Final answer:
Columbus justified conquering the indigenous people of the Americas by seeing his Christian mission as a way to convert them to the true faith and save their souls. This belief was influenced by the idea of European superiority and progress.
Step-by-step explanation:
Columbus saw his Christian mission as justification for conquering the indigenous people of the Americas by believing that he was bringing the true faith to the Native Americans. He believed that by converting them to Christianity, he was saving their souls and fulfilling his duty as a Christian. Columbus and other European explorers saw themselves as superior and viewed the indigenous people's way of life as less civilized, which further justified their conquest. These beliefs were influenced by the prevailing European perception of human nature and the idea of progress. They believed that their culture and religion were superior and had a duty to spread them.