Difference between revisions of "Christopher Columbus"
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| − | '''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|thumb]] '''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). |
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==First Voyage== | ==First Voyage== | ||
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. | 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|thumb]] |
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). | 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). | ||
Revision as of 15:55, May 23, 2007
Christopher Columbus (1451-1506) was a 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 Basque fishermen had been visiting the Grand Banks off Newfoundland for hundreds of years).
First Voyage
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.
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.
Second Voyage
When Columbus sailed back to the new world in 1493, he found no sign of Navidad or of his crew. This is what had happened: Columbus’ crew got bored because they found no gold, so they attacked the Indians. The Indians decided to rid themselves of the white men, leaving no trace. Columbus then built a new settlement called Isabella (after the queen), then left it in the charge of his brother Diego and went exploring. He was puzzled that his maps of the east did not match with what he had seen. When he reached modern day Cuba he believed that this was the mainland and forced his crew to swear that it was. He also discovered Jamaica shortly afterwards.
Third Voyage
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 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
When rumors of the confusion in Isabella reached Spain the king and queen sent Francisco de Bodilla to investigate. Bodilla arrested Columbus and his brother in the name of the crown, took charge of Isabella forcefully and sent them back to Spain. Columbus begged for one more chance to explore “Asia”. They gave him four broken down ships. His fleet was beaten with storms and he was forced to give up his last journey. He started back for Spain, but his ships were on the verge of collapse and he was forced to stay at Jamaica. He sent one of his crew to Isabella in a canoe to get rescue ships. Seven months later the ships came and took him back to Spain. He died believing that he had made four voyages to Asia.