How did Christopher Columbus use an eclipse to trick the native peoples of the Americas?
Answer: In order to strike fear into them, he used the writings of German astronomer Regiomontanus to predict the time of an upcoming eclipse. On February 29th 1504, when the eclipse inevitably came, he claimed the sudden darkness was a sign of the wrath of God. Only when they agreed to provide gold and food would the light return. The shocked and scared natives quickly did as requested.
Source: Christopher Columbus by Kay Brigham
