Christopher Columbus and Sir Francis Drake are two celebrated explorers with different legacies. Columbus discovered the New World and his voyages paved the way for future explorers, while Drake sailed around the world, explored the West Indies and South America, and established English trade routes and settlements. Columbus is often portrayed as a hero who opened up new trade routes and discovery, but criticized for his treatment of native peoples. Drake, on the other hand, is celebrated in England, but criticized in South America for his involvement in slavery and exploitation of native peoples. Their legacies reflect the different perceptions of their actions in their respective times and places.
Introduction
Christopher Columbus and Sir Francis Drake are two of the most celebrated explorers of their time. Columbus is often credited with discovering the New World, while Drake is known for his circumnavigation of the world. However, their legacies differ significantly, with Columbus being revered and admired by many, while Drake has been criticized and even vilified. This article will compare and contrast the lives and achievements of Columbus and Drake, and explore the reasons for the differing legacies they have left.
Background
Christopher Columbus was born in Genoa, Italy in 1451. He was a skilled navigator and explorer who is famous for his voyages across the Atlantic Ocean. Columbus made a total of four voyages to the Americas, the first of which was in 1492 under the patronage of King Ferdinand and Queen Isabella of Spain. Sir Francis Drake, on the other hand, was born in Devon, England in 1540. He was a skilled sailor and navigator who is famous for his circumnavigation of the world and his successful naval exploits against the Spanish Armada.
Exploration
Both Columbus and Drake were explorers who made significant contributions to the field of navigation and geography. Columbus is famous for his discovery of the New World, and his voyages paved the way for future explorers to the Americas. Drake, however, did not discover any new territories but was the first Englishman to sail around the world. He also explored the West Indies and South America, and his voyages helped to establish English trade routes and settlements in the New World.
Legacy
The legacies of Columbus and Drake are vastly different. Columbus is often portrayed as a hero and a pioneer who discovered the New World, while Drake is often viewed as an opportunist and a pirate who engaged in ruthless actions against the Spanish. Columbus is celebrated with a national holiday in the United States, while Drake is often criticized for his involvement in the slave trade and his treatment of native peoples. The reasons for the differing legacies are complex, but can largely be attributed to the way in which their actions were perceived in their respective times and places.
Columbus’ Legacy
Columbus’ legacy is largely positive in the Western world, where he is often viewed as a hero who opened up new trade routes and established a new era of exploration and discovery. However, in other parts of the world, particularly in Latin America, Columbus’ legacy is more controversial. He is often criticized for his treatment of native peoples and the impact of his voyages on their societies. Many argue that Columbus’ arrival in the New World was the start of a process of cultural and ecological destruction that has had lasting impacts to this day.
Drake’s Legacy
Drake’s legacy is complex, and he is often viewed in different ways by different people. In England, he is celebrated as a national hero and a symbol of English bravery against the Spanish. In South America, however, he is often remembered for his violent actions against Spanish settlements and for his involvement in the slave trade. Many argue that Drake’s actions were not only brutal, but also unethical and immoral, and that they contributed to the exploitation and subjugation of native peoples and cultures.
Conclusion
Christopher Columbus and Sir Francis Drake were two of the greatest explorers of their time. While they both made significant contributions to the field of exploration and geography, their legacies have been vastly different. Columbus is often celebrated as a hero and a pioneer who discovered the New World, while Drake is often criticized for his involvement in the slave trade and his treatment of native peoples. The reasons for the differing legacies are complex, but largely reflect the way in which their actions were perceived in their respective times and places.