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Christopher Columbus Biography
Learn about the biography and life of explorer Christopher Columbus. He discovered the Americas for Spain
Who is Christopher Columbus?
Columbus arriving in the Americas by Dioscoro Puebla
Biography of Christopher Columbus
The explorer who is credited with discovering America is Christopher Columbus. Naturally, there were already individuals who we now refer to as Native Americans living in America at the time. Even Leif Ericsson, a European, had already visited the Americas. The discovery and colonization of the Americas, however, began with the expedition of Christopher Columbus.
Before the Voyage
In the year 1451, Columbus was born in Genoa, Italy. Later, he settled in Lisbon and worked as a trader there. He picked up map-making and ship-navigation skills.
A Shortcut to the East Indies (China and Southeast Asia)
Columbus and his brother Bartholomew were aware of the enormous wealth that lay in the East Indies (China and Southeast Asia). The Silk Road was risky for overland travel, and a sea route around Africa looked to take too long. Columbus believed he could sail directly over the Atlantic Ocean to the East Indies.
Columbus would prove to be mistaken. The Americas lie between Europe and Asia on a far broader continent than he had previously realized.
Three Ships and a Long Voyage
Years were spent by Columbus persuading someone to fund his journey. He originally sought to convince Portugal’s King John II to foot the bill for his travels, but the monarch was uninterested. Finally, he succeeded in persuading the Spanish monarchs Queen Isabella and King Ferdinand to foot the bill.
On August 3, 1492, he set out in three ships, the Nina, Pinta, and Santa Maria. The journey was challenging and drawn out. At one point, his men wanted to retreat and threatened to revolt. If they didn’t discover land, Columbus promised them he would return in two days. Yet, he noted in his notebook that he had no plans to go back.
Finding Land
12th of October, 1492 land was discovered. Columbus would give the name San Salvador to a small Bahamas island. Because he believed he had landed on islands off the coast of the East Indies, he encountered locals there whom he referred to as Indians. He also traveled to other Caribbean islands like Cuba and Hispaniola.
The routes taken by Columbus on his four voyages
Returning Home
After his discovery, Columbus was eager to take his treasure back to Spain. But, the Santa Maria capsized off the coast of Hispaniola, leaving just the Pinta and the Nina to make it back to Spain. To establish an outpost, Columbus left 43 men behind on the island.
Columbus was welcomed back home like a hero. He displayed some of the items he had discovered, such as pineapples, turkeys, and some Indians he had kidnapped. The Spanish Monarch was so ecstatic that he agreed to sponsor more expeditions.
More Voyages
There would be three more trips to the Americas by Columbus. He even glimpsed continental America while continuing his exploration of the Caribbean. As the local governor, he encountered various challenges and was even detained for acting inappropriately with some colonists. On May 20, 1506, Columbus passed away. He passed away believing he had found a direct route to Asia over the Atlantic Ocean. He was never aware of the incredible discovery he had discovered.
Facts about Christopher Columbus
- First laid to rest in Spain, Columbus’ remains were later transported to Santo Domingo in the New World and then returned to Spain.
- On his second journey, Columbus brought horses with him to the new world.
- He estimated that Asia would be 2,400 miles away from Portugal in his initial estimates. He was entirely off. Actually, it’s 10,000 miles away! Not to mention the sizable continent that lies between them.
- With the line “In 1492 Columbus sailed the ocean blue,” you can recall the year when Columbus first set foot on American soil.
- On the expedition, a reward was given to the sailor who spotted land first. Rodrigo de Triana, who discovered land from the Pinta’s crow’s nest, won.
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