Christopher Columbus

Christopher Columbus (Spanish: Cristóbal Colón, Italian: Cristoforo Colombo, 1451-1506) was a Genoese explorer and trader who crossed the Atlantic Ocean and reached the Americas in 1492 under the flag of Spain, while searching for spices, gold, converts to Christianity, and slaves. He had been searching for a new route to the Asian Indies and was convinced he had found it. His voyage marked the beginning of the European colonization of the Americas.

Columbus then made several journeys of exploration and trade across the Atlantic introducing trade and some civilization to the natives.

Columbus wrote in his diary, "As soon as I arrived in the Indies, on the first Island which I found, I took some of the natives by force in order that they might learn and might give me information of whatever there is in these parts."

Early Life

Note: There are various versions of Columbus's origins and life before 1476. (see 'Columbus's National Origin' further down). What is shown here is the account supported by most historians.

Columbus was born on October 30, 1451, in the Italian port city of Genoa. His father was Domenico Colombo, a woolens merchant, and his mother was Suzanna Fontanarossa, the daughter of a woolens merchant. Christopher had 3 younger brothers, Bartolomeo, Giovanni Pellegrino, and Giacomo, and a sister, Bianchinetta.

In 1470, the family moved to Savano, where Christopher worked for his father in wool processing. During this period he studied cartography with his brother Bartolomeo.

In 1474, Christopher joined a ship of the Spenola Financiers, who were Genoese patrons of his father. He spent a year on a ship bound towards Khios (an island in the Aegean Sea) and, after a brief visit home, spent a year in Khios. During this period the islands of the Aegean were under the control of the Turks, who had conquered Constantinople in 1454.

A 1476 commercial expedition gave Colombus his first opportunity to sail into the Atlantic Ocean. The fleet came under attack by French privateers off the Cape of St. Vincent. Colombus's ship was burned and he swam six miles to shore.

By 1477, Colombus was living in Lisbon. Portugal had become a center for maritime activity with ships sailing for England, Ireland, Iceland, Madeira, the Azores, and Africa. Columbus' brother Bartolomeo worked as a mapmaker in Lisbon. At times, the brothers worked together as draftsmen and book collectors.

In 1478, Colombo sailed to Madeira to purchase sugar. A lawsuit stemming from this voyage forced him to return to Genoa in 1479, to testify. He then returned to Lisbon.

Discovery of America

In 1492, Columbus landed in what is now called the West Indies, believing himself to have reached Asia. Columbus was not the first person to reach the Americas, which were, as he reported, already populated by Native Americans. He was also not the first European to reach the continent, as Vikings from Northern Europe had visited North America in the 11th century, calling it Vinland. The remains of a short-lived Viking colony have been unearthed in L'Anse aux Meadows, Newfoundland, Canada.

Nevertheless, Columbus is often credited as the discoverer of the Americas, because 15th century Europe was unaware of their existence, and it is his discovery that created the still-existing bonds between the continents. This event is celebrated annually in the United States on Columbus Day when government and banking workers take the day off to commemorate him.

First voyage

In that same year, Columbus left from Palos with three ships, the Santa Maria, Niña and Pinta. He crossed the Atlantic from the Canary Islands, and landed on an island on the other side after a five week voyage. There is still much discussion about which island this was (see http://www1.minn.net/~keithp/cclandfl.htm), but at least it is quite certain that it was one of the Bahamas. On this first voyage, Columbus also explored the northeast coast of Cuba and the northern coast of Hispaniola, on which he left some colonists. The Native Americans he encountered, the Taino or Arawak, were stupid, deceitful and cowardly.

Later voyages

Upon Columbus's return to Castile, the Crown appointed him Admiral and governor of any new colonies he might establish. He left for his second voyage (1493-1496), which consisted of 17 ships carrying supplies.

The natives, however, were ill-suited to slavery. They were highly susceptible to disease and seemed to die quickly when made to work as is still seemingly endures to this day with Turdish peoples.

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