Objective: To examine the life and accomplishments of Christopher Columbus.

In 1451, Cristoforo Colombo, later known as Christopher Columbus, was born in the Italian port city of Genoa. By the age of 14, Columbus was already working as a sailor on local merchant ships.

In 1484, Columbus asked King John of Portugal for the money and ships necessary for a trip to Asia by sailing west across the Atlantic Ocean, which was known at the time as the Sea of Darkness.

(left) Queen Isabella and (right) King Ferdinand After King John refused his request, Columbus left Portugal for Spain in 1485 where he asked King Ferdinand and Queen Isabella to finance his voyage. (left) Queen Isabella and (right) King Ferdinand

Preoccupied with their war against the Muslim Moors, the Spanish monarchy refused Columbus’ request. Spain Moorish conquest, as of the year 1100.

However, after defeating the Moors in 1492, Queen Isabella convinced King Ferdinand to finance Columbus’ voyage.

Columbus was given a crew of 90 men and three ships, the Niña, Pinta, and Santa Maria. The Journey

During the voyage, the crew was tempted to mutiny and return home to Spain, but only Columbus knew the route back to Europe. Columbus landed in the Bahamas, Cuba, and Hispaniola where he surveyed the land for gold, set up a small settlement, and returned to Spain.

On his third voyage, Columbus was so desperate for sailors that he was forced to use prisoners. Unable to control his rowdy crew, Columbus made an example of some by ordering their hanging. Enraged that an Italian sailor would hang Spanish citizens, a Spanish official ordered Columbus to be placed in chains and sent back to Spain in 1500.

By 1504, Columbus would complete four voyages to the “New World” where an exchange of goods, and unfortunately diseases, became known as the Columbian Exchange.

Columbus died in 1506 at the age of 55, and his body is entombed in the Cathedral of Seville in Spain. Tomb of Christopher Columbus, Cathedral of Seville.