That's simply inaccurate. Columbus was an individual with enormous character flaws -- he was not merely a product of his times. That's one of the reasons he was brought back to Spain in chains. I'm not trying to detract from the significance of his discovery, but he was not a good man by any stretch.
Not too long ago I read a story....sort of alternate history of what might have happened if Columbus had made nice with the natives. In the story he stays longer, explores more, keeps an open mind, is gone for years and when he goes back to Spain it is leading an armada of hundreds of well armed ships manned by North American and Central American locals. To say that the Spanish were impressed woud be an understatement. LOL. Story ended at that point but you knew the next page would have been them conquering Spain. Great story for a flight of fancy, wish i could recall the author.