Christopher Columbus
By: Jane Sundell
Christopher's Early Life
Christopher was born in 1451 in the republic of Genoa, Italy. Christopher was the oldest of five. His 3 younger brothers were, Bartolomeo, Giovanni Pellegrino Giacomo and he also had a sister named Bianchinetta. There family had little education due to to lack of money. twenty five years later in 1476 Christopher went to sea in the Atlantic Ocean, but he was nearly killed.In about 1480 he married Felipa Perestrello and they had a son named Diego. Shortly after this occurred when Columbus moved to Spain and his wife died. Columbus had another son with Beatriz Enriquez de Arana. His name was Ferdinand but often went by Fernando.
Christopher Columbus' Voyages
Source: Google Images
The Santa Maria, Pinta, and Nina
Source: Google Images
Columbus Discovering America
Source: Google Images
Christopher's Achievements and Discoveries
In 1480 Christopher's first achievement was accomplished, he sailed between Portugal and Iceland. Four years later he failed the king of Portugal to back his plan to search for a fast trade route to the indies. In 1486 Columbus first petitions his plans to the Spanish court but is turned down. Columbus then sent his plans to King Henry VII of England and King Charles VIII of France but they both declined his plans in 1487. Finally in 1491 the king and queen of Spain said yes. So in August of 1492 he started his voyage to the new world in the Santa Maria alongside the Pinta and Nina. 36 days later they set foot on what is now present day Bahamas and claimed it Spain. Convinced his exploration had reached Asia, he set sail for home with the Pinta and the Nina because the Santa Maria got wrecked.Returning to Spain in 1493, Columbus gave a good, somewhat exaggerated report and was wonderfully received by the royal court. That same year Columbus went on his second big journey. On that voyage he more islands in the Caribbean island. Christopher left his brothers and explored the Caribbean Island a little more. He convinced himself that he had found the outer islands of China. Although it wasn't until his third voyage that columbus actually reached the mainland exploring the Orinoco River in what we now call Venezuela. Later on in1502 Columbus took what would be his last journey, traveling along the eastern coast of central america searching for a trade route to the Indian Ocean.
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The Big Question....Did Christopher Columbus Really Discover America?
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Christopher's Impact on The World
First he named the Native Americans Indians because he thought he landed in India. That is why some people call Native Americans Indians, whether it is correct or not. He is also one of the reasons that we live in America today. He also is responsible for the columbian exchange which led to the biggest population increase and the exchange of plants animals and diseases. Overall Columbus caused a bunch of things to happen so he impacted the world a lot. Now if his impact was good or bad, that is for you to decide.
Sources: History.com Crash Course