1. Christopher Columbus 101
Basics about Columbus

2. Early Life He was born in Genoa (Italy!)
Family was wool-weavers and owned a cheese stand
Columbus claims the first time he went to sea was at age 10
Began his career sailing and trading

3. Explorer He explored under the Catholic Church in the name of Spain
Thought he could sail west and get to the Indies
Join the Spice Trade!
In some journals he claims he was there to spread Christianity

4. Columbus’ Plans Thought the Earth was MUCH smaller
Thought Europe was MUCH larger
And thought Japan was a huge island that was far off the east coast of China
He thought the trip would be 2,400 miles, would actually be 12,200 miles
At this time, NO ONE else believed any of this.
Scientists, cartographer, astronomers, etc ALL knew he was wrong

5. King Ferdinand & Queen Isabella still believed Columbus
Columbus tried to get Portugal to “back” or fund his idea
They said no thanks
He tried again, still NO
Italy wouldn’t fund him either
1486, Ferdinand and Isabella of Spain said hey, why not?
Gave him 3 ships:
Nina
Pinta
Santa Maria
Also made him “Admiral of the Sea”
Everyone had to give him supplies and lodging

6. Colonization
He personally established permanent settlements on Hispaniola
Led to Spain colonizing much of the New World
Americas!

7. Lasting! Columbus definitely didn’t get to the Americas first
The “Indians” who were there, Leif Erikkson, etc.
BUT he start the first lasting European settlement, and that lead to many, many more settlements on the Americas
He also NEVER admitted that he had not reached the “Indies”… Until he died he swore he found a shorter route to Asia

8. Hispaniola
The indigenous people, the Taino or Arawak were peaceful and friendly.
They had gold ear ornaments, so he assumed they were hiding all the gold from him.
He took some Arawaks prisoner and insisted they guide him to the gold.
And so it began…