I used to teach my class about how King Ferdinand and Queen Isabella were the kind monarchs of Spain who gave the funding Columbus needed for his expedition to the Americas. All the pictures in the history books portray the royal couple as kind and being one of the few who had faith in the adventurer.
When we went to Spain in 2000, we went to the Royal Palace in Madrid. It was truly awesome!
Then we learned more about Ferdinand and Isabella and it wasn't all good.
They are the Catholic rulers who began the Spanish Inquisition. They tried to convert everyone to Catholicism and/or expel all moors and Jews from Spain. Eventually, even those who converted were imprisoned, tortured or burned to death.
I didn't give my first graders erroneous information because they did provide the means for Columbus to make his journey. It wasn't for altruistic reasons, but for the hope that he would bring wealth from the Americas back to Spain.
There's a lot of what Columbus did that was also not for the betterment of mankind.
We so often hear only parts of history. As we travel, we have found it interesting to learn things that were left out of history books.
I guess that's why we have enjoyed traveling so much.
When we went to Spain in 2000, we went to the Royal Palace in Madrid. It was truly awesome!
Then we learned more about Ferdinand and Isabella and it wasn't all good.
They are the Catholic rulers who began the Spanish Inquisition. They tried to convert everyone to Catholicism and/or expel all moors and Jews from Spain. Eventually, even those who converted were imprisoned, tortured or burned to death.
I didn't give my first graders erroneous information because they did provide the means for Columbus to make his journey. It wasn't for altruistic reasons, but for the hope that he would bring wealth from the Americas back to Spain.
There's a lot of what Columbus did that was also not for the betterment of mankind.
We so often hear only parts of history. As we travel, we have found it interesting to learn things that were left out of history books.
I guess that's why we have enjoyed traveling so much.
Too often we know only what Hollywood tells us and not what history tells us. You are so fortunate to be able to travel and learn more fact than fiction.
ReplyDeleteAll of this is also in books but not in the TEXTBOOKS that are in public schools! I encouraged my son to read much more than was required so he would know the whole story. Things are more complex than what a small schoolbook can give. Here is a bumper sticker that I saw once...Columbus may have discovered America, but a woman financed it! :-)
ReplyDeleteAll too often we get a sanitised version of history - it's a shock when we learn more of the details!
ReplyDeleteThe entire history of religion, including the Catholic Church, is enough to curl my hair. It's good to know historical facts, but often we are taught what is expedient for us to know, not the truth.
ReplyDeleteInteresting, that they were not the nice people portrayed to the kids. Of course! Powerful rulers aren't like that.
ReplyDeletehistory is bias by the one recording it...lol!
ReplyDeleteInteresting information. A wicked King AND Queen. I find it interesting that so few mainlanders realize that the U.S. stole Hawaii from their Queen. On my tour of the palace, I learned the windows were frosted over while the Queen was imprisoned there, so she couldn't see out and her loyal subjects couldn't see in. An amazing history. DrumMajor
ReplyDeleteHave you ever listened to the Stuff you missed in History Class podcasts?
ReplyDeleteThey tell you a lot of things that were left out of the history we learned in school.
I remember taking more history in college and realizing it was so different from the condensed versions we learned in school when we were younger.
http://entertainment.howstuffworks.com/hsw-shows/stuff-you-missed-in-history-class-podcast.htm
ReplyDeleteHere's a link if you are interested, I love listening to these.
I'm afraid historians have altered history since the beginning. Or, perhaps it's like Democrats telling describing an event and Republicans describing the same event. The both tell the story to their own advantage.
ReplyDeleteAh, yes, the atrocities committed in the name of God...
ReplyDeleteIt's okay about giving the little ones a less than complete story. The Inquisition was just too gruesome for children. They'll learn about it in due time...
interesting blog!
ReplyDeleteSpanish was one of my majors in college so I am well aware of the true story of Ferdinand and Isabella. While really awful what happened in Spain wasn't much different than the history of the absolute monarchies of other European countries.
ReplyDelete"Power corrupts; absolute power corrupts absolutely." Lord Acton
I think teachers learn how much to tell children, according to their ability to understand.
ReplyDeleteProbably little kids can be spared the details of the Inquisition!
Glad you discovered their WHOLE story!
ReplyDeleteGreat post, Kay-
Warm Aloha from Honolulu
Comfort Spiral
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what you say is so true, there have been so many facts changed or left out in the history books, things that make us so ashamed of our fellow mankind.
ReplyDeleteYou are so fortunate to travel to all the different countries and learn so much.For thoseof us who cannot travel you are a god send.
Thankyou for sharing this .
This is a good reason to travel.
ReplyDeleteThen there is the can of worms you just opened. Should we be changing our text books? We do not present kids with the ugly truth. there is much controversy on this topic. Accusations of 'rewriting history' are usually made by those who want to perpetuate the myths because they serve their purposes.
read A People's History of the United States by Howard Zinn (who recently passed). The first chapter is dedicated to Columbus and his motivations and what he really did.
ReplyDeletewalt
it's irony that the Gutenberg press brought human beings out of darkness and yet 500 years later, textbooks perpetuate the myths.
ReplyDelete