Osvaldo borsani biography of christopher columbus
Christopher Columbus
| Spanish traveler, navigator and colonialist. Date of Birth: Country: Spain |
Content:
- Biography of Christopher Columbus
- Early Life and Career
- Explorations and Discoveries
Biography of Christopher Columbus
Christopher Columbus was a Spanish explorer, navigator, and colonizer.
His story is particularly interesting because his greatest discovery was made completely by accident, as his original goal was something entirely different. Nevertheless, Columbus not only discovered an unknown continent and initiated a new era of exploration, but also immortalized his name.
Early Life and Career
The exact date and place of Columbus' birth are unknown, but he was born somewhere in Genoa between October 31, , and October 30, According to Columbus himself, he first went to sea at the age of In , he became an apprentice and business agent for representatives of wealthy Genoese families.
As part of his duties, he embarked on several voyages at sea, accompanying valuable cargo. From to , Columbus resided in Lisbon.
In Lisbon, Columbus married Filipa Moniz Perestrelo, the daughter of a Portuguese nobleman and the governor of Porto Santo. They had a son named Diego, who was born around or It is unclear what happened to Filipa, as some claim she died in , while others say Columbus abandoned her.
Regardless, he moved to Castile, where he found a new mistress.
Columbus was known for his exceptional ambition and dedication to solving the challenges he faced.
He devoted himself to learning, studying scientific works and mastering foreign languages. Although he lacked a formal education, Columbus was able to teach himself many things. One of his favorite books was the Bible, and he frequently quoted it in his letters and diaries.
Explorations and Discoveries
Between and , Columbus completed four voyages from Spain to America and back.
These expeditions were sponsored by the Spanish government, with the main goal of finding a shorter water route to Asia. China and India had abundant valuable resources, but the Silk Road, especially after the fall of Constantinople, was not particularly safe.
Until his dying day, Columbus refused to admit that he had reached a new continent instead of Asia, which played a role in the naming of the discovered land.
Osvaldo borsani biography of christopher columbus Knowledge of the Norse explorations could have helped. He probably visited Bristol , England, [ 27 ] and Galway , Ireland, [ 28 ] where he may have visited St. Comparative Studies in Society and History. Subsequent voyages revealed the stark realities of colonial exploitation and the devastating impact of introduced diseases on native populations.On August 3, , Columbus set sail on the ships Santa Maria, Pinta, and Niña. They first reached the Canary Islands and then ventured across the ocean. The lookout on the Pinta spotted land around am on October 12, although Columbus later claimed that he had seen lights on land several hours earlier, thus granting himself the right to a lifetime pension promised by Spain.
The island they discovered, one of the Bahamas, was named San Salvador by Columbus.
There, the explorers encountered the native inhabitants and discovered their friendliness and love for gold ornaments. Later, the Santa Maria ran aground and had to be abandoned. After further exploration of the surrounding waters and a significant conflict with the locals, the explorers returned home, taking a dozen natives with them as living souvenirs.
The news of the discovery caused a sensation.
On his second voyage, Columbus set out with 17 ships.
Biography of marco polo Second voyage — As Columbus matured, he sought to expand his knowledge by studying sailing and mapmaking. Columbus on Himself. Columbus had to wait until for King Ferdinand and Queen Isabella of Spain to support his voyage across the Atlantic to find gold, spices, a safer route to the East, and converts to Christianity.They left Cadiz on September 24, , and the exact route is difficult to reconstruct. However, it is known that Columbus sailed along the Lesser Antilles, Greater Antilles, and landed in Puerto Rico. They also made a brief visit to Haiti and Cuba. Along the way, Columbus established the first European colonies in America, although there may have been earlier Viking visits.
The third expedition was sponsored with less enthusiasm.
By the end of it, Columbus had fallen out with Spanish colonists and had to suppress a serious rebellion. Spanish authorities later forced him to reconcile with the rebels on humiliating terms and removed him from his post as governor of the new lands. Columbus also lost his exclusive right to explore the new territories.
The fourth expedition was his last chance to find a direct route to Asia, but his progress was halted by the presence of Central America.
After giving up his explorations, Columbus turned to religion.
Osvaldo borsani biography of christopher columbus for kids The attacks increased in duration and severity, sometimes leaving Columbus bedridden for months at a time, and culminated in his death 14 years later. Government Printing Office. Second voyage — NY: Penguin.His attempt to secure from the Spanish Crown the right to 10% of all income from the new territories proved unsuccessful. Meanwhile, his health deteriorated, and he believed he suffered from gout or influenza. Modern doctors tend to believe he was a victim of reactive arthritis (Reiter's syndrome).
On May 20, , Christopher Columbus died in Valladolid, Spain.
Initially, his remains were buried in Valladolid, then moved to Seville, and later in , they were transferred to the territory of present-day Dominican Republic.