Historical documents written by Christopher Columbus reveal how his voyages were driven by a fusion of religious mission and the pursuit of wealth and territory.

Christopher Columbus' own writings demonstrate that the spread of Christianity was a central component of European colonial plans in the Americas from the beginning. Historians note that Columbus, who sought to reach the Spice Islands, viewed his voyages as a religious endeavor. His records show he renamed Caribbean islands with Christian titles and sought to convert Indigenous populations, framing his actions as part of a divine mission to expand Christendom.

Religious Motivation and Early Voyages

Columbus' 1492 voyage was funded by Queen Isabella of Castile and King Ferdinand II of Aragon. Upon arriving in the Bahamas, Columbus renamed islands such as San Salvador and Santa Maria de Concepcion to honor Christian figures. He also forcibly took Indigenous people to teach them Spanish, intending to use them to learn about the region's resources and facilitate religious conversion.

The Book of Prophecies

Following his return to Spain in 1500 in chains due to charges of administrative incompetence and enslavement, Columbus sought to regain royal favor by focusing on theology. He compiled a journal, later known as the 'Book of Prophecies,' which included transcriptions from the Bible and scholars like St. Augustine. In this text, he compared his own struggles to those of biblical prophets and argued that his discoveries were foretold by ancient writers, framing his role as a divinely supported evangelist.

Legacy of Conquest and Conversion

The integration of religious conversion and colonial expansion established by Columbus influenced subsequent generations of European explorers. Catholic Iberians, English Anglicans, Puritans, and French Huguenots all adopted the goal of incorporating the Western Hemisphere into Christendom. This historical framework remains a subject of modern debate, as contemporary perspectives on Columbus continue to clash between his historical status as an explorer and his role in the enslavement and displacement of Indigenous peoples.