I. Read Chapter 1
of the Howard Zinn Book, A People’s History of the United States
http://www.historyisaweapon.com/defcon1/zinncol1.html (Links to an external
site.)Links to an external site.
II. Answer the
following questions. (Please type questions first and answer underneath.)
Remember: This is
a college level course. Your responses should reflect as much. High level and
detailed answers are the expectations.
1. What
conclusions can be made about the Arawaks, their culture, and temperament?
2. What was
Columbus promised if he was successful in his exploration attempts?
3. Who was
Rodrigo and why is he significant? Have you ever read or known of of Rodrigo
before reading this chapter? If not, why do you think that is?
4. Why did
Columbus think the Arawak Indians had large amounts of gold?
5. What was the
ultimate fate of the Arawak Indians?
6. How did
Columbus receive the reward of a second expedition?
7. In what ways
did the Arawak Indians resist/fight back the Spaniards?
8. What does
LaCasa’s views of Columbus and the Spaniards offer to the study of history?
9. What is
genocide? How does it connect to the story of Columbus and the Arawak Indians?
10. Record the
three most important things that Zinn says about the writing of history.
Briefly evaluate his assertions.
11. Zinn says,
“What Columbus did to the Arawaks of the Bahamas, Cortes did to the Aztecs
of Mexico, Pizarro to the Incas of Peru, and the English settlers of Virginia
and Massachusetts to the Powhatans and the Pequots.” What did they do to
these various groups of Indians?
12 – What do you
think about Howard Zinn’s approach to history? What did you like or dislike?
13 -Why does the
study of Exploration and Colonization Still Matter Today?(At leas 1 full
Paragraph (5 Sentences))
