Biography of Explorer Christopher Columbus
Birth: c. 1451 in Genoa, Italy Death: May 20, 1506 near Valladolid, Spain Funded By: Spanish Government Background to Christopher Columbus' Expeditions: After Christopher Columbus read The Travels of Marco Polo, he felt that he could reach the West Indies by traveling west across the ocean instead of heading east over land. He also approached other nations but Queen Isabella and King Ferdinand of Spain finally agreed to give him three ships along with many rewards if he discovered new islands or mainlands. First Voyage - Columbus Lands in the Bahamas: 1492 - Columbus left Spain on August 3 with three ships: the Pinta, the Niña, and the Santa Maria. Second Voyage - Christopher Columbus and Genocide: On his second voyage in 1493, Columbus arrived in the Lesser Antilles with 17 ships and 1,200 men. He then traveled back to Hispaniola to meet up with the men he had left there. Third and Fourth Voyages: In 1498, Columbus made his third voyage to the New World. Columbus' Death:
Christopher Columbus
Christopher Columbus (Italian: Cristoforo Colombo; Spanish: Cristóbal Colón; Portuguese: Cristóvão Colombo; born between 31 October 1450 and 30 October 1451, died 20 May 1506) was an Italian explorer, navigator, and colonizer, citizen of the Republic of Genoa. Under the auspices of the Catholic Monarchs of Spain, he completed four voyages across the Atlantic Ocean. Those voyages, and his efforts to establish permanent settlements on the island of Hispaniola, initiated the Spanish colonization of the New World. Though Columbus was not the first European explorer to reach the Americas (having been preceded by the Norse expedition led by Leif Ericson in the 11th century[3]), his voyages led to the first lasting European contact with the Americas, inaugurating a period of European exploration, conquest, and colonization that lasted for several centuries. Early life The name Christopher Columbus is the Anglicisation of the Latin Christophorus Columbus. Columbus was not a scholarly man. Legacy
Primary History - Famous People - Christopher Columbus
Fray Bartolomé de Las Casas (1484-1566) - Biography
Bartolomé de Las Casas (1484-1566) Part One: Fray Bartolomé de Las Casas was a Spanish Dominican friar who became famous (or infamous, depending on your point of view) for his defense of the rights of the native people of the Americas. His brave stand against the horrors of the conquest and the colonization of the New World earned him the title “Defender of the Indians.” The Las Casas Family and Columbus: Christopher Columbus was well-known to the Las Casas family. Young Bartolomé, then about nine years old, was in Seville when Columbus returned from his first voyage in 1493 and may have met the Taíno Indians that Columbus brought back with him. Las Casas’ Early Life and Studies: Bartolomé decided that he wanted to become a priest, and his father’s new wealth allowed him to send his son to the best schools at the time: The University of Salamanca, and then later the University of Valladolid. First Trip to the Americas: Mortal Sin: First Experiments: The Verapaz Experiment: Analysis:
Christopher Columbus, Christobel Colon or who?
Bartoleme de las Casas
Bartoleme de las Casas, a Spanish colonist, a priest, founder of a Utopian community and first Bishop of Chiapas, was a scholar, historian and 16th century human rights advocate. Las Casas has been called the Father of anti-imperialism and anti-racism. Others take a more guarded or modest view of his achievements. What there is little or no dispute about is that Las Casas was an early and energetic advocate and activist for the rights of native peoples. Las Casas came to the Indies early, he knew Columbus and was the editor of the Admiral's journal. He knew conditions in the Americas first hand. After coming to the realization that the Spanish treatment of the native population was unconscionable, Las Casas became a Dominican priest, and began travelling back and forth accross the Atlantic. Because of preassures from the colonists, the encomienda system was restored. The advocates of the encomienda system eventually triumphed. Time Line Sources On Line Resources Where next?
Explorers for Kids: Christopher Columbus
Biography >> Explorers for Kids Columbus arriving in the Americas by Dioscoro Puebla Occupation: Explorer Born: 1451 in Genoa, Italy Died: May 20, 1506 Best known for: Discovering AmericaBiography: Christopher Columbus is the explorer who is credited for discovering America. Of course, there were already people living in America at the time who we call Native Americans. Before the Voyage Columbus was born in Genoa, Italy in 1451. A Shortcut to China Columbus and his brother, Bartholomew, knew that there were great riches to be had in China and East Asia. It would turn out that Columbus was wrong. Three Ships and a Long Voyage Columbus spent years trying to convince someone to pay for his voyage. He set sail on August 3, 1492 with three ships named the Nina, the Pinta, and the Santa Maria. Finding Land On October 12, 1492 land was spotted. The routes taken by Columbus on his four voyages (by Unknown) Click to see larger map Returning Home Upon returning home, Columbus was treated like a hero.
