Christopher Columbus, a controversial figure in history, is often credited with the discovery of America. However, his actions towards the native peoples he encountered have led to controversy and criticism. Columbus's obsession with gold and slaves, his attempts to impress the king and queen of Spain, and his eventual disgrace and banishment from the place he discovered have shaped his legacy.
Columbus's birth date is uncertain, with some historians suggesting it was as early as 1436 and others as late as 1455. He was born in Genoa, Italy, and was the oldest of five children. His father, Domenico Colombo, was a weaver, an innkeeper, and a keen seafarer, which likely instilled in Columbus a love for the ocean and a desire for adventure.
Columbus's early life is largely unknown, but it is known that he developed a great deal of skill and experience as an ocean voyager by the age of 30. He was fascinated by the idea of reaching Asia by sailing west, a concept that was considered novel at the time. This led him to study astronomy, geography, and celestial navigation, and to develop the assumption that the Atlantic was the only ocean and that the world was relatively small.
Columbus spent years seeking financial and royal backing for his planned voyage of discovery. Despite facing rejection and skepticism, he eventually gained the support of King Ferdinand and Queen Isabella of Spain. In 1492, he set sail with three ships and a crew of 90 men. After a journey marked by hardship and conflict, he landed in what is now the Bahamas, believing he had reached Asia.
Columbus's second voyage was marked by the enslavement and murder of native peoples in his quest for gold and slaves. His third voyage saw him establish a base on Hispaniola, where he ruled with an iron fist, leading to further conflict and rebellion. Despite his initial success, Columbus's fourth voyage was a failure, and he returned to Spain in disgrace.
Despite his many controversies and mistakes, Columbus's efforts led to the European colonization and exploitation of the Americas. His legacy is a complex one, marked by both his contributions to exploration and his actions towards the native peoples.
1. Christopher Columbus is a controversial historical figure who claimed to have discovered America, but he was obsessed with obtaining gold and slaves.
2. There is no agreed-upon date as to when Christopher Columbus entered the world, with some historians putting the date as early as 1436 and others as late as 1455.
3. Columbus was born between August 25th and October 31st, 1451, in the Italian coastal city of Genoa.
4. Columbus was the oldest of five children born to Susanna Fontana Rosa and Domenico Colombo, an Italian weaver and innkeeper.
5. Columbus developed a great deal of skill and experience as an ocean voyager by the age of 30.
6. Columbus undertook the study of astronomy, geography, and celestial navigation in 1478.
7. Columbus set out to find a backer for his planned voyage of discovery, and after various rejections, he sought and received backing from the king of Spain.
8. Columbus married a 25-year-old woman named Philippe Pomona, with whom he had a son named Diego.
9. Columbus developed three key assumptions based on his studies: there was only one ocean (the Atlantic), the world was relatively small, and there was no large landmass between Europe and Asia.
10. Columbus made his way back to the Spanish port town of Palos with his 5-year-old son, Diego, in tow.
11. Columbus made his way to Cordoba to seek an audience with King Ferdinand and Queen Isabella.
12. Columbus and Isabella developed an immediate bond, being of the same age and like-minded.
13. Columbus was granted an audience before the king and queen on May 1, 1480.
14. Columbus left on his way back to Cordoba on the back of a mule when he was intercepted and rushed to the Royal Palace to receive the good news.
15. After gathering his crew and supplies, Columbus made his way to the Canary Islands, a thousand miles to the south.
16. Columbus and his men built a fort on the island of Hispaniola, naming it Navidad (Christmas).
17. Columbus embarked upon a massive slave drive, taking 1500 Arawak men, women, and children.
18. Columbus was desperate to get his hands on the gold in Haiti, ordering that every person aged 14 years or over was to collect a minimum quota of gold every three months.
19. Columbus's base on Hispaniola quickly devolved into chaos, with most of the Europeans on the islands being sickened and many of them being ex-convicts.
20. Columbus set sail on the Nina, the forty-five-year-old Columbus arrived back in Portugal on June 11th, 1496.