Who Was Columbus

Columbus was a magnificent navigator and naval commander.  Contrary to one of the most widespread urban legends, he was not among the first to believe the earth was round.  This had been known for centuries.  He does have the distinction of being the first European (that we know of) to make conscious repeated journeys while mapping his route to the Americas.  Columbus also established the first European government in the islands and became governor.   This is where his image tarnishes.  Las Casas, who journeyed with Columbus, would document such horrors as gambling to see who could cut a person in half with one stroke of the sword.  This is only the beginning of the documented atrocities.  Columbus' government would be the first to institute an official form of slavery and an active onslaught of brutality against the natives.   He would define the rest of the conquest for many.  Las Casas is sometimes credited with the Spanish "Black Legend" that painted them all as savages.