Voyage of Christopher Columbus to the Americas
Christopher Columbus’s Journey to the Americas
Early Life
Born Cristoforo Colombo in Genoa in 1451, Christopher Columbus, the eldest of four, grew up amidst the thriving maritime trade of the Republic of Genoa. While his father, Domenico Colombo, and mother, Susanna, worked as weavers, young Cristoforo found himself drawn to the bustling harbor, observing the ships that sailed to and from the Orient.
Recognizing his adventurous spirit, the Centurioni Brothers, prominent bankers, hired Columbus. His early voyages took him to Chios, Madeira, and Tunisia, exposing him to the world of commerce and navigation. In 1476, a fateful encounter with a French fleet led to the sinking of his ship. Columbus, clinging to wreckage, reached the Portuguese coast and made his way to Lisbon.
In Lisbon, Columbus immersed himself in cartography, cosmography, and marine sciences. Inspired by Ptolemy’s writings and his own observations of unusually high tides in Ireland, he became convinced of the Earth’s roundness and the existence of a westward route to the Indies.
During his time in Porto Santo with his wife, Dona Felipa, Columbus studied winds and currents, further solidifying his belief in a western landmass. He mistakenly calculated the location of China to be in the Americas, a continent whose existence was unknown to him.
Columbus sought support from King John II of Portugal for his westward voyage, but the king favored the established route along the African coast.
Arrival in America
Undeterred, Columbus presented his project to the Spanish monarchs, Ferdinand and Isabella. With the support of Juan Perez, a monk who was Queen Isabella’s confessor, Columbus secured an audience with the queen. Impressed by his vision, Isabella agreed to finance his voyage after the conclusion of the war against the Arabs.
On April 17, 1492, the monarchs signed the Capitulations of Santa Fe, granting Columbus the titles of Admiral of the Ocean Sea, Viceroy of the Indies, and governor of all lands he discovered. Assembling a crew proved challenging, but Columbus eventually set sail with three caravels: the Niña, the Pinta, and the Santa María, captained by the Pinzon brothers and Columbus himself.
After a stop in the Canary Islands, the expedition faced growing fear and unrest among the crew as the voyage extended beyond expectations. On October 12, 1492, land was sighted, bringing relief and excitement. Columbus landed on an island in the Bahamas, which he named San Salvador, claiming it for Spain.
Columbus explored the islands, encountering the Taíno people and marveling at the new lands. Driven by the promise of gold, he continued his search for riches, eventually reaching the island of Hispaniola (present-day Santo Domingo).
Disaster struck on Christmas Eve when the Santa María was wrecked. Columbus left 39 men behind and returned to Spain with the Niña and Pinta. He arrived in Palos on March 15, 1493, to a hero’s welcome.
Later Voyages and Legacy
Despite the limited riches brought back, Columbus secured funding for a second expedition, departing on September 25, 1493, with 17 ships and 1,500 men. He explored the Lesser Antilles and returned to Hispaniola, where he found the settlement in ruins and the Taíno people hostile.
Columbus established the first city in the New World, Isabela, but faced challenges with disease, conflict with native tribes, and the continued lack of substantial gold. He returned to Spain in 1496, facing increasing skepticism from the king.
A third voyage in 1498 led Columbus to Trinidad and the mouth of the Orinoco River, marking his first landing on the South American continent. However, he mistakenly believed he was still among the islands near India. Returning to Hispaniola, he found the colony in disarray and resorted to harsh measures against the native population.
Columbus was arrested and sent back to Spain in chains. Though stripped of his governorship, he retained his title of Admiral and convinced the king to finance a fourth voyage in 1502. This final expedition took him to Central America, but he remained convinced he had found a route to the Indies.
Exhausted and ill, Columbus returned to Spain in 1504. He died in Valladolid in 1506, never realizing the true magnitude of his discovery. Amerigo Vespucci, a friend and fellow explorer, recognized the landmass as a new continent, and the New World was eventually named America in his honor.