All ive really heard is that he mistreated the natives when he landed in the west indies, mistakenly believing he had landed in India. Many bash Columbus but im not really clear on what exactly he did that was so appalling. How was he any different from Spanish colonizers at the time? Hernan Cortez for comparison committed many atrocities against the Aztecs and basically took over what is modern day Mexico City which would stay in Spanish hands until Mexico's independence in the 1800s. Nobody bashes on Hernan Cortez but they do bash Christopher Columbus. So id like to know, what exactly did he do upon landing to the natives? How was it any different from other Spanish colonizers?
We have a whole FAQ section specifically on Columbus that contains answers to these questions. Torture, mutilation, tyranny, enslavement, nepotism, corruption, staggering incompetence. You name it, he did it through incompetence or malice, or both. If you're wondering how he managed to become a celebrated figure if he was such a disgraceful person even by the standards of his day, I had the same question and got some fantastic answers.