Why did Columbus enslave the Taino people?

Answer 1

Columbus enslaved the Taino people primarily to exploit their labor for profit and to facilitate the Spanish colonization of the Caribbean. He viewed them as a means to extract resources and establish trade, particularly in gold. Additionally, Columbus and his men sought to impose their dominance over the native population, reflecting the broader European mindset of the time regarding indigenous peoples. This enslavement led to significant suffering and a drastic decline in the Taino population due to harsh treatment and diseases brought by Europeans.