The audiences role in their writings Christianity was found to be a necessity in Spain under the rule of King Ferdinand and Queen Isabella. They were known as the ?Catholic Kings? due in part to the Spanish Inquisition. The Inquisition, which started in 1478, led to the persecution of all non-Catholics. The persecution of the non-Catholics included the expulsion of the Jews from Spain in 1492. When the Jews were ran out of Spain it gave way for German and Italian Financiers to capitalize on Spain?s economy. The need for the people of Spain to have a strong belief of Christianity is clearly presented in Columbus?s ?Journals? and in Cabeza de Vaca?s ?Relation.? The major role that Christianity played in the lives of Spaniards in the late 1400?s is shown in Columbus and Cabeza de Vaca?s writings through their audience, their purpose in writing to each audience, and how the audience informs tone and subject matter. The major role that Christianity played in the life?s of Spaniards in the late 1400?s is shown in Columbus?s ?Journals? and Cabeza de Vaca?s ?Relation? through their audience. The audience of these men was the royalty of Spain. Columbus was sent on his voyages directly under the order of Queen Isabella and he uses ?your Highnesses? when referring to royalty back in Spain.
Cabeza de Vaca was appointed by Emperor Carlos V as treasurer to an expedition headed to explore the Gulf coast. Both Columbus and Cabeza de Vaca wrote their journals with the intention of their superiors reading them. The major role that Christianity played in the life?s of Spaniards in the late 1400?s is shown in Columbus?s ?Journals? and Cabeza de Vaca?s ?Relation? through their purpose in writing to each audience. Columbus and Cabeza de Vaca wrote to their superiors in order to shed a positive light on themselves and to make it seem that they are succeeding with their missions. Not only did Columbus make it clear that he was doing All he could to help Spain prosper but he also reminded the Queen to pursue the conversion of the Indians to Christianity ?They very quickly learn such prayers as we repeat to them, and also to make the sign of the cross. Your Highnesses should therefore adopt the resolution of converting them to Christianity, in which enterprise I am of opinion that a very short space of time would suffice to gain to our holy faith multitudes of people, and to Spain great riches and immense dominions?? (Columbus, 124).
The Essay on Columbus Vs De Vaca
Christopher Columbus and Alvez Nunez Cabeza de Vaca were both explorers for Spain, but under different rulers and different times. The more famous, Christopher Columbus, came before de Vaca's time. Columbus sailed a series of four voyages between 1492 and 1504 in search for a route to Asia which led accidentally to his discovery of new land inhabited with Indians. Christopher sailed under the ...
Cabeza de Vaca was very concerned with letting Emperor Carlos V know that his whole mission became devoted to converting the Indians to Christianity. Cabeza de Vaca also gave God credit for guiding the men to their destiny ?Reflecting on all this, we agreed to think of the subject with more deliberation, and the conversation dropped from that day, each going his way, commending our course to God, our Lord, that he would direct it as should best serve him?? (Cabeza de Vaca, 132).
By Cabeza de Vaca?s reasoning the fact that God chose him to convert the Indians to Christianity proved that he himself was a good Christian. Ultimately the purpose in writing to their audiences was to show that they were trying to meet their objectives in the best possible manner while obeying God. The major role that Christianity played in the life?s of Spaniards in the late 1400?s is shown in Columbus?s ?Journals? and Cabeza de Vaca?s ?Relation? in how the audience informs tone and subject matter. The writers tended to set the tone while viewing the world through rose colored glasses even if they weren?t in such a rosy position. The subject matter included a fair amount of information regarding the Indians reaction to Christianity ?These people were found to be of the same race and manners with those already observed, without any religion that could be discovered; they had never remarked the Indians whom they kept on board these ships to be engaged in any sort of devotion of their own, but they would, upon being directed, make the sign of the cross, and repeat the Salve and Ave Maria with the hands extended towards heaven.?(Columbus, 121).
The Essay on Islam And Christianity Understanding Of God
1) Comparing and contrasting at least two of the religions of Abraham, discuss the concept and the role of the Messiah in the religious life. I. Understanding of God Before the differences and similarities are explained in God's role, both of these groups understanding of God must be explained. Muslims and Christians worship the same God (Allah). The basic testimony of Islam is called the ' ...
Cabeza de Vaca noted that the Indians had been exploited by other Christians. The Indians never were convinced that he was actually a Christian. According to Cabeza de Vaca they thought he and his men were from the heavens because they did no damage as the Christians did. Columbus and Cabeza de Vaca made many discoveries and decisions respectively. God was thanked on each occasion that they came to a conclusion about one of these discoveries or conclusions. Christianity found it?s way into just about everything that the men wrote about. In Spain?s late 1400?s Christianity was a ruling factor. One could be put to death or exiled if they were perceived as being against the church. It seems that Columbus and Cabeza de Vaca didn?t set out to blatantly lie about their adventures. However they did make sure they were viewed as proper Christians at all times. For it was decidedly unacceptable to be anything but Catholic in the late 1400?s under the reign of Spain?s ?Catholics Kings?.
