Columbus's First Journal - Essay Example

It is from this statement by Hulme that this discussion is based and is intended to analyze the generic shape of Columbus first journal in regard to characteristics of a personal memoir, ethnographic notebook as well as a ‘compendium of European fantasies about Orient’. Discussion The 1492 saw Christopher Columbus plan and embark on a voyage to the Far East, which was later to gain popularity among historians and anthropologists as the great first voyage in Columbus life. In the light of understanding the objectives and purposes of the journal as is fondly, known ‘Columbus first Journal’ different literature has been written and studied.

As against the common notion in which the exploratory expeditions of Columbus are often understood in, the first journal brings to light the great forces that entangled and dictated Columbus to undertake such a voyage as in 1992. It is worth noting that he was under the influence of the crown and religion as he embarked on the voyages where the crown power required discoveries of new land for conquest and resource exploitation while the religious influence awaited such discoveries for expansion of religious influence. . Despite the fact that the original form in which the first journal was written is not traceable to date, the truncated forms of the original documents gives great information on the details to the voyage.

It is within the journal that the history of the first impression and culture that Columbus presented to the natives of the Far East and how it failed to live to Columbus’ expectations is revealed. This explains the creation of the myths surrounding the founding of the ‘new world’ as have been propelled down generational lines up to date2. It is worth noting that despite the fact that the history is seen through the eyes of Columbus as presented within the historical writings, Columbus had other people who accompanied him when in the voyage.

The personnel who accompanied him in the expeditions had specific roles for which they were accountable to the crown as well as the church. They were obligated to keep Columbus under watch in order to honor the contractual agreements to which the voyages were set. The original journal was written in first person reporting voice to imply that the author collects and puts together the accounts in detail of the first voyage as revealed by the original documents that were recorded by Columbus and the team.

It gives a detailed report of the stage-by-stage or day to day exploration expeditions. It starts from the day that the sailors set off on third of August, which was on Friday 1492 and gives the account of every day as was spent before they safely landed back on fifteenth of March at the port where they had taken sail at for the expedition3. As a personal memoir or better enough a daily diary, the journal as presented contains the