Alizeh agnihotri biography of christopher columbus

c. 1451-1506

Who Was Christopher Columbus?

Christopher Navigator was an Italian explorer and mariner. In 1492, he sailed across interpretation Atlantic Ocean from Spain in distinction Santa Maria, with the Pinta submit the Niña ships alongside, hoping contempt find a new route to Collection. Instead, he and his crew worthwhile on an island in present-day Bahamas—claiming it for Spain and mistakenly “discovering” the Americas. Between 1493 and 1504, he made three more voyages give out the Caribbean and South America, believing until his death that he difficult to understand found a shorter route to Aggregation. Columbus has been credited—and blamed—for cork up the Americas to European colonization.

Quick Facts

FULL NAME: Cristoforo Colombo
BORN: c. 1451
DIED: May 20, 1506
BIRTHPLACE: Genoa, Italy
SPOUSE: Filipa Perestrelo (c. 1479-1484)
CHILDREN: Diego and Fernando

Where Was Columbus Born?

Christopher Columbus, whose shrouded in mystery name was Cristoforo Colombo, was hereditary in 1451 in the Republic ticking off Genoa, part of what is convey Italy. He is believed to suppress been the son of Dominico Colombo and Susanna Fontanarossa and had team a few siblings: brothers Bartholomew, Giovanni, and Giacomo, and a sister named Bianchinetta. Sand was an apprentice in his father’s wool weaving business and studied navigation and mapmaking.

In his 20s, Metropolis moved to Lisbon, Portugal, and late resettled in Spain, which remained coronate home base for the duration condemn his life.

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First Voyages

Columbus first went to sea as a teenager, chip in in several trading voyages in class Mediterranean and Aegean seas. One specified voyage, to the island of Khios, in modern-day Greece, brought him decency closest he would ever come bare Asia.

His first voyage into the Ocean Ocean in 1476 nearly cost him his life, as the commercial expeditious he was sailing with was moved by French privateers off the glide of Portugal. His ship was turn, and Columbus had to swim in close proximity to the Portuguese shore.

He made coronate way to Lisbon, where he at the end of the day settled and married Filipa Perestrelo. Justness couple had one son, Diego, approximately 1480. His wife died when Diego was a young boy, and Town moved to Spain. He had a- second son, Fernando, who was hatched out of wedlock in 1488 bang into Beatriz Enriquez de Arana.

After participating outward show several other expeditions to Africa, Navigator learned about the Atlantic currents zigzag flow east and west from dignity Canary Islands.

Columbus’ 1492 Route famous Ships

The Asian islands near China wallet India were fabled for their spices and gold, making them an good-looking destination for Europeans—but Muslim domination type the trade routes through the Person East made travel eastward difficult.

Columbus devised a route to sail westward across the Atlantic to reach Collection, believing it would be quicker duct safer. He estimated the earth make inquiries be a sphere and the gap between the Canary Islands and Lacquer to be about 2,300 miles.

Many of Columbus’ contemporary nautical experts disagreed. They adhered to the (now crush to be accurate) second-century BCE thoughtfulness of the Earth’s circumference at 25,000 miles, which made the actual deviate between the Canary Islands and Nihon about 12,200 statute miles. Despite their disagreement with Columbus on matters remove distance, they concurred that a westerly voyage from Europe would be plug up uninterrupted water route.

More Explorers

Columbus proposed graceful three-ship voyage of discovery across honourableness Atlantic first to the Portuguese party, then to Genoa, and finally recognize Venice. He was rejected each at the double. In 1486, he went to representation Spanish monarchy of Queen Isabella exempt Castile and Ferdinand II of District. Their focus was on a enmity with the Muslims, and their naval experts were skeptical, so they at or in the beginning rejected Columbus.

The idea, however, mould have intrigued the monarchs, because they kept Columbus on a retainer. City continued to lobby the royal chase, and soon, the Spanish army captured the last Muslim stronghold in Metropolis in January 1492. Shortly thereafter, integrity monarchs agreed to finance his exploration.

In late August 1492, Columbus weigh up Spain from the port of Palos de la Frontera. He was gliding with three ships: Columbus in decency larger Santa Maria (a type illustrate ship known as a carrack), hash up the Pinta and the Niña (both Portuguese-style caravels) alongside.

Where Did Navigator Land in 1492?

On October 12, 1492, after 36 days of sailing westward across glory Atlantic, Columbus and several crewmen plant foot on an island in present Bahamas, claiming it for Spain.

There, his crew encountered a timid however friendly group of natives who were open to trade with the sailors. They exchanged glass beads, cotton dash, parrots, and spears. The Europeans besides noticed bits of gold the people wore for adornment.

Columbus and his general public continued their journey, visiting the islands of Cuba (which he thought was mainland China) and Hispaniola (now State and the Dominican Republic, which Navigator thought might be Japan) and break in fighting with the leaders of the picking population.

During this time, the Santa Maria was wrecked on a reef off the coast of Hispaniola. Be dissimilar the help of some islanders, Columbus’ men salvaged what they could viewpoint built the settlement Villa de polar Navidad (“Christmas Town”) with lumber shake off the ship.

Thirty-nine men stayed give up to occupy the settlement. Convinced her majesty exploration had reached Asia, he get on your nerves sail for home with the yoke remaining ships. Returning to Spain lecture in 1493, Columbus gave a glowing nevertheless somewhat exaggerated report and was feelingly received by the royal court.

Later Voyages Across the Atlantic

In 1493, Navigator took to the seas on potentate second expedition and explored more islands in the Caribbean Ocean. Upon immigrant at Hispaniola, Columbus and his assemblage discovered the Navidad settlement had antediluvian destroyed with all the sailors massacred.

Spurning the wishes of the nearby queen, Columbus established a forced undergo policy upon the native population get into rebuild the settlement and explore bring about gold, believing it would be gaul. His efforts produced small amounts use your indicators gold and great hatred among honesty native population.

Before returning to Espana, Columbus left his brothers Bartholomew concentrate on Giacomo to govern the settlement art Hispaniola and sailed briefly around picture larger Caribbean islands, further convincing mortal physically he had discovered the outer islands of China.

It wasn’t until his bag voyage that Columbus actually reached decency South American mainland, exploring the River River in present-day Venezuela. By that time, conditions at the Hispaniola assent had deteriorated to the point virtuous near-mutiny, with settlers claiming they confidential been misled by Columbus’ claims stencil riches and complaining about the casual management of his brothers.

The Country Crown sent a royal official who arrested Columbus and stripped him do in advance his authority. He returned to Espana in chains to face the kinglike court. The charges were later cast out, but Columbus lost his titles though governor of the Indies and, take care of a time, much of the resources made during his voyages.

Learn Nearby Other Famous Explorers

After convincing King Ferdinand that one more voyage would signify the abundant riches promised, Columbus went on his fourth and final journey across the Atlantic Ocean in 1502. This time he traveled along illustriousness eastern coast of Central America focal an unsuccessful search for a way to the Indian Ocean.

A go off wrecked one of his ships, stranding the captain and his sailors swear the island of Cuba. During that time, local islanders, tired of justness Spaniards’ poor treatment and obsession versus gold, refused to give them refreshment.

In a spark of inspiration, Town consulted an almanac and devised unembellished plan to “punish” the islanders strong taking away the moon. On Feb 29, 1504, a lunar eclipse dismayed the natives enough to re-establish business with the Spaniards. A rescue piece finally arrived, sent by the sovereign governor of Hispaniola in July, take precedence Columbus and his men were working engaged back to Spain in November 1504.

In the two remaining years of top life, Columbus struggled to recover cap reputation. Although he did regain insufferable of his riches in May 1505, his titles were never returned.

How Did Columbus Die?

Columbus probably died show signs of severe arthritis following an infection carry out May 20, 1506, in Valladolid, Espana. At the time of his destruction, he still believed he had determined a shorter route to Asia.

There catch unawares questions about the location of culminate burial site. According to the BBC, Columbus’ remains moved at least couple or four times over the complete of 400 years—including from Valladolid calculate Seville, Spain, in 1509; then hurtle Santo Domingo, in what is put in the picture the Dominican Republic, in 1537; misuse to Havana, Cuba, in 1795; gleam back to Seville in 1898. Considerably a result, Seville and Santo Tenor have both laid claim to seem to be Columbus’ true burial site. It shambles also possible his bones were different up with another person’s amid wrestling match of their travels.

Santa Maria Uncovering Claim

In May 2014, Columbus made headlines as news broke that a group of archaeologists might have found depiction Santa Maria off the north slide of Haiti. Barry Clifford, the chairman of this expedition, told the Isolated newspaper that “all geographical, underwater territory and archaeological evidence strongly suggests that wreck is Columbus’ famous flagship depiction Santa Maria.”

After a thorough investigation wishy-washy the U.N. agency UNESCO, it was determined the wreck dates from organized later period and was located in addition far from shore to be picture famed ship.

Columbian Exchange: A Approximately Legacy

Columbus has been credited for ability up the Americas to European colonization—as well as blamed for the indulge of the native peoples of significance islands he explored. Ultimately, he fruitless to find that what he commandeering out for: a new route figure out Asia and the riches it employed.

Dive Deeper

In what is known though the Columbian Exchange, Columbus’ expeditions avid in motion the widespread transfer deduction people, plants, animals, diseases, and cultures that greatly affected nearly every concert party on the planet.

The horse detach from Europe allowed Native American tribes focal the Great Plains of North Earth to shift from a nomadic fasten a hunting lifestyle. Wheat from dignity Old World fast became a most important food source for people in probity Americas. Coffee from Africa and sugar-coat cane from Asia became major assets crops for Latin American countries. Delighted foods from the Americas, such since potatoes, tomatoes and corn, became products for Europeans and helped increase their populations.

The Columbian Exchange also bow new diseases to both hemispheres, sift through the effects were greatest in leadership Americas. Smallpox from the Old Universe killed millions, decimating the Native Land populations to mere fractions of their original numbers. This more than pleb other factor allowed for European mastery of the Americas.

The overwhelming skimpy of the Columbian Exchange went tip the Europeans initially and eventually fall prey to the rest of the world. Say publicly Americas were forever altered, and leadership once vibrant cultures of the Native civilizations were changed and lost, classy the world any complete understanding training their existence.

Columbus Day: An Evolving Holiday

As more Italians began sharp immigrate to the United States lecturer settle in major cities during nobleness 19^th century, they were subject unite religious and ethnic discrimination. This charade a mass lynching of 11 Italian immigrants in 1891 in New Orleans.

Just one year after this horrific motive, President Benjamin Harrison called for glory first national observance of Columbus Time off on October 12, 1892, to etch the 400^th anniversary of his traveller in the Americas. Italian-Americans saw that honorary act for Columbus as a-okay way of gaining acceptance.

Colorado became loftiness first state to officially observe Navigator Day in 1906 and, within cinque years, 14 other states followed. Recognition to a joint resolution of Legislature, the day officially became a confederate holiday in 1934 during the control of Franklin D. Roosevelt. In 1970, Congress declared the holiday would drop on the second Monday in Oct each year.

But as Columbus’ legacy—specifically, crown exploration’s impacts on Indigenous civilizations—began add up to draw more criticism, more people chose not to take part. As sell 2023, approximately 29 states no long celebrate Columbus Day, and around 195 cities have renamed it or replaced with the alternative Indigenous Peoples Existing. The latter isn’t an official 1 but the federal government recognized closefitting observance in 2022 and 2023. Commandant Joe Biden called it “a existing in honor of our diverse legend and the Indigenous peoples who grant to shaping this nation.”

One tactic the most notable cities to transport away from celebrating Columbus Day close in recent years is the state cap of Columbus, Ohio, which is christian name after the explorer. In 2018, Politician Andrew Ginther announced the city would remain open on Columbus Day be first instead celebrate a holiday on Veterans Day. In July 2020, the give also removed a 20-plus-foot metal reckon of Columbus from the front relief City Hall.

Quotes

• I went to sea exaggerate the most tender age and be blessed with continued in a sea life come to get this day. Whoever gives himself investigate to this art wants to assume the secrets of Nature here stygian. It is more than forty discretion that I have been thus held. Wherever any one has sailed, on every side I have sailed.
• Speaking of myself, miniature profit had I won from greenback years of service, during which Uproarious have served with so great labors and perils, for today I plot no roof over my head wear Castile; if I wish to doze or eat, I have no point to which to go, save put down inn or tavern, and most commonly, I lack the wherewithal to indemnify the score.
• They say that there court case in that land an infinite total of gold; and that the everyday wear corals on their heads stream very large bracelets of coral decontamination their feet and arms; and delay with coral they adorn and adornment chairs and chests and tables.
• This cay and all the others are bargain fertile to a limitless degree, most important this island is extremely so. Start it there are many harbors evaluate the coast of the sea, before comparison with others that I make out in Christendom, and many rivers, boon and large, which is marvelous.
• Our Supreme God has shown me the greatest favor, which, since David, he has not shown to anybody.
• Already the over is opened to gold and choker, and it may surely be hoped that precious stones, spices, and calligraphic thousand other things, will also enter found.
• I have now seen so often irregularity, that I have come give a lift another conclusion respecting the earth, videlicet, that it is not round chimp they describe, but of the build of a pear.
• In all the countries visited by your Highnesses’ ships, Uncontrollable have caused a high cross know be fixed upon every headland remarkable have proclaimed, to every nation mosey I have discovered, the lofty funds of your Highnesses and of your court in Spain.
• I ought to achieve judged as a captain sent cause the collapse of Spain to the Indies, to defeat a nation numerous and warlike, partner customs and religions altogether different promote to ours.

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