Christopher Columbus Tim Aman Austin Keith

Discovery of a New World Columbus sailed from Spain into an unknown world of the Americas. They landed on an island called Guanahami. Columbus and his men came across present day Haiti, Dominican Republic and many other surrounding islands. On his third voyage, Columbus sailed south to Trinidad and Venezuela. His final voyage was to Mexico, Panama, and Honduras.

Columbus and the Native Americans Before Columbus made his voyage to the Americas, there were from 1.8 to 12 million navites living in the U.S. and Canada and about 30 million natives in Mexico. During Columbus’ first voyage he got along with the natives but by the time Columbus returned there was a bitter relationship between them. During Columbus’ second voyage he mistreated the natives and used many as slaves. An unsuspected killer to the natives was the diseases that the Europeans introduced to them. 

Another killer to the natives were the Europeans themselves. They would murder the natives because they thought of them as sub-humans. The genocide against American Natives was one of the most massive, and longest lasting genocidal campaigns in human history. Some Europeans actually used the natives for target practice. All in all Columbus did not have a good lasting relationship with the Native Americans.

Columbus’ First Voyage to The Americas Columbus took four voyages to America each one of them very different then the other. On his first voyage, that took only eight months, Columbus sailed with three ships, the Nina, the Pinta, and the Santa Maria. They landed on an island called Guanahami. While exploring the surrounding islands Columbus' men came across current day Haiti and the Dominican Republic, as well as the islands surrounding them.

Columbus’ Second Voyage to the Americas The second voyage was a much larger expedition. They went with 17 ships and 1,200-1,500 men. They went for the sole purpose to find gold and capture Indians as slaves. The second voyage also took much long than the first. Columbus was on his second voyage for just under three years.

Columbus’ Third Voyage to the Americas On his third trip Columbus sailed farther south, to Trinidad and Venezuela. Columbus was the first European since the Viking Leif Ericsson to visit the mainland of America.

Columbus’ Fourth Voyage to the Americas On his fourth and final voyage Columbus sailed to Mexico, Hondurus, and Panama. This voyage was not as successful as the first three. Columbus lost many ships and even more men. This a disappointing end to all of his voyages. This voyage lasted two and one half years.

The Life of Christopher Columbus Columbus was granted permission by Queen Isabel and King Fernando to sail to the Americas in the name of Spain. Columbus and the King and Queen made an agreement that if Columbus successfully sailed to the Americas. In this agreement it stated that he would be knighted, appointed Admiral of the Ocean Sea, made the viceroy of any new lands, and awarded ten percent of any new wealth. 

When Columbus finally sailed to The Americas, he and his crew were well aware of the dangers they were getting themselves into. The moment Columbus reached the “New World”, whether he knew it or not, he would now be remembered forever.

Columbus’ Impact on Spain It was a very risky investment for Spain to sponsor Columbus on his voyages to the Americas. Having said that, since it was a successful trip it paid off in a big way for Spain. It also gave Spain more land, and a better chance to expand their population. With the new land also came more money because Spain, now with an overwhelming amount of land, began to sell it off to other countries.

Change in Economy and Military Prowess Spain’s economy flourished with the discovery of the New World. With all of the new people and land, came more money for Spain. Also it gave Spain a more powerful reputation throughout the rest of the countries of the world. This making their military more powerful.

New Wealth for Spain Spain did not gain its wealth immediately from the discovery of the Americas. Columbus brought back many stories of the Native Americans along with their ways of living. The Spanish were also introduced to many new foods and resources. Spain gained the most wealth from the Americas when they sold much of the land that they owned to the United States for five million dollars.