The Idea of Human Progress

In Howard Zinn's A People's History of the United States, he wrote a chapter about the both sides of the history of Columbus and the Indians. Zinn's focus, when writing this chapter, was to tell the truth about the exploration of Columbus in the Americas to relate to human progress. Zinn's key points of the chapter can be broken down into sections of four. These four sections supports the overall theme of the chapter. The overall theme of this chapter was to support the question "Was all this necessary for human progress?"

In section one of the chapter, Zinn's shows the history of Columbus from the Indian's point of view. Zinn talks about, not heroic tales, but the the slavery, torture, and death of the Indians. In the sections, Zinn gives clear evidence by using a journal from someone who was with Columbus, and recorded everything that Columbus and his men did:

Moreover, Zinn goes on to arguing about history. In section two, Zinn argues that history is idealogical; meaning it serves somebody's interest. He argue that history is only the memory of States/Government or the ones in power. Zinn's purpose in his argument is support his idea that we not must not accept the memory of States as own. furthermore, to support his idea and claim, Zinn gives other evidence and details in section three, that are similar to that of Columbus. Cortes to the Aztecs, Pizarro to the Incas, and the English Settlers to Powhatan/ Pequot. Lastly, in section four, Howard Zinn concluded with the question "Was all this necessary for human progress?". Zinn asks how we can judge if we do not know the truth, he stated that should not those sacrificed have a choice, and he asks how certain are we that what was destroyed was "inferior." Zinn's purpose in writing this chapter was show how history is biased and that we should know the truth from every side before believing and trusting anything.

Howard Zinn question is absurdly obvious because the idea of another human being being inferior to another human being preposterous. Every being function in the same way, unless they are actually God. Human progress should progress with the idea of equality and the idea of one race. The race of humankind. Learning the history of Columbus from both sides shows how mankind had fallen to idea of inferiority. Columbus and the other men that sacrificed other people for their gain and ideal can never be in the right.