Historians predominantly portrayed which individuals as great explorers with a heroic legacy?

The portrayal of Columbus and other explorers as great figures in history stems from their dramatic impact on the course of world events, particularly during the Age of Exploration in the late 15th and early 16th centuries. These explorers, such as Vasco da Gama, Ferdinand Magellan, and Hernán Cortés, are celebrated for their navigational skills, adventurous spirits, and the vast networks of trade and colonization they established. Their voyages not only led to the "discovery" of new lands that would shape the future of Europe and the Americas, but they also facilitated the exchange of goods, ideas, and cultures, often referred to as the Columbian Exchange.

Their legacies are imbued with themes of adventure and perseverance, which have often been romanticized in historical narratives. This heroic portrayal is prevalent in many educational and cultural representations, contributing to a broader recognition of their roles in shaping global history.

In contrast, while Native Americans and Indigenous leaders played crucial roles in their own histories and in the dynamics of exploration and colonization, they have often been marginalized in traditional narratives that focus on European explorers. The contributions and perspectives of early European settlers are generally viewed in the context of colonization and settlement, which does not typically evoke the same