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'''Christopher Columbus''' (1451-1506) was a [[Genoa|Genoese]] explorer who explored [[South Americ]]a for [[Spain]] in 1492.  Christopher Columbus was the second named European sailor to arrive at the Americas (after Norse explorer [[Leif Erikson]], whose discovery had no lasting consequences), (though [[Basques|Basque]] fishermen had been visiting the [[Grand Banks]] off [[Newfoundland]] for hundreds of years).

'''Christopher Columbus''' (1451-1506) was a [[Genoa|Genoese]] explorer who explored the [[West Indies]] for [[Spain]] from 1492 to 1502.  Christopher Columbus was the second named European sailor to arrive at the Americas (the first one being the Norse explorer [[Leif Erikson]], whose discovery produced no enduring settlements, although  there is good evidence that Viking settlements lasted until the early 12th century), (though [[Basques|Basque]] fishermen had been visiting the [[Grand Banks]] off [[Newfoundland]] for hundreds of years).

[[Image:columbus.jpg]]

[[Image:columbus.jpg]]

==First Voyage==

==First Voyage==

He went to [[Queen Isabella]] and King [[Ferdinand of Spain]] to ask them to finance his journey to the east; his plan was to sail west to get to the east. His first appeal to the king and queen was disappointing but the second time they furnished him with three ships (the Niña, the Pinta and the Santa Maria). Leaving August 3 1492, He sailed for months without sight of land until his crew became angry and began plotting mutiny.  

He went to [[Queen Isabella]] and King [[Ferdinand of Spain]] to ask them to finance his journey to the Far East (SE Asia and India); his plan was to sail west to get to the east: contrary to popular misconceptions, it was well known at the time, that the world was round - however its true circumference was unknown, so it seemed feasible to Columbus, to be able to sail from Europe to SE Asia within a reasonable amount of time. His first appeal to the king and queen was disappointing but the second time they furnished him with three ships (the Niña, the Pinta and the Santa Maria). Leaving August 3 1492, He sailed for months without sight of land until his crew became angry and began plotting mutiny.  

[[Image:Christopher-columbus.jpg]]

[[Image:Christopher-columbus.jpg]]

Finally they came to land. When they explored a little they found the natives to be friendly and they found many new things that they had never seen before. As they prepared to return to [[Spain]] the Santa Maria ran aground on a coral reef and could not be repaired. Columbus saw this as a sign from God and established a trading outpost he called Navidad (after the Christmas holiday).  

Finally they came to land in the West Indies. When they explored a little they found the natives to be friendly and they found many new things that no European had ever seen before. Columbus thought he had landed in India, so he called the native people "Indians" - a designation which remains common to this very day. As they prepared to return to [[Spain]] the Santa Maria ran aground on a coral reef and could not be repaired. Columbus saw this as a sign from God and established a trading outpost he called Navidad (after the Christmas holiday).  

However he still had the Nina and Pinta, and so he took most of his crew up the Windward Passage and onwards to Spain. The king and queen were amazed by the colorful birds and strange foods that Columbus brought with him. Columbus was then called Admiral.

However he still had the Nina and Pinta, and so he took most of his crew up the Windward Passage and onwards to Spain. The king and queen were amazed by the colorful birds and strange foods that Columbus brought with him. Columbus was then called Admiral.

In 1498, Columbus left Spain with 17 ships carrying 1,200 colonists. He explored [[Trinidad]], [[Tobago]], [[Grenada]] and the coast of [[Venezuela]].  

In 1498, Columbus left Spain with 17 ships carrying 1,200 colonists. He explored [[Trinidad]], [[Tobago]], [[Grenada]] and the coast of [[Venezuela]].  

When he returned to Isabella he found it in a state of confusion that he was unable to control. Because there was no gold he sent 500 Indians to Spain as slaves against the will of the king and queen. This brought much ridicule on Columbus. He sailed back to Spain to defend himself and the king and queen refused to furnish him with the necessary ships for three years.

When he returned to Isabella he found it in a state of confusion that he was unable to control. Because there was no gold he sent 500 Indians to Spain as slaves against the will of the king and queen. (This began a long and sordid tradition of abuse of the native peoples by Europeans from many countries. Since most of them did not have the level of "civilization" which Europe possessed at the time, they were considered "savages", and their nations were not respected.) This brought much ridicule on Columbus. He sailed back to Spain to defend himself and the king and queen refused to furnish him with the necessary ships for three years.

==Fourth Voyage==

==Fourth Voyage==