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The Loss of El Dorado: A Colonial History

Melvin Blair

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A Painting Of El Dorado, The Legendary City Of Gold. The Loss Of El Dorado: A Colonial History

The Loss of El Dorado: A Colonial History

by V. S. Naipaul

4 out of 5

Language	:	English
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Print length	:	356 pages

El Dorado, the legendary city of gold, has fascinated explorers for centuries. But what is the true story behind this elusive city? Is it simply a myth, or is there a grain of truth to the legend?

The first European to hear rumors of El Dorado was Gonzalo Jiménez de Quesada, a Spanish conquistador who explored Colombia in the 1530s. Quesada heard stories from the indigenous people of a rich and powerful kingdom called "El Dorado," which was said to be located in the mountains to the east.

Quesada and his men were determined to find El Dorado, but they never succeeded. They searched for years, but they never found any evidence that the city existed.

In the 1540s, another Spanish conquistador, Francisco de Orellana, explored the Amazon River. Orellana also heard stories of El Dorado, and he believed that the city was located somewhere in the rainforest.

Orellana and his men traveled for months, but they never found El Dorado. They did, however, find many other things, including the largest river in the world.

The search for El Dorado continued throughout the colonial period. Spanish, Portuguese, and English explorers all tried to find the city, but none were successful.

By the 18th century, most people had come to believe that El Dorado was simply a myth. However, there were still some who believed that the city existed, and they continued to search for it.

In the 19th century, a German explorer named Alexander von Humboldt explored South America. Humboldt heard stories of El Dorado, but he did not believe that the city existed.

Humboldt wrote: "The story of El Dorado is one of the most beautiful and fascinating in the history of discovery. It is a story of human ambition, greed, and folly. It is a story that has captured the imagination of people for centuries."

Today, El Dorado remains a mystery. There is no evidence that the city ever existed, but there are many who believe that it is still out there, waiting to be found.

The Legacy of El Dorado

The search for El Dorado had a profound impact on the colonial history of South America. It led to the exploration of vast areas of the continent, and it resulted in the founding of many new cities.

The search for El Dorado also had a negative impact on the indigenous people of South America. Many indigenous people were killed or enslaved by the explorers who were searching for the city.

The legacy of El Dorado is a complex one. It is a story of human ambition, greed, and folly. It is a story that has captured the imagination of people for centuries.

The search for El Dorado is a reminder that there are still many mysteries in the world. It is a reminder that there are still places that have not been explored, and that there are still secrets that have not been revealed.

The search for El Dorado is also a reminder that we should not let our dreams and ambitions get the best of us. We should be careful not to let our greed and folly lead us down the wrong path.

The Loss of El Dorado: A Colonial History

by V. S. Naipaul

4 out of 5