that task, think about cause and effect. What was the main cause for Columbus’s journey? What were two short-term effects? Two long-term effects? You can use the outline format below to help organize your thoughts.
Cause:
Short-Term Effects
1.
2.
Long-Term Effects
1.
2.
