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So back to what Columbus did achieve.  He set sail in three ships, the first sighted land in late 1492. On Christmas eve, December 24, 1492, one of Columbus's ships, the [[Santa Maria]], reached the island of [[Haiti]].  Columbus named the settlement “La Navidad,” meaning “The Nativity,” and dropped off 40 men with a promise to return to them the next year.  Columbus then wrote to the King and Queen of Spain the following in his Journal:  “In all the world there can be no better or gentler people.  Your Highnesses should feel great joy, because presently they will be Christians, and instructed in the good manners of your realms.”

So back to what Columbus did achieve.  He set sail in three ships, the first sighted land in late 1492. On Christmas eve, December 24, 1492, one of Columbus's ships, the [[Santa Maria]], reached the island of [[Haiti]].  Columbus named the settlement “La Navidad,” meaning “The Nativity,” and dropped off 40 men with a promise to return to them the next year.  Columbus then wrote to the King and Queen of Spain the following in his Journal:  “In all the world there can be no better or gentler people.  Your Highnesses should feel great joy, because presently they will be Christians, and instructed in the good manners of your realms.”

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But he had grossly underestimated the size of the world, and when he reached San Salvador, Haiti (Hispaniola) and Cuba he thought he had reached the Far East.  So he called the natives Indians.  He left some men there but they were killed by the natives.  Columbus reported back that new people had been found to evangelize with Christianity.

But he had grossly underestimated the size of the world, and when he reached San Salvador, Haiti (Hispaniola) and Cuba he thought he had reached the Far East.  So he called the natives Indians.  He left some men there but they were eventually killed by the natives.  Columbus reported back that new people had been found to evangelize with Christianity.

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Soon Spain and Portugal divided the Americas with the [[Line of Demarcation]], drawn by the Pope.  The [[Treaty of Tordesillas]] moved the line in 1493.  It was a North-South line that gave Spain North America and the western part of South America, but Portugal received Brazil.  That’s why Brazilians speak Portuguese to this day.

Soon Spain and Portugal divided the Americas with the [[Line of Demarcation]], drawn by the Pope.  The [[Treaty of Tordesillas]] moved the line in 1493.  It was a North-South line that gave Spain North America and the western part of South America, but Portugal received Brazil.  That's why Brazilians speak Portuguese to this day.

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<discuss how Columbus returned to Europe, and then found the same location on his second trip> Columbus sailed on three subsequent voyages, but never achieved his goal and died discredited.  What was his motivation?  Primarily to spread Christianity, but also to find gold to reward his sponsors and fund further expeditions.  Ultimately, his purpose focused on a dream to liberate Jerusalem, as the Crusades attempted.

The incredible genius of Columbus -- or Providence -- was proven a year later on his second voyage across the Atlantic. Amid the vast ocean, he was able to find the precise same location that he had reached on his first voyage on the island if [[Hispaniola]].  That is like finding a needle in a haystack the size of a football stadium.  But Columbus's colony had not survived in his absence.

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What influence did Columbus have?  He gave Spain [[Haiti]], [[Puerto Rico]], [[Jamaica]] and [[Cuba]] by 1515.  Spain then settled Florida (St. Augustine), and later Santa Fe, New Mexico.  Spanish [[Hernando Cortes]] conquered the Aztecs in central Mexico (1521), and [[Francisco Pizarro]] conquered the Incas of Peru (1531).  They seized much gold in the process.

Columbus sailed on a total of three subsequent voyages, but never achieved his goal and died a failure.  His ultimate dream of liberating Jerusalem, as the Crusades attempted, was not achieved.  But what he did achieve was to open the New World to spreading Christianity and creating new wealth.

Columbus's efforts resulting in giving Spain [[Haiti]], [[Puerto Rico]], [[Jamaica]] and [[Cuba]] by 1515.  Spain then settled Florida (St. Augustine), and later Santa Fe, New Mexico.  Spanish [[Hernando Cortes]] conquered the Aztecs in central Mexico (1521), and [[Francisco Pizarro]] conquered the Incas of Peru (1531).  They seized much gold in the process.

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But while Spanish soldiers came to America, Spanish women did not.  So there were not many distinct, permanent Spanish settlements.  Also, the Spanish were also entirely subservient to their King back in Europe.  Separate governments did not develop.

But while Spanish soldiers came to America, Spanish women did not.  So there were not many distinct, permanent Spanish settlements.  Also, the Spanish were also entirely subservient to their King back in Europe.  Separate governments did not develop.