The first two links below offer opposing arguments in the contemporary debate about how we should perceive Christopher Columbus. The third document is a letter from Columbus to his Spanish patrons. Is there any evidence in this document to support either side of this controversy? What evidence, if any, contradicts each position? How would you characterize the man who wrote this document? What evidence led you to this conclusion?

http://www.indians.org/welker/byecolum.htm

http://www.southcoasttoday.com/daily/10-02/10-14-02/a06op032.htm

http://www.usm.maine.edu/~maps/columbus/translation.html