Exploration Primary Sources

PRIMARY SOURCES

On this page you you find a collection of primary sources. A primary source is a first-hand record of an event created by people who were actually involved with the event.

These sources below were written by people who either explored or were affected by exploration.

I have made some changes to the original texts to make them easier to read. Any words that I have changed are indicated in brackets [ ]. Any words added by way of explanation are in parentheses ( ).

Prince Henry of Portugal

PRINCE HENRY, THE NAVIGATOR

This source comes from a book called The Chronicle of the Discovery and Conquest of Guinea written by a Portuguese man by the name of Gomés Eannes de Azurara. He lived from 1410-1474 and was one of the people who kept official histories. He wrote this account giving Prince Henry’s reasons for exploration.

The noble spirit of this Prince was always urging him to begin and carry out great deeds. He always kept ships well armed against his enemies, both for reasons of war and because he wished to know about the land that lay beyond the Canary Islands and Cape Bojador [off the northwestern coast of Africa].

It seemed to him that if he or some other lord did not try to gain that knowledge, no mariners or merchants would ever dare to attempt to gain it. Seeing that no other prince took any pains in this matter, he sent out his own ships to those parts, so that he would have firm knowledge of them. This was the first reason for his actions.

The second reason was that if there chanced to be in those lands either a population of Christians or some ports into which it would be possible to sail safely, many kinds of merchandise might be brought to our realm. This would bring great profit to our countrymen.

The third reason was that some people said the power of the Moors [the Muslim inhabitants of Spain and North Africa] was much greater in Africa than was commonly supposed. Since natural caution leads every wise person to wish for knowledge of the power of his enemy, Prince Henry took action to fully discover his enemies’ power.

The fourth reason was that he sought to know if there were in those parts any Christian princes who would aid him against the enemies of the Christian faith.

The fifth reason was his great desire to increase the membership in the faith of our Lord Jesus Christ and to bring to Him all the souls that could be saved.

Here is the quote rewritten in more modern language...

Prince Henry was a brave man who wanted to do important things. He kept his ships ready for battle, both to fight enemies and to learn about the lands beyond the Canary Islands and Cape Bojador in Africa.

He thought that if he or someone else didn’t try to find out what was there, no sailors or traders would ever try. Since no other prince was interested, he sent his own ships to explore so he could know about those places. This was his first reason.

His second reason was that if there were Christian people living there, or safe ports to visit, they could trade and bring new goods back home. This would help his country.

His third reason was that some people said the Moors (Muslims in Spain and North Africa) were stronger in Africa than people believed. Prince Henry wanted to find out how strong his enemies were.

His fourth reason was to see if there were any Christian rulers there who might help him fight against the enemies of Christianity.

His fifth reason was that he wanted to spread the Christian faith and help save as many souls as possible.

Pope Urban II

POPE URBAN II

This is a part of Pope Urban II’s speech where he called for the First Crusade. Pope Urban was the head of the Catholic Church from 1088-1099. The speech was given on November 27, 1095 in Clermont, France.

All who die by the way (on the Crusade), whether by land or by sea, or in battle against the pagans (those who are not Christian), shall have immediate [forgiveness] of sins ... [we should help those who] profess the Christian religion! ... let [us] eagerly set out on the way with God as [our] guide.

Christians, hasten to help your brothers in the East, for they are being attacked. Arm for the rescue of Jerusalem under your captain Christ. Wear his cross as your badge. If you are killed your sins will be pardoned.

Here is the quote rewritten in more modern language...

Anyone who dies on the journey—by land, sea, or in battle against non-Christians—will have their sins forgiven right away. We should help those who follow the Christian faith. Let’s get ready to go with God guiding us.

Christians, hurry to help your brothers in the East because they are under attack. Get ready to save Jerusalem, following Christ as your leader. Wear his cross to show you’re with him. If you die, your sins will be forgiven.

King Ferdinand and Queen Isabella, the rulers of Spain

KING FERDINAND, QUEEN ISABELLA, and CHRISTOPHER COLUMBUS

This is a portion of the instructions given to Christopher Columbus in 1492 by the King and Queen of Spain before he began his voyage.

[Since] you, Christopher Columbus, are going by our command, with some of our [ships] and men, to discover and [conquer] some Islands ... in the ocean, and it is hoped that by God's assistance, some of [those] Islands [will be conquered by you], therefore it is [fair] and reasonable, that since you [are taking risks] to serve us, you should be rewarded for it. And we [are willing to reward you].

Our will is, That you, Christopher Columbus, after discovering and conquering [islands, you] shall be our Admiral of [those] Islands ... you shall discover and conquer; and that you be our Admiral, Vice-Roy (a vice-roy rules in the place of the king or queen), and Governor in them, and that for the future, you may call ... yourself, [Don] Christopher Columbus, and that your sons and successors ... may call themselves Dons, Admirals, Vice-Roys, and Governors of them; and that you may [act as an] Admiral, with the [power of] Vice-Roy and Governor of the [islands], which you ... shall conquer ... and that you enjoy the ... salaries belonging to [those positions].

Here is the quote rewritten in more modern language...

Since you, Christopher Columbus, are going with our ships and men to find and take over some islands in the ocean, and we hope you will succeed with God’s help, it’s only fair that you are rewarded for taking this risk for us.

We want you, Christopher Columbus, to become the Admiral of any islands you discover and conquer. You will also be the Vice-Roy and Governor of those islands. In the future, you and your sons can call yourselves Don, Admiral, Vice-Roy, and Governor of those islands. You will have the powers and pay that come with these important jobs.

Bartolomé de las Casas, a Spanish priest and historian

BARTOLOMÉ DE LAS CASAS

THE MOTIVES OF THE SPANISH CONQUISTADORS, PART I

Bartolome de las Casas was a Spanish historian, social reformer and Dominican Friar (a religious order in the Catholic Church founded to preach the gospel and work to keep Catholic doctrine pure). Friars are similar to monks, except they work in communities instead of working in isolation. De las Casas came to the Americas and wrote this account of what happened to the native people in the Americas in 1542.

[The Conquistadors'] reason for killing and destroying such an infinite number of souls is that the [Conquistadors] have an ultimate aim, which is to acquire gold, and to swell themselves with riches in a very brief time and [become rich without having to work]. It should be kept in mind that their [powerful] greed ... the greatest ever seen in the world, is the cause of their villainies. And also, those lands are so rich and [welcoming], the native peoples so meek and patient, so easy to [conquer], that our Spaniards [think of them as] beasts. And I say this from my own knowledge of the acts I witnessed.

[The Conquistadors] have deprived the Indians of their lives and souls, ... This is a well known and proven fact which even the tyrant Governors, themselves killers, know and admit. And never have the Indians in all the Indies committed any act against the Spanish Christians, until those Christians have first and many times committed countless cruel aggressions against them or against neighboring nations. For in the beginning the Indians regarded the Spaniards as angels from Heaven. Only after the Spaniards had used violence against them, killing, robbing, torturing, did the Indians ever rise up against them....

Here is the quote rewritten in more modern language...

The Conquistadors killed and destroyed so many people because they wanted to get gold and become rich quickly without working hard. Their extreme greed is the main reason for their cruel actions. The lands they found were rich and the native people were gentle and patient, making them easy to conquer. The Spaniards treated the native people like animals. I know this because I saw it myself.

The Conquistadors took away the lives and spirits of the Indians. Even the cruel governors know and admit this is true. The Indians never did anything bad to the Spanish Christians until the Christians first attacked them many times. At first, the Indians thought the Spaniards were angels from Heaven. Only after the Spaniards hurt, robbed, and killed them did the Indians fight back.

A 1904 depiction of Bernal Diaz Del Castillo

BERNAL DIAZ DEL CASTILLO

THE MOTIVES OF THE SPANISH CONQUISTADORS, PART II

Bernal Diaz del Castillo was a Spanish Conquistador who helped Hernan Cortes to defeat the Aztecs in 1517. He said this about the motivations of the conquistadors:

[We came to the Americas] to serve God and [the king], to give light to those who were in darkness, and to grow rich, as all men desire to do.

Here is the quote rewritten in more modern language...

We came to the Americas to serve God and the king, to teach people who did not know about our faith, and to become rich, like everyone wants to.

A 1519 painting of Columbus - this was painted after his death

CHRISTOPHER COLUMBUS

Christopher Columbus kept journals during his voyages of discovery in 1492. Here are some excerpts from his journals:

No one should fear to undertake any task in the name of our Savior, if it is just and if the intention is purely for His holy service.

But in truth, should I meet with gold or spices in great quantity, I shall remain till I collect as much as possible, and for this purpose I am proceeding solely in quest of them.

Here is the quote rewritten in more modern language...

No one should be afraid to do something for Jesus if it is fair and for a good reason. But honestly, if I find a lot of gold or spices, I will stay and collect as much as I can, because that is what I am looking for.

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