Discover How Religion Played a Crucial Role in Shaping Early American Voyages

Religion has always had a profound influence on human civilizations, shaping their beliefs, traditions, and even geographical boundaries. When we think about the origins of America, it is impossible not to acknowledge the significant role that religion played in driving the voyages that led to its discovery and subsequent settlement by various European powers.

The Age of Exploration

The Age of Exploration, which spanned from the 15th to the 17th centuries, was heavily influenced by religious motivations. European powers, particularly Spain, Portugal, France, and England, were expanding their influence across the globe, seeking new lands, resources, and converts to their respective faiths.

Columbus and the Quest for Jerusalem: How Religion Drove the Voyages that Led to America

by Carol Delaney (Kindle Edition)

4.7 out of 5

Language	:	English
File size	:	2854 KB
Text-to-Speech	:	Enabled
Screen Reader	:	Supported
Enhanced typesetting	:	Enabled
Word Wise	:	Enabled
Print length	:	338 pages

FREE

Christopher Columbus, the renowned Italian explorer, is often hailed as the discoverer of America. However, many are unaware of the religious fervor that drove his voyage. Seeking funds from Catholic Monarchs, Ferdinand and Isabella of Spain, Columbus aimed to find a western route to Asia, known as the Indies at the time, to spread Christianity and participate in the ongoing Crusades. The religious goal of Columbus's voyage should not be overlooked, as it set the stage for further exploration and, ultimately, the colonization of the New World.

Religious Conflict and the Quest for Religious Freedom

Beyond the pursuit of wealth and power, religious conflict and the quest for religious freedom also pushed European explorers to embark on voyages to America. The Protestant Reformation, which challenged the authority of the Roman Catholic Church, led to religious turmoil in Europe.

Persecution against religious dissenters, such as the Puritans and Pilgrims, propelled them to seek refuge in the New World. The Mayflower voyage to Plymouth in 1620, with the intention of establishing a community based on their religious beliefs, serves as a prime example of how religion played a significant role in the colonization of America.

The Role of Missionaries in America

Once European powers established colonies in America, religion continued to drive further voyages and expeditions. Missionaries played a crucial role in spreading Christianity among the Native American populations. They saw themselves as instruments of God's will, aiming to convert the indigenous people to their respective faiths.

One prominent example is the Spanish missionary, Junipero Serra, who founded a string of missions throughout present-day California in the 18th century. His primary aim was to convert Native Americans to Catholicism and incorporate them into Spanish society. While the methods employed by missionaries are controversial today, there is no denying the significant impact they had on the religious landscape of America.

The Influence of Religion on Law and Governance

Religious beliefs also influenced the establishment of laws and governance systems in early American colonies. The Mayflower Compact, signed aboard the Mayflower before the Pilgrims disembarked, was a remarkable document that provided the foundation for self-governance in Plymouth Colony. Its contents were heavily influenced by the Pilgrims' religious views, emphasizing the importance of God's guidance in their decision-making processes.

Similarly, the Fundamental Orders of Connecticut, enacted in 1639, is considered one of the earliest written constitutions in North America. It reflected the Puritan religious values of the Connecticut settlers, outlining a system that incorporated both civil and religious laws.

From the initial voyages of exploration to the establishment of colonies, religion played a crucial role in driving the events that led to the discovery and subsequent settlement of America. Whether it was the pursuit of spreading Christianity, seeking religious refuge, or shaping laws and governance, religion left an indelible mark on the early history of America.

If we truly wish to understand the complexities of America's origins, we cannot overlook the profound influence that religion had on the voyages that ultimately shaped the nation we know today.

Columbus and the Quest for Jerusalem: How Religion Drove the Voyages that Led to America

by Carol Delaney (Kindle Edition)

4.7 out of 5

Language	:	English
File size	:	2854 KB
Text-to-Speech	:	Enabled
Screen Reader	:	Supported
Enhanced typesetting	:	Enabled
Word Wise	:	Enabled
Print length	:	338 pages

FREE

“One of the 100 best books of the year.” —The Times Literary Supplement

Christopher Columbus is reevaluated as a man of deep passion, patience, and religious conviction—on a mission to save Jerusalem from Islam.

Five hundred years after he set sail, Columbus is still a controversial figure in history. Debates portray him either as the hero in the great drama of discovery or as an avaricious glory hunter and ruthless destroyer of indigenous cultures. In Columbus and the Quest for Jerusalem, Carol Delaney offers a radically new interpretation of the man and his mission, claiming that the true motivation for his voyages is still widely unknown.

Delaney argues that Columbus was inspired to find a western route to the Orient not only to obtain vast sums of gold for the Spanish Crown but primarily to fund a new crusade to take Jerusalem from the Muslims before the end of the world—a goal that sustained him until the day he died. Drawing from oft-ignored sources, some from Columbus’s own hand, Delaney depicts her subject as a thoughtful interpreter of the native cultures that he and his men encountered, and tells the tragic story of how his initial attempts to establish good relations with the natives turned badly sour. Showing Columbus in the context of his times rather than through the prism of present-day perspectives on colonial conquests reveals a man who was neither a greedy imperialist nor a quixotic adventurer, but a man driven by an abiding religious passion. Columbus and the Quest for Jerusalem is not an apologist’s take, but a clear-eyed, thought-provoking, and timely reappraisal of the man and his legacy.