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Andrew’s Current Blog

Archived blogs chronicling 1492 from a bicultural perspective appear under 1492 Blogs.

Andrew’s Current Blog

Archived blogs chronicling 1492 from a bicultural perspective appear under 1492 Blogs.

 

Caonabó and Guatiguaná Attack

Fort Magdalena’s construction in December 1494 triggered Chief Caonabó’s decision to go to war. As depicted in Columbus and Caonabó, in January 1495 (528 years ago), he led warriors of his alliance to destroy Fort Santo Tomás, whose garrison then was commanded by...

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Pané and Guatícabanu

In early December 1494 (528 years ago), the Hieronymite friar Ramón Pané and the Franciscan friars Juan Leudelle and Juan de Tisín began preaching Christianity in the river valley surrounding the newly established Fort Magdalena. They soon kindled interest in the...

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Fort Magdalena and Fray Pané

On return from his Cuban exploration, Columbus learned of Fray Buil and Margarite’s desertion and that growing Taíno hostility in areas along the Yaque River endangered his men’s travel between the settlement at Isabela and Fort Santo Tomás (see post of September 11)....

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Indigenous Peoples Day

For Indigenous Peoples Day, I repost the article I wrote for the History News Network explaining why I feel it’s important to retell the “Columbus story” from both Taíno and European perspectives: History News Network Article

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Caonabó’s Alliance and Guarionex

In August 1494 (528 years ago), Columbus’s caravels circled counterclockwise along the southern coast of the Taíno Yamaye (Jamaica), returning from Cuba to “Espanola.” During his absence from Española, Queen Isabella and King Ferdinand had heard criticisms of his...

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Judgment of One’s Soul

Sailing east along Cuba’s southern coast to return to “Española,” on July 7, 1494 (528 years ago), Columbus brought his caravels to anchor by a river mouth at a promontory beneath coastal mountains where, on the outward voyage, he had traded peacefully with the...

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Cabo Cruz, Macaca

By the end of April 1494, Columbus’s three caravels reached Cuba, and he planted a cross at the island’s easternmost point, which today retains the name of the Taíno chiefdom then located there—Point Maisí. He believed the point was terra firma’s easternmost tip and...

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