Visual Source: Theodor de Bry, Engraving of Columbus’ landing

European Exploration, Perception of the Other, and the Columbian Exchange

How did Europeans perceive the new people they encountered and how were they in turn perceived?

This is a sixteenth-century copperplate engraving of Christopher Columbus landing in the Caribbean by De Bry.

. How is the first encounter between Columbus and the Caribbean peoples depicted?

Both are suspicious and guarded.

Both are peaceful and curious.

Both are aggressive and violent.

. What are the native people bringing to Columbus and what does this indicate?

They are bringing weapons indicating they will defend their land against him.

They are bringing trade goods indicating they want to begin an economic partnership.

They are bringing gifts of their crops indicating a peaceful first encounter.

. How will this affect his perception of them and their land?

He sees them as generous and easily led and their land as desirable for Spain.

He sees them as an ignorant people easily turned into slaves and their land easily conquered.

He sees them as aggressive and their land as a difficult but worthwhile conquest for Spain.

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