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The funding for Columbus came from Spain instead.  Though Columbus was Italian, it was Spain that financed his voyages as the strain of fighting the Muslims subsided.  Isabella and Ferdinand felt secure in granting the Genoese upstart Christopher Columbus his long-awaited funds.  Beginning on August 3, 1492, Columbus embarked on four voyages, becoming perhaps the first European to discover the New World, although at first he believed he had reached India (hence his name for the inhabitants of the New World:  “Indians”).  The discoveries by Columbus included the Bahamas, Cuba, Haiti, San Salvador, Puerto Rico, Jamaica, Trinidad and Honduras.  Columbus, the master mariner that he was, subsequently sailed back to Europe and then again to the Caribbean, and was able to find the exact same locations on his return voyage.  Columbus’ astounding success presented an increasing challenge to Spain’s Portuguese rivals.

The funding for Columbus came from Spain instead.  Though Columbus was Italian, it was Spain that financed his voyages as the strain of fighting the Muslims subsided.  Isabella and Ferdinand felt secure in granting the Genoese upstart Christopher Columbus his long-awaited funds.  Beginning on August 3, 1492, Columbus embarked on four voyages, becoming perhaps the first European to discover the New World, although at first he believed he had reached India (hence his name for the inhabitants of the New World:  “Indians”).  The discoveries by Columbus included the Bahamas, Cuba, Haiti, San Salvador, Puerto Rico, Jamaica, Trinidad and Honduras.  Columbus, the master mariner that he was, subsequently sailed back to Europe and then again to the Caribbean, and was able to find the exact same locations on his return voyage.  Columbus’ astounding success presented an increasing challenge to Spain’s Portuguese rivals.

The pope finally resolved this rivalry between Spain and Portugal in the Treaty of Tordesillas in 1494, which established an 1100-mile long “Line of Demarcation.”  This division of world territories gave Portugal trading rights in India, China, the East Indies, East Brazil and the Spanish Americas.  Spain was given control of the remaining, vast majority of the Americas.  Ferdinand Magellan then led the first successful voyage to circumnavigate the globe in 1519.  Although Magellan was killed by Philippine natives before completing the last leg of the journey, he was the first to sail around the tip of South America to enter the Pacific Ocean.  Only 18 of Magellan’s approximately 250 sailors made it back to Spain three years later, in 1522.   

The pope finally resolved this rivalry between Spain and Portugal in the Treaty of Tordesillas in 1494, which established an 1100-mile long “Line of Demarcation,” which was 50 degrees longitude (north-to-south) in the Western Hemisphere. This division of world territories gave Portugal trading rights in India, China, the East Indies, East Brazil and the Spanish Americas.  Spain was given control of the remaining, vast majority of the Americas.  Ferdinand Magellan then led the first successful voyage to circumnavigate the globe in 1519.  Although Magellan was killed by Philippine natives before completing the last leg of the journey, he was the first to sail around the tip of South America to enter the Pacific Ocean.  Only 18 of Magellan’s approximately 250 sailors made it back to Spain three years later, in 1522.   

As a result of Magellan’s journey, Spain gained control of many South American territories, including Peru.  Spain also obtained control over the Philippines in the Far East.  Spanish warrior Hernando Cortes led the conquest of Mexico, with the initial help of the Aztecs, many of whom believed Cortes was their god Quetzalcoatl (who, conveniently for the Spanish, was expected to appear that very year).  Cortes captured the Aztec ruler Moctezuma (popularly known as “Montezuma”) and conquered their empire.  Cortes was also aided by an Aztec woman named Malinche, who served as a guide and translator.  Cortes burned the Aztec capital Tenochtitlan and built Mexico City in its place.   

As a result of Magellan’s journey, Spain gained control of many South American territories, including Peru.  Spain also obtained control over the Philippines in the Far East.  Spanish warrior Hernando Cortes led the conquest of Mexico, with the initial help of the Aztecs, many of whom believed Cortes was their god Quetzalcoatl (who, conveniently for the Spanish, was expected to appear that very year).  Cortes captured the Aztec ruler Moctezuma (popularly known as “Montezuma”) and conquered their empire.  Cortes was also aided by an Aztec woman named Malinche, who served as a guide and translator.  Cortes burned the Aztec capital Tenochtitlan and built Mexico City in its place.