Christopher Columbus
Cristoforo Colombo
Early Life
Let's Begin
Christopher Columbus was one of the greatest explorers of all time. He is known for the many successful voyages that had lead many to live better lives, but Columbus didn't always start out this way. Columbus was born Cristoforo Colombo around October 31, 1451. There are many different suggestions on when he was born but know one knows for sure. Christopher Columbus was born in Genoa, Italy. His father's name was Domenico Colombo and he was a middle class wool merchant. Columbus's mother, Susanna Fontanarossa, was also a middle class wool merchant.
Siblings
Bartholomew Columbus
Giacomo Columbus
Giovanni Pellegrino Columbus
Education
There is not much known about Columbus's education. The only thing that historians know about it happened during his first job. Columbus got his first job working on a merchant ship. His ship was attacked by French privateers. Columbus was one of the few who survived. He swam to Lisbon, Portugal. There he studied math, astronomy, cartography, and navigation.
Middle Life
Family Life
Christopher Columbus married a woman named Filipa Moniz Perestrelo while he was in Portugal.They had married in 1479. Not to soon after that, Columbus's first son, Diego Columbus, was born. Columbus did have a second son named Ferdinand Columbus, but his mother was Beatriz Enríquez de Arana. Columbus and Beatriz never married.
Career
Columbus was a wonderful navigator as most people know. His first job had led him to being this great explorer. He was determined to find a direct route to Asia. On his first voyage Columbus landed in what today is the Caribbean on his ship the Santa Maria. He also had two other ships called the Nina and the Pinta.
Columbus's Ships
Voyages
Most people know the rhyme "Columbus sailed the ocean blue in fourteen hundred ninety two." Well all of that is true but Columbus did have many mare voyages then just the one to discover America. He had many more voyages back to the so called "Asia". Columbus went back to the Americas because he wanted to trade withe the native tribes. Eventually the natives were getting angry at Columbus for returning so many times that the natives actually tried to kill Columbus and his crew.
Later Years
Later Life
Christopher Columbus was out on the sea most of his life. Coming back to land must have been a huge deal for him and his family. Columbus had returned and died soon after his last voyage. He died on May 20, 1506 from a joint infection called Reiter's Arthritis. Columbus died in Valladolid, Spain.
Contributation
Columbus has paved the way for better living and trade. He had discovered the pathway to more recourses and much more space to live. Columbus died not knowing that he discovered America. He had thought that he discovered a shortcut to Asia. Either way he made the world change.
Why is This Person A Good Example of a Renaissance Man?
According to Ducksters.com "a Renaissance man refers to a talented and experienced person in many different ways". In my opinion, Columbus is a great example of a renaissance man because he wasn't just a plain old explorer. He was well trained and educated in may other areas like arithmetic and astronomy. He knew how to use the skies to guide him. Columbus has inspired many people to go out and explore even if you find something unexpected.
Using the Skies
Stop the video at 1:31