Historical Perspective
Columbus was not the first European mariner to sail to the New World—the Vikings set up colonies（c.1000）in Greenland and Newfoundland—but his voyages mark the beginning of continuous European efforts to explore and colonize[29]the Americas.Although historians for centuries disputed his skill as a navigator，it has been proved that with only dead reckoning Columbus was unsurpassed[30]in charting and finding his way about unknown seas.During the 1980s and 90s the long-standing image of Columbus as a he-ro was tarnished[31]by criticism from Native Americans and revisionist[32]historians.With the 500th anniversary of his first voyage in 1992，interpretations of his motives and impact varied.Although he was always judged to be vain，ambitious，desirous of wealth，and ruthless，traditional historians viewed his voyages as opening the New World to Western civilization and Christianity[33].For revisionist historians，however，his voyages symbolize the more brutal aspects of European colonization and represent the beginning of the destruction of Native American peoples and culture.One point of agreement among all interpretations is that his voyages were one of the turning points in history.
[1]Mediterranean n.地中海（=Mediterranean sea，位于欧，亚，非三大洲之间），地中海沿岸的居民adj.地中海的，地中海民族的
[2]Portuguese adj.葡萄牙的，葡萄牙人的，葡萄牙语的n.葡萄牙人，葡萄牙语
[3]chart n.海图，图表vt.制图
[4]maritime adj.海上的，海事的，海运的，海员的
[5]mercantile adj.商人的，商业的，经商的，重商主义的，以金钱为目的的
[6]Dona n.＜西方＞小姐，太太，夫人
[7]master mariner船长
[8]uniqueness n.唯一性，单值性，独特性
[9]rebuff v.回绝n.回绝
[10]mutiny n.兵变，反抗v.叛变，造反，兵变
[11]quell v.镇压
[12]Bahamas n.巴哈马群岛
[13]Hispaniola伊斯帕尼奥拉岛［拉丁美洲西印度群岛中部］（即海地岛）
[14]wreck vt.使（船，火车等）失事，使遭难，破坏，拆毁n.失事船（或飞机），残骸，（船，飞机的）失事
[15]sovereign n.君主，统治adj.至高无上的，君主的，独立自主的，完全的
[16]colonist n.殖民地居民，殖民者
[17]Puerto Rico n.波多黎各
[18]indigenous adj.本土的
[19]convict n.罪犯vt.证明...有罪，宣告...有罪
[20]novelty n.新颖，新奇，新鲜，新奇的事物
[21]Trinidad特立尼达岛
[22]Orinoco奥里诺科河［南美洲北部］
[23]colony n.殖民地，侨民，（聚居的）一群同业，一批同行，（生物）群体
[24]reestablish v.重建，使复原，使复位
[25]Honduras n.洪都拉斯（拉丁美洲国家）
[26]inhospitable adj.冷淡的，不好客的，（地带，气候等）不适合居住的，（指地方）荒凉的
[27]Jamaica n.牙买加，牙买加甜酒
[28]petition v.请求，恳求，请愿n.请愿，情愿书，诉状，陈情书
[29]colonize vt.拓殖，殖民
[30]unsurpassed adj.未被凌驾的，非常卓越的
[31]tarnish v.失去光泽
[32]revisionist adj.修正主义的n.修正主义者
[33]Christianity n.基督教