Question

How do Columbus’ descriptions of the natural resources he finds on the islands compare to John Smith’s accounts of the plants and animals he found in New England? How do these explorers and colonizers deploy similar rhetoric in their accounts of the abundance and fertility of the New World? Do they value the same natural commodities?

Answer 1

Europeans only motive was to capture land and its immense resources for their Mother country.

Step-by-step explanation:

Columbus, reaching the islands, found gold as well as native birds and plants. Smith was much more concerned with establishing a permanent colony in America for the colonists. Smith was focused on the plants and animals for survival as the colonists starving, to make colony work. Columbus is focusing on riches and increasing his wealth. English colonists were ready to raid and steal food and supplies from the Native with no regard to them.

These explorers and colonizers have the same rhetoric in their accounts of the abundance and fertility of the New World. The colonists began to clear some land for planting crops in the fertile land which once belonged to the Native Indians. Spanish were focused on warfare with an ancient civilization and looting their gold and silver. They much focused on collecting gold and silver from mines as well.

They exploited nature to obtain natural resources without thinking of its consequences in the future. They were engaged in fur trade, fishing, plantations, the killing of animals, clearing forests by cutting of trees.