The most fitting explanation for Columbus's inaccurate account is to convince the king and queen that converting the indigenous people to Christianity will be easy. Columbus was likely motivated to present a favorable view of the indigenous peoples to gain support and resources for his voyages and endeavors. By suggesting that the indigenous people could easily understand and accept Christianity due to a lack of differences among them, he aimed to make a strong case for the potential success of conversion efforts, which would align with the interests of the Spanish monarchy in spreading Christianity.
…there is no difference of ethnicity, of manners, or of language, but they all clearly understand each other, a circumstance promising for the realization of what I conceive to be the principal wish of our most serene King, namely, the conversion of these people to the holy faith of Christ, to which indeed, as far as I can judge, they are very favorable.
–Letter to King and Queen of Spain,
Christopher Columbus
Though there are ethic and language differences among the indigenous people, Columbus is reporting that there are no differences. What could explain Columbus’s reasons for the inaccurate account?
to show Europeans that he has converted the indigenous people to Christianity
to convince the king and queen that converting the indigenous people to Christianity will be easy
to explain that indigenous people will work hard to protect themselves from European religious beliefs
to warn the people of Spain about the challenges of colonizing indigenous lands
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