Figure 1.--Here is an illustrator's conception of Columbus as a young boy on the whafe in Genoa. There is cirtually no documented information on his boyhood, He wrote late in life that he first went to seas as a 10-year old boy,

Genonese navigator Christopher Columbus is the most renowned of all the great explorers. Columbus came from modest origins in Genoa (1449). He was influenced by Paolo Toscanelli--the Sage of Florence who urged ebterprising navigators to sail west. Columbus and other Genoese navigators and seamen sought employment in the West after Venice defeated rival Genoa in a struggle for naval supremecy in the Eastern Mediterranean. As a young man Columbus traveled extensively in Europe, concocting money-raising schemes and fleeing his creditors. He also acquired navigational and maritime skills. Columbus saided as far west and south as Maderia where his Portuguese wife's relatively prosperous family lived. Most of his voyages, however were north and south. He was part of a Portuguese expedition to Ghana. And he sailed north to England to trade wool. Columbus and fellow Genoan John Cabot may have made a compsct to cooperate in exploring the Atlantic (1483). [Boyle] Columbus appealed to King John II of Portugal to finance a voyage west into the Atlantic. Navigation experts at the court focused on voyages south along the coast of Africa rejected his project as unfeasible. Columbus finally sailed west on his First Voyage under the banner of their most Cathlolic magesties Ferdinand and Isabella, hoping to reach the Indies (1492-93). The voyage was intensely debated by Spanish authorities. Knowledgeable people did not believe that the world was flat. Many did believe that the world was so large that the crews of ships sailing west would perish before reaching Asia. He began the settlement of his discoveries on his Second Voyage (1493-95). Columbus of course had found America, although it was not until his Third Voyage when he reached the South American continent that he began to realize, but never admitted. that he had found an entire new continent (1498-50). [Bowden] Columbus despite his achievements was a controversial figure in his own era. And in our politically correct world has become a controversial figure. Many are found of insisting that he was not the first European to reach the Americas. This is probably correct, the Viking amnd Leif Erickson almost certainly reached North America centuries earlier. Columbus was the first, however, who had his voyage extensively document and the results published. Columbus is also accused of brutality and mistreatment of the Native Americans. Much of this is true, but in this regard he seems little different than other early explorers. It is also true that he was a failure as a colonial administrtor. He was in fact returned home from his Third Voyage in chains. His final Fourth Voyage ended in disaster and he almost perished on Jamaica where is ship wrecked (1502-04). He finally had to buy his passage home to Spain--a great humiliation. All of this, however, has little to say as regards his achievements a navigtor. The Americas today would surely be named after Columbus, excpet that he continued to insist that he had not discovered a new continent, but had reached the fabeled East.

Parents

Columbus came from modest origins in Genoa.

Childhood

Very little is known about Colunbus' boyhood. His birth hasd beenb vriously estimated (1449-51). Available records shed virtuaslly nothing on his boyhood. Colunbus late in life indficated tht he went to sea at age 10 years. It would have probbly been on the ship owned by a meignhor or family friend.

Education

Nothing is known of any formal education. He would have learned great deal on ships learming to be a sailor.

Influences

He was influenced by Paolo Toscanelli--the Sage of Florence who urged ebterprising navigators to sail west.

Genoa

Columbus and other Genoese navigators and seamen sought employment in the West after Venice defeated rival Genoa in a struggle for naval supremecy in the Eastern Mediterranean.

Bartholomeo

Columbus' younger brother Bartholomeo set up a chart making business in Lisbon. Columbus aty the age of 24 years obtained a job as a foremast hand on an armed ship sailing west as a convoy headed for northern Europe (1476). He was 24 years old. The comnvoy was attacked off Portugal, probably by the Barbary Pirates. Columbus was wounded, but managed to ship 6 miles to shore using debris from the ship. He joined with hus brother in Lisbon. This was of course just at the time that the Portuguese weere making great advances in navitagation and naval architecture. Ss a result, Portuguese seamen were sailing south along the coast of Africa. In Lisvon wit his brother he learned Portuguese, Castilian (Spanish), and Latin. He also learned emnough mathematics and astronomy to allow him to nasvigate. He was thus ab;le to work on Portuguese ships and made many voyages to different destimations.

Navigational Experiences

As a young man Columbus traveled extensively in Europe, collecting information, concocting money-raising schemes, and fleeing his creditors. He also acquired navigational and maritime skills. Columbus sailed as far west and south as Maderia where his Portuguese wife's relatively prosperous family lived. Most of his voyages, however were north and south. He was part of a Portuguese expedition to Ghana. And he sailed north to England to trade wool, also reaching Ireland.

The Enterprise

Columbus eventually reached the conclusion that he could reach the orient by sailing West much more quickly than sailing around SAfrica ad then east. The idea that the world was flat was not as widespread as is sometimes suggested, at least among educated people. Columbus has, however, badly underestimsated the size of the globe. And of course he and the rest of Europe had no idea that an entirely unknown new continent lay between Europe and Asia. Columbus and fellow Genoan John Cabot may have made a compact to cooperate in exploring the Atlantic (1483). [Boyle] While many knowledgeable people agreed theoretically with Columnus, but believed the disdtance involved made voyages west impossible. And this made it very diffiucult for Columbus to obtain backing for his enterprise.

Portugal

Columbus first appealed to King João (John II) of Portugal to finance a voyage west into the Atlantic. Columnus spent several years attempting to convince King João Portuguese Navigation experts at the court focused on voyages south along the coast of Africa rejected his project as unfeasible. The King firmly in possession of the route around Africa saw no need for a new route.

Spain

Columbus then turned to their Catholic majesties Ferdinand and Isabel of Spain to support a voyage of exploration west into the Atlantic. King João was focused on sailing south around Africa. So Columbus worked on the Spanish monarchy for several years. The voyage was intensely debated by Spanish authorities. Knowledgeable people did not believe that the world was flat. Many did believe that the world was so large that the crews of ships sailing west would perish before reaching Asia. He had finally given up on convincing Ferdinand and Isabel and decided to approach the French king. Finally after the fall of Granada, the Spasnish monarchs decided to back the voyage in part concerned that the Frech might bsacl him. Their reluctance also resulted from Columbus' extrodinary demands. Columbus was on the way to France when a court official reached him with news thast he had obained royal backing.

First Voyage (1492-93)

Columbus finally sailed west on his First Voyage under the banner of their most Cathlolic magesties Ferdinand and Isabel. Columbus sailed west into the Atlantic hoping to reach the Indies (1492-93). Columbus with his three ships first landed in the Bahamas andf thn proceeded south to Cuba and Hispaniola. He landed along the northern coast of Hispaniola (December 5, 1492). He called the Tainos he encountered "Indians", convinced that he had reached the Indies.

Second Voyage

He began the settlement of his discoveries on his Second Voyage (1493-95). Columbus of course had found America.

Third Voyage

It was not until his Third Voyage when he reached the South American continent that he began to realize, but never admitted. that he had found an entire new continent (1498-50). [Bowden]

Controversial Figure

Columbus despite his achievements was a controversial figure in his own era. He was extrodinarily brutal with the Native Americans on Hispaniola from who he demanded gold and then enslaved. Queen Isabella had ordered that he not enslave the inigenous population. He also brutally ruled over the Spanish colonists. He was a failure as a colonial administrtor. He was in fact returned home from his Third Voyage in chains.

Fourth Voyage

His final Fourth Voyage ended in disaster and he almost perished on Jamaica where is ship wrecked (1502-04). He finally had to buy his passage home to Spain--a great humiliation

Later Years

Finally back in Spain he became a religious mystic and increasingly paranoid. He became obsessed with the idea that he had reached the coast of Asia.

Assessment

Much of the criticism of Colubus is true. It has, however, little to say as regards his achievements a navigtor. The Americas today would surely be named after Columbus, excpet that he continued to insist that he had not discovered a new continent, but had reached the fabeled East. Many are found of insisting that he was not the first European to reach the Americas. This is probably correct, the Viking amnd Leif Erickson almost certainly reached North America centuries earlier. Columbus was the first, however, who had his voyage extensively document and the results published.

Politically Correct Modern View

Columbus is also controversial in our politically correct world has become a controversial figure. Columbus is also accused of brutality and mistreatment of the Native Americans. Much of this is true, but in this regard he seems little different than other early explorers. And perhaps more importantly has to be considered the simple fact that Native Americans wared against each other. Some were more vilent that others, but civilizations like the Aztecs were very brutal indeed. All of hymn history is in fact the conquest of the weak by the strong. Much of the criticism of Columus is in fact a critism of the nature of human character.

Sources

Boyle. David. Towards the Setting Sun: Columbus, Cabot, Vespucci, and the Race for America (Walker & Company, 2008), 421p.

Created: 7:02 AM 8/30/2008
Last updated: 9:07 AM 4/24/2010