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1492
Around 1451, Columbus was born in Genoa, Italy in .He left as a young man to become a sailor and navigator. He traveled to different countries learning the seas and having many different adventures. He married Dona Felipa Moniz in 1475 and he arrived in Spain in 1485. It was his dream to find a new and quicker route to the Far East. He felt that this new route would make him and the country that sponsored him very rich. He appealed to different kings tying to persuade them to fund his journey. He eventually found a willing audience with King Ferdinand and Queen Isabella of Spain. After two failed attempts to convince the King and Queen, a friar took pity and convinced Queen Isabella that his dream had merit. She supported his idea and together they convinced the King. On April 17, the first agreement was signed and the expedition was underway by August 3rd 1492. The journey was without major incident and there is no evidence to support that the crew wanted to mutiny. On October 11, 1492 lights were spotted that indicated land. The next day was the historic first land fall. Columbus thought he was in India, which is why the natives that greeted them were called Indians. He claimed the land for Spain and left sixty men to hold the first settlement. He felt that the colonists were safe because the Indians were friendly. Early in 1493, he sailed back to Spain to report his findings. Columbus brought back to his benefactors, many examples of the riches he discovered. The riches were not in the form of gold and silver but in natural resources. He brought back vegetation, of which tobacco may or may not have been included, as well as natives. He was received with honor and distinction and the King and Queen were very pleased. The immediately started making preparations for a return journey that included more settlers. Everyone seemed to feel that a country rich in natural resources, would also be a new source for gold a very high commodity of the time. Columbus left for his next journey on September 25, 1493. |
This journey was also uneventful but on his arrival to the island where he had left the settlement he found nothing but ruins. No surviving settlers came to greet him and the natives were no longer as friendly. They avoided the explorers and remained quiet. Columbus had heard that neighboring islands held a war tribe that often came and carried off the friendly natives and brought war upon the peaceful island. He feared that this is what happened to the poor settlers. He continued to explore the different islands in the area and found gold on the island now known as Haiti. At the same time, the explorers were suffering from different sicknesses and had to acclimate to the new environment. Columbus himself got quite ill and had to be nursed back to health before he could continue. Different settlements were established and most were friendly with the natives but there were many clashes with the natives throughout this time frame. Columbus still believed he had found the tip of Eastern Asia and continued to explore the area. But the Spanish settlers were becoming unhappy. Columbus was in charge of the settlements but he did not seem to be good at managing the affairs of daily life. He was much better heading a sea voyage or navigating. The result was that people were very unhappy and began to write letters back to Spain with their frustrations. Supply ships were coming and going between Spain and the settlements so there was some communication back to the King and Queen. Eventually, he returned to Spain where his leadership was taken away from him. He went to his house in Seville but in 1504 had an audience with King Ferdinand. He wanted to be restored to his power. His health was very unstable and the King was not interested in putting him in power in the New World. He died at his home with his family within a year of his last audience with the King.
Information Source: The Catholic Encyclopedia, Volume IV
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Keith C. Heidorn, PhD http://www.islandnet.com/~see/weather/history/columbus.htm |
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Project created by Miss Calderhead
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