Christopher Columbus Christopher Columbus Introduction Christopher Columbus was born in 1451 to a middle-class family. Columbusï¿½ father was a weaver in the busy city of Genoa, Italy. Columbus would help his hardworking father weave cloths to be delivered to people in northern Italy. Since the roads in northern Italy were bad, Columbus and his father would usually go by boat. Columbus really loved this. By the time he was in his twenties, he had already made voyages by sea to North Africa, Greece and Portugal. He could sail by himself by then, but he could not become the master mariner he wanted to be. This was because he could not read or write, and therefore, he could not read a map and navigate a ship. Not being able to read or write was common in Columbusï¿½ day. Columbus lived in a period known as the Renaissance. This was a period that followed the Dark Ages, and was marked by renewed interest in art, culture and exploration. Countries such as Spain and Portugal wanted to expand their empires and spread Christianity to new lands. This was the perfect period for Columbus to explore new lands.

In 1476, Columbus was sailing to northern Europe to trade. While on his way, he met up with an enemy warship along the coast of Portugal. A battle ensued, and Columbusï¿½ ship was destroyed. Although he was slightly wounded, Columbus drifted on a piece of floating timber to get to Portugal, which was six miles away. The kind people of Portugal led Columbus to Lisbon, where his brother, Bartholomew, worked as a chart maker. This changed Columbusï¿½ life, because this gave him the chance to complete his education in Portugal. At this time, Portugal was a great seafaring country. Columbus learned Latin, Spanish, mathematics and navigation. Columbus was especially fascinated by Marco Poloï¿½s journeys, and dreamed of someday becoming a great captain and leading voyages of discovery. In the 1400ï¿½s, most people knew that the earth was round, but they thought only Europe, Asia and Africa existed. Asia was called the ï¿½Indiesï¿½. The idea of being able to reach Asia by boat got many people very excited.

Nobody knew where Africa ended, but they thought that if they could sail around Africa and then head east, they could reach Asia. They were sure that amazing treasures could be found in Asia. The First Voyage Columbus' First Voyage By 1478, Columbus was the "master mariner" he set out to be. He could now steer and navigate a ship. He was married by then, and had a young son named Diego. He and his family lived in the Madeira Islands. As time passed, Columbus became increasingly sure that the quickest way to Asia was east, not west, across the "Sea of Darkness" as it was called back then. Columbus thought that from the Canary Islands in Africa, Japan was only 2400 nautical miles. This was in fact a big error, for Japan was actually 10 000 nautical miles away from the Canary Islands, but Columbus was convinced that he was correct. He was not the only one who thought this, an Italian astronomer, Toscanelli agreed with him. Toscanelli helped Columbus calculate his course. This plan was called "Empresa de las Indias", which means Enterprise of the Indies.

In 1484, Columbus asked King John of Portugal if he would supply ships, money and men for the voyage. King John refused to help Columbus. Now, there was no reason for Columbus to stay in Portugal. His wife had died, and his brother had gone to seek help in England and France to get the supplies & crew they needed for the voyage. So, Columbus went to Spain with his son Diego, and put him in the La Rï¿½bida monastery, where the monks ran a boarding school. Columbus met with one of the important monks who had an influence in the Spanish court. The monk arranged for Columbus to meet with Queen Isabella and King Ferdinand. The Queen was impressed with Columbus' plans, but the king did not want to act quickly, as they were involved in an expensive war with the Moors. The king decided to leave the matter up to his advisors. The king's advisors, after many years, decided not to invest in the expedition. Columbus had no choice but to join his brother in France. Just before he left, the Queen thought of the glory and wealth that would be brought to Spain if the voyage succeeded. She allowed him to get money for the voyage, but Columbus wanted more.

He demanded that he get the title of admiral, that he got ships and men, and that he got to be the governor or ruler of any lands he discovered. He also wanted profit from any trades made with the new lands he discovered. The Queen called him a disgraceful fool and dismissed him from the court. Columbus then prepared to leave again. At the last minute, the Queen called him back and agreed to all of his demands. Columbus prepared for his voyage from Palos. He made friends with a boat making family named Pinzï¿½n. Two Pinzï¿½ns commanded two of the three ships in the fleet. The third ship (the flagship) was commanded by Columbus himself and was called the Santa Maria. The other two ships were provided by the Pinzï¿½ns and were called Pinta and Nina. There were ninety men in the crew, and they were all good sailors and all were from Palos or nearby. On August 3, 1492, Columbus boarded the Santa Maria and the fleet proceeded to the Canary Islands in Africa. From there, they would proceed to the Indies. After a short stay in the Canary Islands, the fleet headed west.

After 8 weeks, most of the sailors knew they had gone more than the 2400 miles that Columbus had predicted. The sailors started to grumble and fight amongst themselves. One day, they saw birds and clouds on the horizon, and branches floating beside the ships. These were signs that finally, land was near. On October 12, 1492, Christopher Columbus and his crew saw cliffs on a small island. They did not know if this was the Indies or just a small island in the middle of the Sea of Darkness. As soon as they got onto the island, Columbus named it San Salvador, and placed Spain's royal banner into the ground. Columbus thought he was on some island off the coast of China. He was actually in the Bahamas, southeast of Florida. Columbus and his crew stayed on San Salvador for a few days. The people of the island soon appeared. They brought gifts for Columbus and his crew. Columbus noticed that some of the ornaments that these people wore were made of gold. Using sign language, these people told Columbus that there were many more islands to the north and south where they found gold. Since Columbus thought he was in the Indies, he named the people Indians.

He took a few Indian guides with him to find the islands they described, because he wanted to find gold for the King and Queen. The Indians directed Columbus south through a chain of islands - Cuba. Columbus found the Dominican Republic. He named it "Hispaniola", which means "Spanish island". He found gold on Hispaniola, and he traded for it and he was given it by the Indians. The Second Voyage Columbus' Second Voyage Almost immediately after his return, Spain sent Columbus on a second voyage. After Columbus returned, Europe's attention was now on the west. Spanish people sailed to the Caribbean to get gold and silver. The Indians, who were kind and friendly to Columbus before, were nasty to the new conquistadors. This was because the Spanish only wanted to make slaves out of them, and were greedy and unkind to the Indians. The Indians then began to fight back. Columbus' second voyage commenced in 1493. It consisted of over 1000 men and 17 ships. He brought sugarcane with him to the Indies for enslaved Indians to cultivate. He also brought livestock to America for the first time, such as horses, sheep and cattle. The second voyage was mainly a colonization effort.

Columbus and his crew left the Canary Islands on October 15, 1493. On the first voyage, Columbus left 40 men in a fort built from the Santa Maria's remains. Columbus named this place Navidad. Columbus and his crew returned to Navidad on November 28, only to find the fort burned and the men dead. Guganagari, a local chief that Columbus befriended on his first voyage, told him that the men argued among themselves over gold. Some of them abandoned the fort, but some of the rest raided an inland tribe and kidnapped people. The Indians retaliated by burning the fort and killing the men that remained. Columbus sailed eastward to the coast of Hispaniola to look for a place to build a new colony. He found a spot that he called "La Isabella" after the Queen of Spain. The next several months were spent establishing the colony and exploring La Isabella. On April 24, 1494, Columbus and his crew sailed from La Isabella with three of the 17 ships to find the mainland of China. They reached Cuba on April 30, and left May 3.

They anchored in Jamaica two days later. Because Columbus still could not find the mainland, and the Indians were mostly hostile to them, Columbus left for Cuba on May 13. Columbus quickly found that there were shoals and small islands dotting the coast of Cuba. This made exploration treacherous. Columbus and his crew headed west for several weeks in search of the mainland. He finally gave up the quest on June 13, 1494. Columbus did not want to admit failure, so he ordered all of his crewmen to sign a document swearing that Cuba was the mainland, since it was so large. Columbus returned to Hispaniola on August 20, 1494. By the end of September, Columbus was ill. His crew had abandoned further explorations and settled down in La Isabella. Columbus left La Isabella on March 10, 1496, bound home for Spain. He sighted Portugal on June 8. The Third Voyage Columbus' Third Voyage The third voyage lasted from 1498-1500 and had six ships in the fleet.

Columbus and his crew arrived at the Canary Islands on June 19. The fleet split into two groups. The first three took supplies to the colonists on La Isabella, and Columbus commanded the remaining three ships. Columbus' ships were on a mission to find new lands south of the known islands in the "Indies". They sailed first to the Cape Verde Islands, and then sailed southwest on July 4. On the morning of July 31, Columbus realized that the fleet's water was running short. He decided to stop off at Dominica for some. (Dominica was discovered on the Second Voyage) On the way, Columbus discovered a new island - Trinidad. He named it Trinidad after the Holy Trinity. The fleet found water on the southern coast of Trinidad. Columbus also sighted the coast of South America when he was sailing to Trinidad. He and his crew were the first Europeans to see South America. Columbus explored the Gulf of Paria (which is between Trinidad and South America) between August 4 and 12. On the morning of August 13, Columbus sailed out of the Gulf of Paria to the Island of Margarita.

Columbus' health was poor, so he sailed to Hispaniola. He arrived on August 19, 1498. The Fourth Voyage Columbus' Fourth Voyage On May 11, 1502, four old ships and 140 men under Columbus' command began the voyage. Columbus' brother Bartholomew was in the crew. By this time, Columbus was 51 years old, and sick. He was no longer welcomed in Hispaniola. The purpose of this voyage was to find a strait linking the Indies with the Indian Ocean. Marco Polo was known to have travelled on it on his way back from China. Columbus arrived in Santo Domingo on June 29, 1502. He requested to enter the harbor to get shelter from an upcoming storm. He also advised another fleet (which was already in the harbour) not to leave the port. The local governor advised against this and the fleet left the harbour. Ten of the twenty ships sank when the hurricane hit. Nine ships made it back to Santo Domingo, and only one made it to Spain. Columbus' ships only suffered moderate damage and they reached the Honduras at the end of July.

Columbus and his crew spent the next 2 months working along the coast and were beset by more winds and storms. When they arrived at what we know today as Panama they learned of another ocean a few days south from the Indies. Columbus thought that he was close enough to the strait and that this proved his point. The natives traded much gold with Columbus. Columbus named this land Veragua. Veragua was very valuable because it had a lot of gold. Columbus then sailed along the coast of Panama until the area that was rich in gold dwindled. When he tried to return to Veragua, a storm stopped him and Columbus returned to the West (to Panama) on January 9, 1503. He made Panama the headquarters of exploration and built a fort there. When Columbus was preparing to return to Spain, he took three ships out of the river and left one by the fort. The next day (April 6, 1503) the river lowered so much that the remaining ships were trapped in the river by a sand bar at the river mouth. A large force of Indians then attached the fort. The Spanish managed to hold off the attack but lost many men.

Columbus abandoned the ship that was left in the river, and rescued the remaining people who had stayed in the fort. Columbus started for Spain on April 16. The remaining three ships were leaky and old. One of these ships was abandoned because it was no longer seaworthy. The remaining two ships never made it to Hispaniola, because they were hit by a storm off the coast of Cuba. Both ships were leaking badly now, and the water continued to rise. Columbus beached the ships in St. Anne's Bay, Jamaica on June 25, 1503. Since there was no Spanish colony on Jamaica, Columbus was stuck there until help was found. Back at Jamaica, half of those who were stuck there staged a mutiny against Columbus, but he eventually put it down. The small boat arrived in Jamaica on June 19, 1504. Columbus had been marooned for more than one year. Columbus returned to Spain on November 7, 1504; his last voyage complete. The Impact Of Columbus' Exploration Although Columbus' discoveries were beneficial to Europe, it changed the lives of natives and some Africans forever.

By 1515, Hispaniola had 17 Spanish towns. As the Spainsh prospered, the Indians died from disease, massacre and overwork. A Dominican friar named Bartholomï¿½ de las Casas found that the Spanish treatment of the Indians was shockingly brutal. In 1515, he petitioned King Ferdinand to offer them protection. This gave some relief to the Indians, but almost all of the Carribean Indians (almost 6 million) were dead in just a few years. The sugar and mining industry grew, but the supply of Indian labour shrank. The Spanish then began to import Africans to the Americas. Africans died as quickly as the Indians, but the Spanish just kept importing more African slaves. Columbus not only brought Europeans to the West, he opened the way for a new religion (Christianity), new languages (Spanish and Portuguese), and new animals and plants. Conclusion Columbus was a brave and venturesome man. His ideas and plans were inspirational. He was the kind of person who never gave up or grew tired of his work. He did not succeed in doing what he set out to do (to reach the Indies by boat), but he did something even better.

He was the first recorded European to see North and South America. He persevered, despite harsh conditions. Columbus was a hard worker and was intelligent. His discoveries started a wave of change that was good for some and bad for others. All four of his voyages were truly expeditions of discovery. Christopher Columbus - Explorer - Biography.com Christopher Columbus Famed Italian explorer Christopher Columbus discovered the "New World" of the Americas on an expedition sponsored by King Ferdinand of Spain in 1492. IN THESE GROUPS » quotes “I went to sea from the most tender age and have continued in a sea life to this day. Whoever gives himself up to this art wants to know the secrets of Nature here below. It is more than forty years that I have been thus engaged.

Wherever any one has sailed, there I have sailed.” “Speaking of myself, little profit had I won from twenty years of service, during which I have served with so great labors and perils, for today I have no roof over my head in Castile; if I wish to sleep or eat, I have no place to which to go, save an inn or tavern, and most often I lack the wherewithal to pay the score.” “They say that there is in that land an infinite amount of gold, and that the people wear corals on their heads and very large bracelets of coral on their feet and arms; and that with coral they adorn and inlay chairs and chests and tables.” “This island and all the others are very fertile to a limitless degree, and this island is extremely so.

In it there are many harbors on the coast of the sea, beyond comparison with others that I know in Christendom, and many rivers, good and large, which is marvellous.” “Our Almighty God has shown me the highest favor, which, since David, he has not shown to anybody.” “Already the road is opened to gold and pearls, and it may surely be hoped that precious stones, spices, and a thousand other things, will also be found.” “I have now seen so much irregularity, that I have come to another conclusion respecting the earth, namely, that it is not round as they describe, but of the form of a pear.” “In all the countries visited by your Highnesses' ships, I have caused a high cross to be fixed upon every headland, and have proclaimed, to every nation that I have discovered, the lofty estate of your Highnesses, and of your court in Spain.” “Thus the story of Christopher Columbus reminds us that all fruitful exploration and discovery begins with a willingness to set one's sails higher, to seek new horizons, and to follow wherever one's imagination and experience might lead.

It also reminds us that industry and labor are the foundation of learning and progress.” (George H.W. Bush)” “I ought to be judged as a captain sent from Spain to the Indies, to conquer a nation numerous and warlike, with customs and religions altogether different to ours.” Christopher Columbus Christopher Columbus - Mini Biography (TV-14; 3:16) Legendary explorer Christopher Columbus was born in 1451 in a sea town in Italy and began sailing as a teenager. Columbus believed that sailing west would be a faster way to get to India. In August of 1492, Columbus set sail. Synopsis Explorer and navigator Christopher Columbus was born in 1451 in the Republic of Genoa, Italy. His first voyage into the Atlantic Ocean in 1476 nearly cost him his life. Columbus participated in several other expeditions to Africa. In 1492 Columbus left Spain in the Santa Maria, with the Pinta and the Niña along side. He has been credited for opening up the Americas to European colonization.

Early Voyages Explorer and navigator Columbus was born in 1451, in the Republic of Genoa (Italy) to the son of a weaver. Columbus first went to sea as a teenager, participating in several trading voyages in the Mediterranean and Aegean seas. One such voyage, to the island of Khios, in modern day Greece, brought him the closest he would come to Asia. His first voyage into the Atlantic Ocean in 1476 nearly cost him his life as the commercial fleet he was sailing with was attacked by French privateers off the coast of Portugal. His ship was burned and Columbus had to swim to the Portuguese shore and make his way to Lisbon, Portugal, where he eventually settled and married Felipa Perestrello. The couple had one son, Diego around 1480. His wife died soon after and Columbus moved to Spain. He had a second son Fernando who was born out of wedlock in 1488 with Beatriz Enriquez de Arana. READ MORE >> Columbus Day: Little Known Facts About Explorers Columbus participated in several other expeditions to Africa gaining knowledge of the Atlantic currents flowing east and west from the Canary Islands.

Muslim domination of the trade routes through the Middle East made travel to India and China difficult. Believing a route sailing west across the Atlantic would be quicker and safer, Columbus devised a plan to sail west to reach the East. He estimated the earth to be a sphere approximately 63% its actual size and the distance between the Canary Islands and Japan to be about 2,300 miles. Many contemporary nautical experts disagreed, adhering to the second century BC estimate of the earth's circumference at 25,000 miles. This made the distance between the Canary Islands and Japan about 12,200 statute miles. While experts disagreed with Columbus on matters of distance, they concurred that a westward voyage from Europe would be an uninterrupted water route. First Voyage to the New World Rejected by the Portuguese king for a three-ship voyage of discovery, Columbus took his plan first to Genoa and then to Venice but was rejected there, too. He then went to the Spanish monarchy of Isabella of Castille and Ferdinand of Aragon, in 1486. Their nautical experts were also skeptical and initially, Columbus was rejected.

The idea, however, must have intrigued the monarchs, for they kept Columbus on a retainer. But their focus was on a war with the Muslims. Columbus would have to wait. WAS COLUMBUS A HERO OR VILLAIN? READ HERE Columbus continued to lobby the royal court and soon after the Spanish army captured the last Muslim stronghold in Granada in January of 1492. Shortly after, the monarchs agreed to finance his expedition. In August of 1492, Columbus left Spain in the Santa Maria, with the Pinta and the Niña along side. After 36 days of sailing, Columbus and several crewmen set foot on an island in the present day Bahamas, claiming it for Spain. There he encountered a timid but friendly group of natives who were open to trade with the sailors exchanging glass beads, cotton balls, parrots and spears. The Europeans also noticed bits of gold the natives wore for adornment. Columbus and his men continued their journey, visiting the islands of Cuba and Hispaniola (now Haiti and the Dominican Republic) and meeting with the leaders of the native population. During this time, the Santa Maria was wrecked on a reef off the coast of Hispaniola.

With the help of some islanders, Columbus' men salvaged what they could and built the settlement Villa de la Navidad ("Christmas Town") with lumber from the ship. Thirty-nine men stayed behind to occupy the settlement. Convinced his exploration had reached Asia, he set sail for home with the two remaining ships. Subsequent Voyages Returning to Spain in 1493, Columbus gave a glowing, somewhat exaggerated report and was warmly received by the royal court. That same year he took to the seas on his second expedition and explored more islands in the Caribbean Ocean. Upon arrival at Hispaniola, Columbus and his crew discovered the Navidad settlement had been destroyed with all the sailors massacred. Spurning the wishes of the queen, who found slavery offensive, Columbus established a forced labor policy over the native population to rebuild the settlement and explore for gold, believing it would prove to be profitable. His efforts produced small amounts of gold and great hatred among the native population. Before returning to Spain, Columbus left his brothers Bartholomew and Diego to govern the settlement on Hispaniola and sailed briefly around the larger Caribbean islands further convincing himself he had discovered the outer islands of China.

It wasn't until his third voyage that Columbus actually reached the mainland exploring the Orinoco River in present-day Venezuela. Unfortunately, conditions at the Hispaniola settlement had deteriorated to the point of near-mutiny with settlers claiming they had been misled by Columbus' claims of riches and complaining about the poor management of his brothers. The Spanish Crown sent a royal official who arrested Columbus and stripped him of his authority. He returned to Spain in chains to face the royal court. The charges were later dropped but Columbus lost his titles as governor of the Indies and for a time, much of the riches made during his voyages. Convincing King Ferdinand that one more voyage would bring the abundant riches promised, Columbus went on what would be his last voyage in 1502, traveling along the eastern coast of Central America in an unsuccessful search for a route to the Indian Ocean. A storm wrecked one of his ships stranding the captain and his sailors on the island of Cuba. During this time, local islanders, tired of the Spaniards' poor treatment and obsession with gold, refused to give them food. In a spark of inspiration, Columbus consulted an almanac and devised a plan to "punish" the islanders by taking away the moon.

On February 29, 1504, a lunar eclipse alarmed the natives enough to re-establish trade with the Spaniards. A rescue party finally arrived, sent by the royal governor of Hispaniola in July and Columbus and his men were taken back to Spain in November of 1504. Mixed Legacy In the two remaining years of his life, Columbus struggled to recover his lost titles, although he did regain some of his riches in May of 1505; however, his titles were never returned. He died May 20, 1506 still believing he had discovered a shorter route to Asia. Columbus' legacy is a mixed one. He has been credited for opening up the Americas to European colonization as well as blamed for the destruction of the native peoples of the islands he explored. On the one hand, he failed to find that what he set out for - a new route to Asia and the riches it promised. However, in what is known as the Columbian Exchange, his expeditions set in motion the wide-spread transfer of people, plants, animals, diseases, and cultures that greatly affected nearly every society on the planet.

The horse from Europe allowed Native American tribes in the Great Plains of North America to shift from a nomadic to a hunting lifestyle. Foods from the Americas such as potatoes, tomatoes and corn became staples of Europeans and helped increase their populations. Wheat from Europe and the Old World fast became a main food source for people in the Americas. Coffee from Africa and sugar cane from Asia became major cash crops for Latin American countries. The Exchange also brought new diseases to both hemispheres, though the effects were greatest in the Americas. Small pox from the Old World decimated millions of the Native American population to mere fractions of their original numbers. This more than any other factor made for European domination of the Americas. The overwhelming benefits of the Exchange went to the Europeans initially and eventually to the rest of the world. The Americas were forever altered and the once vibrant and rich cultures of the Native American civilizations were not only changed, but also lost, denying the world any complete understanding of their existence. Recent Discovery Claim In May 2014, Christopher Columbus made headlines as news broke that a team of archaeologists may have found the Santa Maria off the north coast of Haiti.

Barry Clifford, the leader of this expedition, told the Independent newspaper that "all geographical, underwater topography and archaeological evidence strongly suggests this wreck is Columbus' famous flagship the Santa Maria." After a thorough investigation by the U.N. agency UNESCO, it was determined the the wreck dates from a later period and was located too far from shore to be the Santa Maria. Christopher Columbus (1451-1506) | National Museum Jamaica Reference Date September 17, 2010 Christopher Columbus (Cristóbal Colón) was probably born in the Italian seaport of Genoa. He spent most of his life at sea and he became the first European to reach the New World – and then return – since the Viking explorer Leif Ericson in the 11th Century. In all, Columbus made four trans-Atlantic voyages: On August 3, 1492, Columbus with 90 men and 3 ships set sail into the unknown on the First Voyage (Aug. 3, 1492- March 15, 1493). They sailed in the Santa Maria, the Nina and the Pinta.

There was no need to send a fleet, because this was just a scouting expedition. During this first voyage Columbus explored the Bahamas and Hispaniola (now Haiti and the Dominican Republic). On the Second Voyage (Sept. 25, 1493-June 11, 1496), Columbus sailed with 17 ships and 1,200 to 1,500 men to find gold and capture people he called Indians as slaves. Columbus established a base in Hispaniola and explored the Lesser Antilles, the Virgin Islands, Puerto Rico, Cuba and Jamaica. On the Third Voyage (May 30, 1498-October 1500), Columbus sailed farther south, to what we know today as Trinidad and Venezuela (including the mouth of the Orinoco River). On the Fourth Voyage (May 9, 1502-Nov. 7, 1504), Columbus was searching for the Strait of Malacca, a route into the Indian Ocean that cartographers declared must exist. He sailed to the countries known today as Mexico, Honduras, Panama and Jamaica. When Columbus arrived in Jamaica in 1494 he was 43 years old.

Most conquistadors were considered mature men for the time with an average age of 34. This entry was posted in Xaymaca . Bookmark the permalink . Christopher Columbus | Epic Rap Battles of History Wiki | Fandom powered by Wikia Christopher Columbus battled Captain Kirk in Columbus vs Captain Kirk . He was portrayed by Nice Peter . Contents [ show ] Information on the rapper Christopher Columbus was born circa October 31st, 1451, in the Republic of Genoa, Italy. His first voyage into the Atlantic Ocean in 1476 nearly cost him his life. Columbus also participated in several other expeditions to Africa. In 1492, he left Spain in the Pinta, the Niña, and the Santa María . He has been credited for opening up the Americas to European colonization. Columbus befriended and later enslaved the native tribes on three islands, though not without also killing large numbers of them through imported diseases, war, and famine. He would make three return trips to his claims before his arrest in 1500 amid allegations of misconduct as governor of the new lands.

He was cleared of these charges, but died at the age of 54 on May 20th, 1506, to various illnesses. Columbus' exploits cleared a path for future European exploration and colonization of western lands, then known as the "New World". The former name of the Americas (Columbia) and the country of Colombia are named in Columbus' honor, as well as the U.S. holiday, Columbus Day, which is celebrated on October 12th, and the U.S. capital Washington, D.C., formally known as the District of Columbia. ERBoH Bio I am an Italian explorer who sailed for Spain. I was financed by Queen Isabella and King Ferdinand after every other country turned me down. I was the captain of the Nina, the Pinta and the Santa Maria. We were headed to the East Indies in 1492 when I sailed the ocean blue to trade spices, but instead I landed on the Caribbean Island of San Salvador. We met the locals, whom I called Indians because I assumed I was in India. Then I captured and sold them into slavery. My arrival did not turn out well for them.

I went back and forth between Spain and South America three more times and did quite a few terrible things, both to their people and my own. When I returned to Spain in 1500 I was immediately arrested for torture and theft during my time as governor of the Caribbean island Hispaniola. Now, people celebrate me every year by getting a day off work on the second Monday of October. You're welcome, America! Arrivederci! Lyrics Arrivederci, I'mma leave before this battle begins… …'Cause we both know in the end which of these captains gonna win! I'll show you how a real explorer handles a situation! I'll beat you so bad, they'll feel it in the next generation, So bring it on! I'll whip you like a Klingon! My rhymes will burrow in your ears like The Wrath of Khan! I've got a neck chop for Spock ! I'll put my sword through Sulu ! Check into a Priceline hotel and watch your fat ass on Hulu! Verse 2: You know, rapping against you, it's not even fun. It's like somebody's set your brains on stun! I am the fabric of history! You are a fictional stain!

I'll stick a flag up your ass and claim you for Spain! Scrapped lyrics Keep my crew's name out your mouth or you'll get hurt I'll Leif Ericson your ass and predate your best work Yeoman Rand and Marlena gave you too many favors Bones diagnosed, you got sores on your phaser Trivia Columbus' ship, the Santa María , appears in the beginning of the battle before the announcer speaks, along with the USS Enterprise . His title card is misspelled as "Colombus". This makes him one of six rappers with an error in their title card. He is the first character to have absolutely no background at one point, as there was only a black space where his background was meant to be; this was due to an error during the "Who won? Who's next? You decide!" sequence at the end. He was originally going to battle Neil Armstrong, but he was later switched with Captain Kirk because Nice Peter thought Armstrong was kind of "unflappable". Rappers Christopher Columbus | historyvault.ie Christopher Columbus Christopher Columbus: People-in-History-Christopher-Columbus Born: 1451 in Genoa, Italy. (Italian port city) The eldest of five children.

Youth: worked in his father’s wool weaving business. At 14, went to work at sea on merchant ships. Studied: Sailing & Cartography (the study of maps & map-making). A quicker route to China & the Far East Concept: ‘Entreprise of the Indies’ (theory that declared by sailing west, one would reach the Far East). At this time, European countries wanted to find new routes to China & the Far East, where valuable and precious spices were to be found. Most ships sailed down around the coast of Africa and across the Indian Ocean up to this time. Columbus believed that there was a more direct way. ________________________ The Search for a Sponsor 1st Plea for Sponsorship: King of Portugal & other kings in Europe (all unsuccessful) 2nd Plea for Sponsorship: King Ferdinand II & Queen Isabella I of Spain. (1492 – after 7 years of pleas) Ferdinand & Isabella’s Motives for Sponsorship: Wealth & spices, new territories to control and spreading Christianity. Their rivalry with Portugal was also a key motive in the Spanish Court backing his expedition. Columbus demanded 10% of all revenue accrued from successful explorations.

He also demanded to be made Viceroy of all new lands found on his expedition. _______________________ _______________________ A Hero’s Return March 1493: Columbus returns to Spain a hero in March 1493, with Indian women, gold and exotic gifts. The Spanish Court then agreed to fund a much larger second voyage of 17 ships. _______________________ Later Voyages 2nd Voyage: (24th of September 1493) Columbus returned to the fort built on Hispaniola to find that many of his men had been killed. Natives over the age of 14 were then forced to mine for gold. Columbus returned to Spain in 1496. 3rd Voyage: (30th May 1498) Word spread about the lack of gold, sailors dying from unknown diseases and the dangers posed by travelling on Columbus’ expeditions. He set sail on his third voyage with ten prisoners who had been granted amnesties to make up a full crew compliment. Columbus sailed further south on this voyage. Dealing with rebellious settlers in a harsh fashion, including hanging some of them, Columbus was returned to Spain in chains.

Columbus’ Last Voyage 4th Voyage: (11th May 1502): set sail on just four sub-standard ships. He tried to sail to present-day Central America, trying to find a route to Asia. His ships finally broke up after harbouring on present-day Jamaica. Returned on a ship to Spain in 1504. Death: 20th May,1506 _________________________ Legacy: accredited with finding the ‘New World’. Spaniards & Natives both suffered from new diseases which both sets of people were unable to recover from. Large-scale slavery and exploitation of indigenous people. Christopher Columbus - Famous Explorers of the World - WorldAtlas.com Christopher Columbus - Famous Explorers of the World The late 15th & early 16th Century Genoese explorer's discoveries initiated Spanish Colonization of the New World. A native son of Genoa, Colmbus found favor with the Spanish Crown, at least long enough to have them finance his multiple voyages to the New World. 5. Early Life Christopher Columbus was born in Genoa, Genoese Republic (now part of Italy) on or before October 31st, 1451.

He was an Italian explorer and navigator who would also become a colonizer and re-discoverer of the Americas. Born to a middle-class family in his hometown of Genoa, his early years were spent learning astronomy, mathematics, navigation and cartography. After a few years of such education, in his early teens Columbus was hired to work on a merchant ship. Later, in his early twenties, Columbus worked as an apprentice to a business agent. After a time, he then became a full-fledged business agent for the Spinolas, the Centuriones, and the Di Negros, all prominent merchant families of Genoa. 4. Career In May of 1476, Columbus had an opportunity to sail with an armed convoy of ships to Northern Europe. During this voyage, Columbus was able to visit Bristol, England and Galway, Ireland. He also sailed to Lisbon, Portugal where he saw his brother, Bartolomeo, in the fall of 1477. In Lisbon, Columbus wooed and married the daughter of the Governor of the Portuguese island possession of Porto Santo. Columbus also managed to update his Portuguese, Spanish, Latin, and geography knowledge during that time.

However, he found little support for his plan to find a new sea route to Asia via the Atlantic Ocean, until the Spanish Monarchs later granted him an audience. 3. Discoveries Columbus was granted funds by King Ferdinand and Queen Isabella of Spain to sail on four separate expeditions from Spain in the years of 1492, 1493, 1498, and 1502, respectively. The Spanish Monarchs wanted him to find a new sea route to Asia. Along with that aim, the Spanish crown wanted Columbus to explore these foreign lands in search of gold and spices. Columbus encountered some problems with his navigation to the East Indies, and found the Americas instead. His first voyage landed him in the Caribbean Island of Hispaniola, and on the second voyage he returned to Hispaniola. On his third expedition, Columbus reached Trinidad and ventured into South America. On the fourth expedition, Columbus landed in Panama. 2. Challenges Columbus faced many obstacles and problems during his voyages. On his second expedition, Columbus failed to find anything valuable, so he sent 500 slaves back to Spain.

Queen Isabella didn't find this gesture amusing nor helpful, and sent back the slaves saying that they were Spanish subjects, and therefore not slaves. Returning to Hispaniola, he also found his first settlement there destroyed. on the third voyage, Christopher had to face the horrors of the Hispaniola settlement after a revolt against his two brothers, who had been left to manage the island. Columbus was arrested after a new governor was installed, and sent back to Spain. 1. Death and Legacy In his lifetime, Christopher Columbus was subjected to many hardships and illnesses while onboard ship. As a result, he contracted intestinal bacterial infections and food poisoning, the effects of which lasted for many years to come. After his fourth voyage failed, Columbus returned to Spain without honors. Columbus then decided to reside in Valladolid, Spain, from where he wrote two books about his explorations and recounted the rewards he was entitled for his explorations. He eventually died from complications related to his illnesses on May 20th, 1506.

Columbus is remembered as a maverick explorer who opened the Americas for centuries of further exploration, though he left a bloody trail that almost decimated the native population, and set a precedent of mistreatment and exploitation of Native Americans, which would last for centuries to come. This page was last modified on February 18, 2016. On WorldAtlas.com

Question: Christopher Columbus was born in 1451 in which city and former Republic?
Answer: Genoa