Liat harlev 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.
Liat harlev biography of christopher columbus There they established a colony named Vineland meaning fertile region […]. The Voyages of Christopher Columbus: Timeline Columbus is born — Columbus sails to the Americas — Columbus returns to Hispaniola — Columbus seeks a strait to India — Columbus's last voyage Columbus dies. One such voyage, to the island of Khios, in modern-day Greece, brought him the closest he would ever come to Asia. Thirty-nine men stayed behind to occupy the settlement.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. 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.
Liat harlev biography of christopher columbus book And foods from the Americas, such as potatoes, tomatoes and corn, became staples for Europeans and helped increase their populations. In , Columbus returns to Spain in chains. At the end of the 15th century, it was nearly impossible to reach Asia from Europe by land. Toggle the table of contents.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 charles darwin Christopher Columbus was not the first person to propose that a person could reach Asia by sailing west from Europe. His expeditions opened the gateway for European colonization of the Americas, leading to significant cultural exchanges. Chronicle of the Conquest of Granada. Read more.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.
Life of christopher columbus: He kept a detailed diary during his first voyage. Old World wheat became an American food staple. African coffee and Asian sugar cane became cash crops for Latin America, while American foods like corn, tomatoes and potatoes were introduced into European diets. But Columbus had a different idea: Why not sail west across the Atlantic instead of around the massive African continent?
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. His attempt to secure from the Spanish Crown the right to 10% of all income from the new territories proved unsuccessful.
Liat harlev biography of christopher columbus for kids There, his crew encountered a timid but friendly group of natives who were open to trade with the sailors. He returned to Spain in chains to face the royal court. Sign Up. Christopher Columbus, while primarily known for his voyages, did not amass significant wealth from his explorations during his lifetime.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.