Biography of Christopher Columbus

There, where no one has gone before

3 August 1451
20 may 1506
Christopher Columbus, the Italian Navigator and Explorer who needs no introduction, he was born in Genoa on 3 August 1451. Son of Domenico, a Weaver of wool, and Susanna Fontanarossa was young the future Navigator was not interested in learning the secrets of this art's paternal but drew his attention already at sea and in particular geographical landforms of the known world. However until twenty years followed, not to thwart the wishes of her father, paternal craft. Later he began to travel by sea in the service of various commercial companies. We know that not attended regular schools (indeed, it says that there never put foot), and that all school knowledge in its possession the came from the wise and patient work of his father, who taught him well and draw maps. For some time he lived with his brother Bartholomew Columbus, a cartographer. Thanks to him deepened reading and drawing cards, he studied the works of many geographers, sailed on many ships, from Africa to Northern Europe. As a result of these studies and in contacts with the geographer Florentine Paolo dal Pozzo Toscanelli (1397-1482), had become convinced of the new theory that circulated that the Earth was round and not flat as for millennia was saying. In light of these new revelations, which opened up infinite horizons in the head, Columbus began to cultivate the idea of reaching India, by sailing West. To accomplish the feat, however, he needed money and ships. He turned to the courts of Portugal, Spain, France and England but for years did not find literally anyone willing to give him confidence. In 1492 the monarchs of Spain, Ferdinand and Isabella, after some hesitation, decided to fund the trip.

First expedition (1492-1493)

On 3 August 1492 Columbus set sail from Palos (Spain) with three caravels (the famous Nina, Pinta and Santa Maria) with the Spanish crew. After stopping at the Canary Islands from 12 August to 6 September, sailed westward and sighted land, landing on Guanahani, which he called San Salvador, taking possession on behalf of the Kings of Spain. October 12 1492, was the official day of the discovery of the Americas, which conventionally marks the beginning of the modern age. Columbus believed he arrived on an island of the Japanese archipelago. With further exploration southward, he discovered the island of Spain and the modern Haiti (whom he named Hispaniola.) On 16 January 1493 sailed for Europe and arrived in Palos on 15 March. King Ferdinand and Queen Isabella the bestowed honors and wealth planning for a second expedition.

Second expedition (1493-1494)

The second expedition consisted of seventeen ships, with nearly 1500 people on board, including priests, doctors, peasants: the intent was to spread Christianity, to assert Spanish sovereignty over lands discovered, settle, cultivate and bring to Spain the gold. The departure from Cádiz occurred on 25 September 1493 and, after the usual stop at the Canary Islands (where they were loaded on board even pets), she sailed on 13 October. After arriving in Hispaniola, Columbus continued exploration, discovering Santiago (now Jamaica) and exploring the southern coast of Cuba (which Columbus did not recognize anyway as island, convinced that part of the continent). After graduating early in Spain from a shipment of 500 slaves, on 20 April 1496 sailed for Europe and reached Cadiz 11 June, with two ships that had built in the colonies.

Third and fourth shipment (1498-1500, 1502-1504)

He set out again with a fleet of eight ships and after two months at sea arrived on the island of Trinidad off the coast of Venezuela, then back to Hispaniola. Meanwhile, Ebert praised the Spanish kings, Columbus was a good Admiral but fundamentally incapable of governing his men, sent on the spot their emissary, Francisco De Bobadilla, with the task of administering justice on behalf of the King. But one of the profound reasons of this move was also due to the fact that Columbus actually defended the Indians against the mistreatment of the Spaniards. Colombo refused to accept the authority of the effluent, which in response had him arrested by returning it in Spain. After all these vicissitudes Colombo was exonerated and freed. Two years later he was able to make one last trip during which he stumbled sadly in a terrible hurricane that caused the loss of three of the four ships at his disposal. Sailed however insistently for another eight months along the coast between Honduras and Panama, before returning to Spain, tired and ill. He spent the latter part of his life nearly forgotten, in a difficult financial situation and without having made really that he had discovered a new continent. He died on 20 may 1506 in Valladolid. A statue (pictured) stands in the middle of the square of the old port of Barcelona, where Christopher Columbus with a pointing finger towards the sea indicates the direction for the new world.
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