Christopher Columbus: Life, Voyages, and Legacy

Who Was Christopher Columbus?

The identity of Christopher Columbus remains debated today. Most historians place his birth in Genoa, Italy, with the date ranging from 1430 to the commonly accepted year of 1451.

Origins and Early Life

After surviving a shipwreck off the coast of Portugal, he established himself there.

The Idea of Sailing West

It is difficult to know precisely when Columbus conceived the idea of reaching Cipango (present-day Japan) by sailing west, but it was likely around 1481. It is probable that he knew the works of the Florentine mathematician Paolo dal Pozzo Toscanelli and his theory of reaching the Indies by sailing west. Columbus, influenced by these ideas, estimated the distance would not exceed 2,500 miles. Another influential work was the Imago Mundi.

Influences and Experiences

Around 1485, while living in Portugal and working as a trader, Columbus traveled to Iceland and the Canary Islands. He also learned the Portuguese navigational technique known as the 'Volta do Mar' (the route used for returning from the Indies).

Seeking Royal Patronage

Around 1483, Columbus began seeking patronage for his westward voyage. The Portuguese king rejected his project, citing a lack of scientific basis. He then moved to Castile (Spain), where he sought the support of the Catholic Monarchs, Ferdinand II of Aragon and Isabella I of Castile. By 1486, Queen Isabella deferred his plan until Granada, the last Muslim stronghold on the Iberian Peninsula, was conquered.

The Capitulations of Santa Fe

In 1492, once Granada fell, the Monarchs signed the contract known as the Capitulations of Santa Fe. This document put into writing the agreements reached between Columbus and the Monarchs:

• The hereditary title of Admiral of the Ocean Sea over all discovered lands.
• The title of Viceroy and Governor-General of these lands.
• Ten percent of the commercial profits derived from the voyages and discoveries.

Columbus's Voyages to the Americas

Christopher Columbus made a total of four voyages across the Atlantic:

First Voyage (1492)

He set sail from the port of Palos on August 3, 1492, with three ships (the Santa Maria, Pinta, and Niña), heading for the Canary Islands before sailing west. On October 12, 1492, he arrived in the Caribbean, landing on a small island, likely San Salvador in the Bahamas. Later, the expedition reached Cuba and Hispaniola. With the remains of the wrecked Santa Maria, they built a makeshift settlement, Fort Navidad, on Hispaniola.

Second Voyage (1493-1496)

On his second voyage (1493), Columbus commanded a much larger fleet of 17 ships. He explored the islands of Guadeloupe and Puerto Rico, establishing the first permanent European settlements in the Americas, including La Isabela on Hispaniola. He returned to Castile in 1496.

Third Voyage (1498-1500)

The third trip lasted from 1498 to 1500. On this voyage, he explored the mainland continent (South America) for the first time, near the Orinoco River delta. However, irregularities and complaints about his administration as governor prompted the Monarchs to send Francisco de Bobadilla to investigate. Columbus and his brothers were arrested and brought back to the Iberian Peninsula in chains.

Fourth Voyage (1502-1504)

Appealing based on his service to the Crown, Columbus received permission to make a fourth and final voyage in 1502. During this expedition, he landed in present-day Honduras and explored the coast of Central America. He also encountered the mouth of the Orinoco River, concluding there was even more land to explore.

Death and Legacy

Christopher Columbus died in Valladolid, Spain, in 1506. He passed away without fully acknowledging that he had reached a continent previously unknown to Europeans, still believing he had found a westward route to the Indies.