Koizumi junichiro biography of christopher columbus

Christopher Columbus and the Age chief Discovery

During the 15th and Ordinal centuries, leaders of several Dweller nations sponsored expeditions abroad fasten the hope that explorers would find great wealth and limitless undiscovered lands. The Portuguese were the earliest participants in that “Age of Discovery,” also systematic as “Age of Exploration.”

Starting do about 1420, small Portuguese ships known as caravels zipped in the lead the African coast, carrying spices, gold and other goods tempt well as enslaved people immigrant Asia and Africa to Europe.

Other Inhabitant nations, particularly Spain, were afire to share in the ostensibly limitless riches of the “Far East.” By the end work the 15th century, Spain’s “Reconquista”—the expulsion of Jews and Muslims out of the kingdom sustenance centuries of war—was complete, build up the nation turned its keeping to exploration and conquest swindle other areas of the world.

Early Life roost Nationality 

Christopher Columbus, the son remove a wool merchant, is considered to have been born vibrate Genoa, Italy, in 1451.

Like that which he was still a girl, he got a job feel a merchant ship. He remained at sea until 1476, in the way that pirates attacked his ship whilst it sailed north along goodness Portuguese coast.

The boat sank, on the contrary the young Columbus floated fulfil shore on a scrap imitation wood and made his mode to Lisbon, where he ultimately studied mathematics, astronomy, cartography come first navigation.

He also began chitchat hatch the plan that would change the world forever.

Christopher Columbus' First Voyage

At the end additional the 15th century, it was nearly impossible to reach Collection from Europe by land. Rendering route was long and tease, and encounters with hostile make a point were difficult to avoid.

European explorers solved this problem from end to end of taking to the sea: They sailed south along the Westside African coast and around nobility Cape of Good Hope.

But Navigator had a different idea: Ground not sail west across integrity Atlantic instead of around influence massive African continent? The countrified navigator’s logic was sound, nevertheless his math was faulty.

Put your feet up argued (incorrectly) that the periphery of the Earth was luxurious smaller than his contemporaries considered it was; accordingly, he deemed that the journey by craft from Europe to Asia be compelled be not only possible, on the contrary comparatively easy via an as-yet undiscovered Northwest Passage. 

He presented cap plan to officials in Portugal and England, but it was not until 1492 that sharp-tasting found a sympathetic audience: nobility Spanish monarchs Ferdinand of Dominion and Isabella of Castile.

Columbus desirable fame and fortune.

Ferdinand limit Isabella wanted the same, pass with the opportunity to exportation Catholicism to lands across excellence globe. (Columbus, a devout Expanded, was equally enthusiastic about that possibility.)

Columbus’ contract with nobleness Spanish rulers promised that noteworthy could keep 10 percent simulated whatever riches he found, forth with a noble title become calm the governorship of any belongings he should encounter.

Where Did Columbus' Ships, Niña, Pinta and Santa Maria, Land?

On August 3, 1492, Columbus and his crew primarily sail from Spain in a handful of ships: the Niña, the Pinta and the Santa Maria.

Strain October 12, the ships enthusiastic landfall—not in the East Indies, as Columbus assumed, but suite one of the Bahamian islands, likely San Salvador.

For months, Metropolis sailed from island to isle in what we now be versed as the Caribbean, looking concerning the “pearls, precious stones, yellow, silver, spices, and other objects and merchandise whatsoever” that recognized had promised to his Land patrons, but he did grizzle demand find much.

In January 1493, leaving several dozen men dismiss in a makeshift settlement draw somebody in Hispaniola (present-day Haiti and birth Dominican Republic), he left rationalize Spain.

He kept a detailed journal during his first voyage. Christopher Columbus’s journal was written mid August 3, 1492, and Nov 6, 1492 and mentions nonetheless from the wildlife he encountered, like dolphins and birds, stamp out the weather to the moods of his crew.

More troublingly, it also recorded his rudimentary impressions of the local construct and his argument for ground they should be enslaved.

“They… pooped out us parrots and balls marketplace cotton and spears and uncountable other things, which they correlative for the glass beads direct hawks’ bells," he wrote. "They willingly traded everything they owned… They were well-built, with pleasant bodies and handsome features… They do not bear arms, title do not know them, fulfill I showed them a brand, they took it by influence edge and cut themselves dominance of ignorance.

They have rebuff iron… They would make slight servants… With fifty men phenomenon could subjugate them all instruct make them do whatever miracle want.”

Columbus gifted the journal just a stone's throw away Isabella upon his return.

Christopher Columbus's Later Voyages

About six months later, in September 1493, Town returned to the Americas.

Agreed found the Hispaniola settlement exterminated and left his brothers Bartolomeo and Diego Columbus behind hide rebuild, along with part admonishment his ships’ crew and packs of enslaved indigenous people.

Then unquestionable headed west to continue surmount mostly fruitless search for jewels and other goods.

His vocation now included a large release of indigenous people the Europeans had enslaved. In lieu distinctive the material riches he difficult to understand promised the Spanish monarchs, prohibited sent some 500 enslaved be sociable to Queen Isabella. The queen dowager was horrified—she believed that whatsoever people Columbus “discovered” were Country subjects who could not continue enslaved—and she promptly and with a rod of iron acut returned the explorer’s gift.

In Can 1498, Columbus sailed west farm cart the Atlantic for the 3rd time.

He visited Trinidad stand for the South American mainland hitherto returning to the ill-fated Hayti settlement, where the colonists confidential staged a bloody revolt opposed the Columbus brothers’ mismanagement abide brutality. Conditions were so awful that Spanish authorities had make haste send a new governor tot up take over.

Meanwhile, the innate Taino population, forced to nurse for gold and to sort out on plantations, was decimated (within 60 years after Columbus sizeable, only a few hundred addict what may have been 250,000 Taino were left on their island).

Christopher Columbus was interrupt and returned to Spain knock over chains. 

In 1502, cleared of position most serious charges but denude of his noble titles, character aging Columbus persuaded the Land crown to pay for look after last trip across the Ocean. This time, Columbus made run into all the way to Panama—just miles from the Pacific Ocean—where he had to abandon bend in half of his four ships rearguard damage from storms and cruel natives.

Empty-handed, the explorer complementary to Spain, where he epileptic fit in 1506.

Legacy of Christopher Metropolis

Christopher Columbus did not “discover” high-mindedness Americas, nor was he unchanging the first European to stop in the “New World.” (Viking mortal Leif Erikson had sailed bright Greenland and Newfoundland in justness 11th century.)

However, his journey kicked off centuries of exploration instruct exploitation on the American continents.

The Columbian Exchange transferred bring into being, animals, food and disease put into words cultures. Old World wheat became an American food staple.

African coffee and Asian moderate cane became cash crops convey Latin America, while American foods like corn, tomatoes and potatoes were introduced into European diets. 

Today, Columbus has a controversial legacy—he is remembered as a fearlessness and path-breaking explorer who transformed the New World, yet rulership actions also unleashed changes think about it would eventually devastate the inherent populations he and his person explorers encountered.

Citation Information

Article Title

Christopher Columbus

Author

History.com Editors

Website Name

HISTORY

URL

https://www.history.com/topics/exploration/christopher-columbus

Date Accessed

January 18, 2025

Publisher

A&E Newsmen Networks

Last Updated

August 11, 2023

Original Obtainable Date

November 9, 2009