We live in a world where two people can look at the same event and come to wildly different conclusions. It's not surprising given that many of us are constantly submerged in a digital information matrix of facts, half-truths, and outright lies. We gather all these facts and try to make sense of them, sometimes arriving at opposite conclusions. So, just imagine trying to make sense of events that happened centuries ago in the remotest regions of the known world (as far as Europe was concerned).

Replica of the first map mundi to show the Americas. Found in Museo de las Casas Reales, Dominican Republic
Historians indicate that during Columbus second voyage to the Americas, he brought labourers and aristocrats with the aim of establishing settlements. The tropical climate and harsh conditions they encountered soon got the best of them and many died, particularly in La Isabela.

Discontent spread throughout the workers, who had to labour under difficult conditions in mines, agricultural fields, forts, and so on. Without pay. There were harsh treatments if they got out of line or broke any of the rules (like the prohibition of sexual intercourse with native women). Conspiracies were cooked up. Someone got hanged by Columbus. Nobles, who had come along on the Admiral's second trip, didn't appreciate having to work as common manual labourers, so they too became a source of unrest in the colonies. They complained to the royals back in the mother country. In turn, the Spanish royals told Columbus to get back across the pond and answer a few questions about his management style.

Replicas of ships used in Columbus' voyages to the Americas


Before leaving for Spain, Columbus tasked his brother with the establishment of a city near the Ozama river, where an indigenous woman had informed them about the existence of a gold mine.
Santo Domingo was founded on August 5, 1497.

Resources
Historia Dominicana (2006). Jaime de Jesus Dominguez. Letra Grafica.
Images taken in Museo de las Casas Reales by @litguru
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