Reaction

The one common theme through out all the readings was religion. For example; Columbus wrote of all the things that were given as gifts, he insisted that only good things were to be handed out, not pieces of broken items or sensless items, in hopes that they would warm up to them and become Christian. Colubus seems to find it comical that they believe he and his ships came from the sky, though he describes the people as being loving and kind.
Vespucci is appauled that the society does not have a church, religion, or does not idolize anything. His descriptions of the natives are different than Columbus. Vespucci for example describes a society with barbaric piercings, canabalists, and poisoned men. He descrbes there is not much to the area aside from gold and good weather, which are the only two similarties whithin the two journals.
Cortes also discussed his encounters with religion, he explains how he removed some religious idols of the Mexicans and replaced them with his own images, "in which created sorrow", but still he showed no remorse.
Their thoughts and views on religion and culture from other areas they are not farmiliar with, are fascinating to me. They all thought they were superior to others in belief and religion. They all wanted the natives to eventually follow in their own beliefs.