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Analysis Of Christopher Columbus ' Voyages

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There is no place on Earth that is not already victim to our stereotypes and generalizations. If one were to name any continent on the planet, an image would immediately be conjured up in our minds that paints the picture of our perception of that entire region. While there may be millions of diverse people, cultures, and landscapes that make up said region, one image will epitomize our characterization of it. Essentially, this image illustrates our stereotype of the region. Stereotypes often form the basis of our perspectives of foreign lands and the people they inhabit. Often, these perspectives are ignorant to reality. Whether it be a continent, country, culture, or any social or geographical entity, stereotypes are ingrained in our psyche, making a profound impact on our thoughts, actions, and understandings towards foreign lands and peoples during our travel experiences.
At the time of Christopher Columbus’ voyages, Europeans were seeing themselves as superior beings as a result of the renaissance endorsing humanist ideals. In 1486, six years before the first voyage of Columbus, Italian renaissance humanist Pico della Mirandola published “Oration on the Dignity of Man.” The book, advocating the potential capabilities of mankind, epitomized the renaissance literary movement Europe was experiencing. Mirandola writes, “Let some holy ambition invade our souls, so that, dissatisfied with mediocrity, we shall eagerly desire the highest things and shall toil with all our

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