The letter Christopher Columbus sent to Luis De Santangel was the first known document announcing the results of his first voyage. Columbus was excited to announce the success he had in conquering many small islands and its villagers, in Asia. He was still unaware that he had discovered the new world. Of all the islands that Columbus came across, there was one in particular that he went into great detail about, Hispaniola. Columbus focused on the beauty and wonder of Hispaniola. He touched on its majesty, the fertility of the land, its harbors and coastline, the tallness and ever greenness of the trees, the birds, the fruits, and the availability of metal to be mined inland on the island. He spent such a great amount of time discussing the island most probably because he was writing the letter to Luis de Santangel, a man who helped secure financing for his voyage. Because of Santangel's backing, Columbus was telling all the best parts of the voyage to him in order to illustrate that his faith and backing was well-placed and that the discoveries being made are worthwhile and will make money for Spain and Santangel. "The development of the printing press fifty years before Columbus's first voyage allowed many of his descriptions of the New World to spur the national ambitions and personal imaginations of the Spanish, ensuring new expeditions and future colonies" (Baym). .
By Columbus' fourth voyage, he began going through a serious mental breakdown. His letter to Ferdinand and Isabella was full of sadness. He seemed like a religious person, but would only seek God when he was in trouble. Capturing people as slaves is certainly not a holy act. Christopher Columbus was respected because he was a determined man who wanted to discover the world and benefit other people. But he was upset to see people who were originally against his explorations were currently benefitting from them.
