Question
“Hispaniola is a marvel. Its hills and mountains, fine plains and open country, are rich and fertile
for planting and for pasturage, and for building towns and villages. The seaports there are
incredibly fine, as also the magnificent rivers, most of which bear gold. The trees, fruits and
grasses differ widely from those in Juana. There are many spices and vast mines of gold and
other metals in this island. They have no iron, nor steel, nor weapons, nor are they fit for them,
because although they are well-made men of commanding stature, they appear extraordinarily
timid. The only arms [weapons] they have are sticks […], and they are afraid to use these. Often,
I have sent two or three men ashore to some town to converse with them, and the natives came
out in great numbers, and as soon as they saw our men arrive, fled without a moment’s delay
although I protected them from all injury.” (from a letter written by Columbus to Luis Santángel,
1493)
What is Christopher Columbus’s point of view about Hispaniola?
The weather is poor, and the ground is not able to grow any food or plants.
The land is full of iron to bring back to England.
The land is rich with treasures, fertile for farming, and abundant with fruit.
The land has very few rivers and is not good for trade due to a lack of harbors.
for planting and for pasturage, and for building towns and villages. The seaports there are
incredibly fine, as also the magnificent rivers, most of which bear gold. The trees, fruits and
grasses differ widely from those in Juana. There are many spices and vast mines of gold and
other metals in this island. They have no iron, nor steel, nor weapons, nor are they fit for them,
because although they are well-made men of commanding stature, they appear extraordinarily
timid. The only arms [weapons] they have are sticks […], and they are afraid to use these. Often,
I have sent two or three men ashore to some town to converse with them, and the natives came
out in great numbers, and as soon as they saw our men arrive, fled without a moment’s delay
although I protected them from all injury.” (from a letter written by Columbus to Luis Santángel,
1493)
What is Christopher Columbus’s point of view about Hispaniola?
The weather is poor, and the ground is not able to grow any food or plants.
The land is full of iron to bring back to England.
The land is rich with treasures, fertile for farming, and abundant with fruit.
The land has very few rivers and is not good for trade due to a lack of harbors.
Answers
GPT-4o mini
Christopher Columbus’s point of view about Hispaniola is that the land is rich with treasures, fertile for farming, and abundant with fruit. He describes the island in positive terms, highlighting its fertile plains, mountains, fine seaports, and rivers that bear gold. This perspective indicates a strong admiration for the island's natural resources and potential for colonization and trade.