Mini message about Christopher Columbus. The Voyage of Christopher Columbus. Story for children

Christopher Columbus was a famous navigator who was born and raised in Spain. It was he who discovered America. It is also known that Christopher was the first navigator to cross the Atlantic Ocean and enter the waters of the Caribbean Sea. He was one of the first to explore the territory of Central and South America, and also belongs to the discovery of the Greater Antilles.

Most biographers and historians are confident that he was born in 1451, presumably in the fall, in the territory of Genoa. As soon as he turned 20, he began to travel, namely, to ply the Mediterranean Sea like a sailor. In 1476 he moved to Portugal, where he became part of a group of merchants who frequently traveled the waters of the North Atlantic. In 1484, Columbus tried to arouse the interest of the Portuguese ruler so that an expedition would be sent in the direction of Asia, but the king rejects his proposal, so Columbus intends to go back to Spain.

On that moment ruling place occupied by Isabella of Castile and Ferdinand of Aragon, who are ready to offer him assistance in his travels. They were ready to fully support the fleet and supply it with everything necessary in order to conquer new lands and open places previously inaccessible to ordinary person traveling on ships.

The first expedition departs in 1492, it consists of three ships. The first discovery is one of the islands, the so-called Bahamas. Columbus mistakenly believed that he had reached Asia, so he considered the locals Indians. The second journey begins in the fall of 1943, when the expedition discovers the Virgin Islands, this time 17 crews went on the expedition.

On his third trip he will discover Trinidad. And only on his fourth voyage he lands on the shores of America. Thus, he proved that there was another continent between the two oceans. Although his dream until the last moment was the discovery of Asia, he became the discoverer of America. The most offensive thing is that America itself was named not in honor of Christopher Columbus, but in honor of a later explorer and traveler.

Option 2

Christopher Columbus is a famous Spanish navigator. It was he who began the exploration of Central and South America, including the nearest islands. He also entered the Caribbean and Sargasso seas.

Christopher Columbus is from Italy. External data is known only from portraits. They were written after death. From them one can determine that he was tall, had a large nose, gray-blue eyes, fair skin with a blush, had a beard and mustache, and red hair.

The navigator graduated from the University of Pavia. In his youth he took part in trade expeditions by sea.

Later, at the end of the 15th and beginning of the 16th centuries, Columbus took part in 4 research expeditions. During them, Columbus kept a journal, a copy of which has survived.

The first expedition began on August 3, 1492. The direction is taken towards the Canary Islands. A few days later, Columbus's team found themselves in a strange place where a lot of algae appeared. The hike turned out to be difficult to overcome. This is how the Sargasso Sea was discovered. Then the course changes to the southwest direction. A week later they landed on land, later it was named San Salvador. From the inhabitants, Columbus learned about an island where there was gold. During this journey, the islands of Haiti and Tortuga were discovered. On March 15, Columbus returned back to port in Spain.

The second expedition took place on a larger scale. The composition consisted of several vessels. According to data, about 17. Monks, clergy, civil servants, nobles and courtiers also went on this expedition. During the expedition, Hispaniola was explored. Next, the path to western India was laid. The southern coast of Cuba has been explored.

The navigator went on the third expedition fewer ships. He didn't have much money. During this expedition, a group of navigators discovered the island of Trinidad. At this time, Vasco da Gama paved the way to eastern India. And he brought gifts from there. Columbus was denied the right to discover new land. And he was arrested and sent back to Spain. The charges were later dropped.

In the fourth expedition, the navigator Columbus continued to search for his sea ​​route to South Asia. During this expedition, the navigator discovered the shores of America.

Despite all the discoveries, Columbus was not able to receive his due privileges and rights. Last days he spent in illness. The traveler died at the age of 55. The ashes were buried in Seville. It is kept in Seville cathedral. Of particular importance his loss was not appreciated. Since the importance of discoveries was recognized only in the middle of the 16th century. This is due to the discovery of Mexico and Peru.

Message about Columbus

Christopher Columbus is the explorer credited with discovering America. Of course, at that time, the people we call Native Americans already lived in America. There was even a European, Leif Eriksson, who used to live in America. However, it was Columbus's voyage that marked the beginning of the exploration and colonization of North and South America.

Where it all started

Columbus was born in Genoa, Italy in 1451. He later lived in Lisbon, where he worked as a trader. He learned to make maps and sail a ship.

Columbus and his brother Bartholomew knew that there was great wealth in China and East Asia. However, traveling overland along the Silk Road was dangerous, and the sea route around Africa seemed too long. Columbus thought he could sail straight to China and crossed the Atlantic Ocean.

It turned out that Columbus was wrong. The earth was much larger than he thought, and between Europe and Asia there was another country, North and South America.

Three ships and a long journey

Columbus spent years trying to convince someone to pay for his voyage. He first tried to get King John II of Portugal to pay for his voyage, but the king was not interested. Finally, he was able to convince Queen Isabella and King Ferdinand of Spain to pay for the trip.

He sailed on August 3, 1492 on three ships called Nina, Pinta and Santa Maria. The journey was long and difficult. At one point his men threatened to mutiny and wanted to turn back. Columbus promised them that he would return in two days if they did not find land. However, he wrote in his diary that he had no intention of returning.

Looking for land

On October 12, 1492, land was sighted. It was a small island in the Bahamas that Columbus would call San Salvador. There he met natives, whom he called Indians because he was convinced that he had landed on islands off the coast of East Asia. He also visited other islands in the Caribbean such as Cuba and Hispaniola.

Coming home

Having made his discovery, Columbus sought to return home to Spain and claim his wealth. However, only Pinta and Nina were able to return to Spain as the Santa Maria was wrecked off the coast of Hispaniola. Columbus left 43 men on the island to start an outpost.

Returning home, Columbus was treated like a hero. He presented some of the things he had found, including turkeys, pineapples and some locals he had captured. The King of Spain was happy enough to finance future expeditions.

More travel!

Columbus will make three more voyages to America. He explored more of the Caribbean and even saw the American mainland. He had some difficulties as the local governor and was even arrested for his behavior and mistreatment of some of the colonists. Columbus died on May 20, 1506. He died thinking he had discovered the route to Asia through the Atlantic Ocean. He never knew what an amazing discovery he had made.

Interesting facts about Christopher Columbus

Columbus was first buried in Spain, but his remains were later transported to Santo Domingo in new world, and then back to Spain.

Columbus brought horses to the new world on his second voyage.

In his initial calculations, he thought that Asia would be 2,400 miles from Portugal. He was distant. In fact it turned out to be 10,000 miles! Not to mention the huge continent in between.

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Biography of Christopher Columbus, like many other discoverers, does not have an exact beginning. The date of birth of the great navigator Columbus will most likely never be established. In the 15th century, throughout Europe, only kings (and not all of them) could boast that the date of their birth was recorded in chronicles and annals. The rest of the mortals did not know about the date of their birth, and were not interested. The fact of baptism was recorded in church books. It is reliably known that on October 31, 1451, the Domenico Colombo family from Genoa baptized their first-born Cristoforo in one of the churches of the city. In addition to Christopher, the family had three more children: two sons (Bartolomeo and Giacomo) and a daughter (Bianchella). The family of the future discoverer of America was the most common one for the trade and crafts of Genoa. Columbus's father constantly changed his occupation. He worked either as a weaver or as a merchant, opened a money changer's office, or began seriously sewing leather shoes. Everything depended on market conditions and the imagination of Columbus the Elder himself. Apparently, the family’s financial situation was quite strong, since it is reliably known that Christopher’s father often gave money “in interest” to numerous financiers of the Genoese Republic. Until the age of 14, Christopher Columbus received home education; visiting teachers taught writing, reading, arithmetic, and the Law of God. The weaver's son turned out to be very capable; when his training, in his father's opinion, was completed, he assigned his eldest cabin boy to the merchant ship of a merchant he knew. Columbus will never forget his first trips to the Mediterranean Sea - Sicily. It was this period biographies of Columbus and determined the fate of the navigator. By the age of 17, Columbus had grown tall and strong. young man. His contemporaries were distinguished by his excellent abilities, sociability, charm and “respect-inspiring face.” In trade, the latter played a special role. On the recommendation of the merchants, who observed the young cabin boy for three years, his father sent him to the University of Pavia in Padua, to improve his knowledge and acquire the qualifications of a lawyer, which promised good income. After three years of studying at the university, Columbus marries. His bride noble origin from a family of Portuguese sailors. Being related to a family of famous seafarers opens up many opportunities for participation in a wide variety of trading expeditions. Until 1476, Columbus lived in the Genoese Republic and sailed on merchant ships as a translator, navigator, sales representative and legal consultant. Gradually he is entrusted with more and more complex and responsible assignments. During this time, Christopher Columbus established himself as a talented trader, negotiator and navigator.

Portrait of Christopher Columbus

Since 1476 biography of Christopher Columbus changes - he and his family move to Portugal, but continue to work for the merchant companies of Genoa. It is known that in the period from 1477 to 1485 the “Genoese” (as Christopher Columbus was called in Spain) visited Ireland, Iceland, as well as many ports of Northern Europe. Researchers believe that it was at this time that Columbus learned about the “overseas lands” in the Viking sagas. Around this time, he made an offer to the Portuguese king to organize an expedition to the west of the Canary Islands. In 1485, after the death of his wife, Columbus and his son moved to Spain. This move is more like an escape. Obviously, the navigator still has debts and other obligations. In Spain, Columbus spent seven long years trying to persuade the royal couple to support his project - an expedition to Asia across the Atlantic Ocean.

Life of Christopher Columbus from 1492 to 1504 - a time of discoveries, voyages, successes, defeats. It was during this period that the main thing happened that made Columbus a person known to the whole world. Four expeditions took place under the leadership of the navigator and each had its own results:

• The first expedition (1492 - 1493) - the Bahamas, Haiti, were discovered. Tobacco was described for the first time.
• Second expedition (149 3-1496) - discovered the Lesser Antilles and Virgin Islands, Puerto Rico, Jamaica. The city of Santo Domingo in Haiti was founded.
• Third expedition (1498 - 1500) - the island of Trinidad was discovered. Columbus was accused of fraud, arrested and taken to Spain in chains, later acquitted.
• The fourth expedition (1502 - 1504) - the mainland coast was discovered in the area of ​​Nicaragua, Panama, and Costa Rica.

All of Columbus's discoveries brought him neither wealth nor power. Intrigues, erroneous calculations that did not make it possible to determine in time that the discovered lands were a new continent, and not Asia, failures in the search for gold - all this led to the fact that the discoverer was deprived of most of his titles and titles. His financial affairs were also upset. Christopher Columbus died on May 20, 1506 in the city of Valladolid. The navigator was buried in. 34 years after his death, Columbus's remains were removed from the grave and sent to New World for burial in Haiti, according to the will of the "Genoese". After the loss of the island to the Spanish crown, Columbus's remains were reburied in Cuba and then taken back to Spain. The descendants of Christopher Columbus did not become famous for their discoveries, but they managed to force respect for the discoveries of their glorious ancestor. It is known that the descendants of the great navigator bore the titles “Marquises of Jamaica” and “Dukes of Veragua”, which they obtained from the Spanish kings along with substantial “pensions” from the treasury.

Can be seen in Spain, Italy, countries Latin America. Despite the universal recognition of the merits of Christopher Columbus in the discovery of the New World, his role in the development of new lands is ambiguous. In 2003, the monument to the navigator in Caracas (Venezuela) was demolished by order of city authorities, who considered it inappropriate to leave in the country such a memory of a man who “began the genocide of the indigenous population of America.”

Christopher Columbus

— Christopher Columbus, world famous for his discovery of America, was born October 9 1451 on the island of Corsica (according to one version). Columbus's identity and fate are vague, ambiguous, and novel-like. There were long, passionate scientific debates about his origin and place of birth. Until now, six cities in Italy and Spain dispute the right to be his homeland. Legends have grown up around many events of his life, which have not yet been completely debunked.

During his entire travels, Christopher Columbus made 4 expeditions. He was the first person to officially cross the Atlantic Ocean. His goal was a country that had a lot of gold.

In his opinion, this country was discovered by him new land, i.e. North America.

For his first expedition, Columbus equipped three ships - “Santa Maria” (flagship), “Pinta” and “Nina”. The flotilla team included only 90 people. During the expedition, America was discovered, which, however, Christopher Columbus considered East Asia, calling it partly for advertising reasons “East Indies”. Europeans first entered the Caribbean islands - Hispaniola (Haiti), Juana (Cuba). This voyage began the expansion of Spain into the New World.

Second expedition:

Columbus's second flotilla already consisted of 17 ships. The flagship is “Maria Galante” (displacement 200 tons). According to various sources, the expedition consisted of 1500-2500 people. There were not only sailors here, but also monks, priests, officials, serving nobles (hidalgos), and courtiers. They brought with them horses and donkeys, cattle and pigs, grape vines, crop seeds, for organizing a permanent colony.

During the expedition, the complete conquest of Hispaniola was carried out, and the mass extermination of the local population began. The city of Santo Domingo was founded. The most convenient sea route to the West Indies was laid. The Lesser Antilles, the Virgin Islands, the islands of Puerto Rico, and Jamaica were discovered, and the southern coast of Cuba was almost completely explored. At the same time, Columbus continues to claim that he is in Western India.

Third expedition:

Little money was found for the third expedition, and only six small ships and about 300 crew members went with Columbus, and the crew included criminals from Spanish prisons.

Fourth expedition:

Christopher Columbus still wanted to find new way from the lands he discovered to South Asia, to the source of spices. He was sure that such a path existed, since he observed a strong sea current off the coast of Cuba, going west through the Caribbean Sea. The king eventually gave Columbus permission for a new expedition.

On the fourth expedition, Columbus took with him his brother Bartolome and his 13-year-old son Hernando. During his fourth voyage, Columbus discovered the mainland south of Cuba - the coast of Central America - and proved that the Atlantic Ocean was separated from the South Sea, which he had heard about from the Indians, by an insurmountable barrier. He was also the first to report on Indian peoples living near the South Sea.

Mass colonization of Hispaniola

Meanwhile, gold mined in Hispaniola and pearls collected on the Pearl Coast (the southern coast of the Caribbean) began to arrive in Spain. Hundreds and thousands of people wishing to achieve wealth flocked to Western India. In 1502, mass settlement of the Antilles by Spaniards began.

The Spaniards committed mass atrocities against the local population. In 1515, the indigenous inhabitants of Haiti numbered less than 15 thousand, and by the middle of the 16th century they died out completely. Slaves from the Lesser Antilles, as well as “savages” from Cuba, Jamaica and Puerto Rico, began to be imported to Hispaniola. When the indigenous population began to disappear there too, mass slave hunting intensified in South America, and then slaves began to be imported from Africa. Their descendants, partially mixed with the Spaniards, later populated the entire island of Haiti.

last years of life

The seriously ill Columbus was transported to Seville. He was unable to achieve the restoration of the rights and privileges granted to him, and spent all the money on his travel companions.

On May 20, 1506, Columbus pronounced his last words: “Into your hands, Lord, I entrust my spirit.” He was buried in Seville, but his contemporaries hardly noticed his death. The enormous significance of Columbus's discoveries for Spain was recognized only in the middle of the 16th century, after the conquest of Mexico, Peru and the states in the northern Andes, when ships with silver and gold went to Europe.

Christopher Columbus (1451, Genoa, 20.5.1506, Valladolid), sailor, gene by origin. In 1476-1484 he lived in Lisbon and the Portuguese islands of Madeira and Porto Santo. Based on the ancient doctrine of globes and incorrect calculations of scientists from the 15th century, Columbus prepared a project for the western, in his opinion, the shortest sea route from Europe to India.

In 1485, when the Portuguese king rejected his project, Columbus moved to Castile, where, with the support of most Andalusian merchants and bankers, he organized a government ocean expedition under his leadership.

Columbus is taller than average with a strong and slim body. His red hair in his youth turned gray early on, making him look older than his years. Bright blue eyes and a watery nose stood out from his long, wrinkled, weathered face with a beard. He was distinguished by his belief in divine encouragement and importance, and at the same time by a rare practicality, painful self-esteem and suspicion, and a passion for gold.

He had a sharp mind, the gift of persuasion and multifaceted knowledge. Columbus was married twice and had two sons. His name is: the state of South America, the province of Canada, federal district and river in the United States, the capital of Sri Lanka, as well as many rivers, mountains, lakes, waterfalls, capes, cities, parks, squares, streets and bridges in various countries. In Barcelona it is a monument to Columbus (1882-88, architect K. Buikas, sculptors H. Laimon and A.

Vilanova).

1. Cancellation (1492-1493), consisting of 90 people on board the Santa Maria, Pinta Nina, arrived from Palos on August 3, 1492, crossed the Atlantic from the Canary Islands in the west (September 9) to subtropical zone and reached the island of San Salvador in the Bahamas, where Columbus landed on October 12, 1492 (the official date of the discovery of America).

On October 14 and 24, Columbus visited many of the other Bahamas, and from December 28 to 5 he discovered and surveyed a section of the northeastern coast of Cuba. On December 6, Columbus arrived on the island of Haiti and moved along the northern coast. On the night of December 25, the leader Santa Maria sat on the ridge, but the people were saved. Columbus on the ship Ninja, which completed an inspection of the northern coast of Haiti from January 4 to 16, 1493, and returned to Castile on March 15.

The second expedition (1493-1496), led by Columbus in the admiral's position, as vice president of the newly discovered lands, consisted of 17 ships with a crew of more than 1,500 people.

Human. On November 3, 1493, Columbus discovered the islands of Dominica and Guadeloupe, turning to the northwest - more than 20 Lesser Antilles, including Antigua and Maria, and on November 19 - the island of Puerto Rico and went to the northern coast of Haiti.

On March 12 and 29, 1494, Columbus, searching for gold, attacked Haiti and crossed the Cordillera Central Range. April 29 - May 3 Columbus with three ships crossed the southeastern coast of Cuba, diverting from Cape Cruz to the south and discovered Jamaica on May 5. When he returned to Cape Cruz on May 15, Columbus set sail along the southern coast of Cuba at 84°W. D., discovered the Jardines de la Reina archipelago, the Zapata Peninsula and the island of Pinos.

On June 24, Columbus turned east to explore the entire southern coast of Haiti from August 19 to September 15. In 1495, Columbus continued to conquer Haiti; On March 10, 1496, he left the island and returned to Castile on June 11.

The third expedition (1498-1500) consisted of 6 ships, of which 3 of them brought the Atlantic Ocean to 10° north latitude. On July 31, 1498, on the island of Trinidad, which entered south from the Gulf of Paris, the cornices of the western strait of the Orinoco River delta and the Paria Peninsula opened, causing the discovery of South America.

When he arrived in the Caribbean, Columbus approached the Araya Peninsula, discovered Margarita Island on August 15, and arrived at the city of Santo Domingo (on the island of Haiti) on August 31. In 1500 he was arrested and sent to Castile, where he was released.

4. expedition (1502-1504). Get permission to continue searching for western routes to India, playgrounds Columbus 4 reached Martinique on June 15, 1502, July 30 - the Gulf of Honduras and opened from August 1, 1502 to May 1, 1503 on the Caribbean coast of Honduras, Nicaragua, Costa Rica and Panama in the Gulf of Rab.

Then, in the north, on June 25, 1503, he crashed near the Jamaican island; Help from Santo Domingo appeared only a year later. Columbus returned to Castile on November 7, 1504.

Illness, fruitless and painful negotiations with the king to restore rights, and lack of money threatened Columbus's recent power and May 20, 1506. His discoveries were accompanied by the colonization of the land, the basis for Spanish settlements, bands of brutal slavery and mass extermination of autochthonous conquistadors called “Indians.” Columbus Was Not an American Pioneer: Islands and Coasts North America visited by the Normans for hundreds of years before.

But these were only Columbus's discoveries of world-historical significance. The fact that he found new part world, was finally proven by Magellan's voyage.

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Abstract: Christopher Columbus

Christopher Columbus. His life is full of legends, unsolvable mysteries, seemingly insurmountable obstacles and, of course, stellar moments. From the pages of numerous biographies and scientific research, written in different centuries, he appears before us either as a man, caressed by divine illumination, or as a big-thinking scientist, or as a desperate adventurer, or, finally, as a mere mortal who set off with three ships in search of fortune.

What was this world famous navigator like? We still know almost nothing about his real appearance; Columbus's childhood is shrouded in mystery. For a long time, biographers argued about the place and time of his birth; several cities in Italy and Spain were named and dates ranging from 1436 to 1455.

Only the 20th century seems to have dispelled doubts on this score.
Christopher Columbus was born in Genoa at the end of October 1451 into a poor family. The question of his education remains unclear. Some researchers believe that he studied in Pavia, others consider him a self-taught genius. The statement about Columbus the corsair, who sailed the Mediterranean Sea, is devoid of documentary evidence.

But it is reliably known that his ideas about the likelihood of a western route to India took shape in the 70s and 80s. XV century, when he was enthusiastically engaged in geography, studied navigation maps and, despite the difficult financial situation, led the hopes of making the trip.
A real gift of fate for young Columbus was his meeting in Portugal, where he lived in the late 70s and early 80s, with Felipa Moniz, the daughter of a Portuguese sea captain.

They fell in love and soon got married.
The atmosphere of the house of Christopher's chosen one fully corresponded to his aspirations. Diaries, nautical maps and impressions from his father-in-law strengthened Columbus in his desire to find a hitherto unknown route to India. What was worth just the stories of my father-in-law's friends about unusual finds in the Atlantic, in the area of ​​​​the Azores Islands!

According to the testimony of these old sea dogs, several pieces of artistically processed wood were found with a design completely different from European, Asian and African designs. Moreover, on one of the Azores islands the bodies of two people were discovered, whose faces were strikingly different from the faces of representatives of peoples known to Europeans.
The books published in the 15th century also had a great influence on Columbus.

works that touched upon issues of geography and sea travel. Among them are books by the Italian humanist and poet Enea Silvoi Piccolomini, “The Image of the World” by Pierre de Ailly and, of course, travel notes by Marco Polo.

Many comments in the margins of books and extracts made indicate Columbus’s desire to rethink established ideas based on personal observations and acquired knowledge.
The idea of ​​continuing the western route to India arose among ancient thinkers. It was shared by Aristotle, Eratosthenes, and Protagoras. In the aforementioned book, de Ailly was especially struck by the words of Aristotle quoted by the author: “The extent of the sea between extreme point Spain and India's territory is small and can be covered within a few days."

An even more striking guess was made by the ancient Greek geographer Eratosthenes, author of the multi-volume “Geography”: if you stick to the same latitude, you can get from the Iberian Peninsula to India, and along the way you can meet two or more inhabited continents. These views were shared by Columbus’s contemporary, the Florentine Paolo Toscanelli, a doctor by profession who was fond of geography and sea travel and in this field gained universal recognition.

Columbus became a slave to his idea. Objective economic need also pushed for such a voyage.
In the 15th century Traditional trade routes to Asia through the Mediterranean Sea were blocked by the mighty Ottoman Empire. Europe found itself cut off from the spices, dyes and incense of the east. The severance of ties with India was especially noticeable, from where pepper, ginger, cloves, which were in great demand, were supplied. nutmeg, cinnamon, cardamom. Pepper was then perhaps the most important product.

It was used as a means of payment when purchasing land and paying off debts; it often appeared as a dowry and could serve as a valuable gift for dignitaries of the highest rank. It was a kind of equivalent of money, such as, for example, for a long time were: in Mongolia - tea, in Abyssinia - salt, in Sudan - fish, in Siam - shells, in Mexico - cocoa. The East for Europe means silk and cotton fabrics, carpets, and luxury goods.

In short, the search for new routes to India became necessary for Europeans.
The project, which had been brewing for many years, needed funds for its implementation. It is unlikely that Columbus imagined in the early 80s that his odyssey through the royal palaces of Europe would turn out to be so long and ineffective. King João of Portugal doubted the arguments of the navigator, who asked for ships to open the way to the island of Sipango and intended to sail there along the “sea of ​​darkness” in a westerly direction.

However, João commissioned “experts”, a bishop and two cosmographers, to test Columbus’s arguments. The commission’s conclusion was depressing: the project was based on pure fantasy... The trip of Columbus’s brother, Bartolome, to England for the same purpose was also unsuccessful.
Spain also remained deaf to Columbus's proposals for a long time. However, even here it was not without a meticulous analysis. The verdict of the sages was in keeping with the spirit of the times. They rejected Columbus's arguments, citing the Gospel, as well as the epistles and writings of St. Augustine, St. Gregory, St. Ambrose, etc.

Geographical arguments, in their opinion, also contradicted reason: after all, “the spherical shape of the Earth would form in front of him like a huge mountain, through which he would not be able to swim even with the most favorable wind.”
It’s easy to imagine Columbus’s condition: not only his long-term hopes were under threat, but also his life: with the ever-vigilant Inquisition, he would be branded a heretic with all the ensuing tragic consequences... And yet he continued to believe in his star.

Deep piety, apparently, was the reason that one day he heard the words in a dream: “God wants your name to be glorified throughout the whole Earth, and wants to give you the keys to the ocean gates, which are now locked with heavy chains.”

The year 1492 was happy for Spain: the eight-century reign of the Moors ended. At the beginning of the year, Columbus received an audience with Queen Isabella.

She reasoned simply: if the sailing idea turns out to be unsuccessful, then the crown will only lose what was spent on the expedition, but if Columbus turns out to be right...
On April 17, 1492, the treaty, approved by Queen Isabella and King Ferdinand, was signed by Columbus and the secretary of the royal palace, Juan de Coloma.

The document stated that in case of failure, the navigator would not receive any rewards, but success would extol him. Columbus would be appointed viceroy of “all the islands and continents that he personally and thanks to his art will discover or acquire in these seas-oceans.”

He would receive the rank of admiral and a tenth of all goods “to be bought, exchanged, found or acquired.” Taking upon himself an eighth of the costs of equipping the ships, he would then have an eighth of the proceeds. To top it off, Columbus and his heirs would be elevated to the dignity of nobility.
The royal couple's approval of Columbus's project did not remove all obstacles from his path to unknown lands.

When were they settled financial questions, three small ships were found, it suddenly turned out that ordinary sailors also did not believe Columbus and considered him a man not of this world.

Then he manages to obtain permission from the authorities to use prisoners to staff the crews under agreed conditions. However, this way out of the situation was not to the liking of the three Pinson brothers, who decided to take part in Columbus’s voyage.

The eldest of them, Martin Alonso, was considered the best sea ​​captain Spain. Sailors and shipbuilders, the Pinsons managed to put together a crew and seasoned, experienced sailors, and at dawn on August 3, 1492, the ships headed for the Canary Islands. According to various estimates, the expedition consisted of 90 to 120 people.
Traditionally, all three ships of the first expedition are called caravels. However, if we adhere to the principles of classification of sea vessels of that time, then only the Niña and Pinta were caravels, the displacement of which did not exceed one hundred tons.

The larger “Santa Maria” was called “nao” - both by the navigator himself and by many chroniclers.
The prudent Columbus, believing that prolonged isolation from their homeland could break people, kept two logbooks during the voyage. He wrote down somewhat “embellished” data in the information that was displayed for public viewing, and in the secret one he entered precise information.

His premonition did not deceive him: the expedition had to survive several critical moments. So, on September 16, when the ships were in the Sargasso Sea, there was a long calm. The least persistent ones lost heart, deciding that the wind did not blow here at all, and now they would never reach Spain. Columbus had the endurance to convince his compatriots. He used only two arguments, but what were they - God's help and future untold riches.

Columbus himself was by no means unmercenary; the thirst for enrichment overwhelmed him. “Gold is delightful, it creates treasures and extends its power even to purgatory, freeing souls from it,” these are his words. However, it is hardly worth reproaching him for them, if we remember that poverty was constant companion navigator, especially during the 20 years preceding expeditions.
October 12, 1492

A shot was heard from the Pinta caravel: the sailor Rodrigo de Trian saw the long-awaited land. Christopher Columbus set foot on the shores of a small island, which the locals called Guanahani.

He fell to his knees, cried, kissed the ground, unfurled the royal standard and, raising his eyes to the sky, said the names of the Catholic kings Isabella and Ferdinand three times. The clerk Rodrigo de Escobedo drew up the act. From now on, the sea with amazing corals, and sand, and rocks, and palm trees, and parrots, and these bronze people, who had not yet known either clothes or money and were watching with amazement the ritual of “discovery” of the Western Hemisphere - from now on, everything around will belong to Spanish crown.

During his first voyage, Columbus also discovered Haiti and Cuba. He was sure that these islands were the real India, from among those legendary 7777 islands that Marco Polo attributed to the eastern part of the Asian continent. Therefore, their inhabitants, echoing Columbus, have since begun to call them Indians.
The return of the expedition was triumphant.

On March 15, 1493, she was met by the port of Palos. Columbus then headed to Barcelona, ​​where Isabella and Ferdinand were at that time. Voltaire is truly right: “Moments of happiness are worth more than a thousand years of fame.” Celebrations dedicated to the discovery of the New World overshadowed everything.
In the local cathedral, the monarchs ordered a throne to be placed under a canopy of brocade woven with gold. When Columbus approached, Isabella and Ferdinand stood up and did not allow him to kneel for the traditional kissing of hands, Furthermore, sat me down next to you.

There was no end to their questions, and it became obvious that this journey to the shores of the New World was not the last.
Expenses for the expedition ranged, according to contemporaries, from 1 million 140 thousand to 2 million maravedi. Revenues exceeded this amount by about 170 times. The mention that the queen allegedly pawned her jewels to outfit ships is nothing more than a beautiful legend...
Three more expeditions took place.

Central America and the northern coast of South America were discovered. All these years, Columbus had to prove himself in different guises: he was a scientist, a navigator, a conqueror, and in certain periods, the ruler of Hispaniola.
The most dramatic for the admiral was the third expedition, from which he returned to Spain chained. Columbus had too many enemies among the envious Spanish nobility, which did not forgive yesterday’s talented and persistent poor man’s ascension to Olympus of glory.

Fortunately, the queen again found herself above prejudice and palace intrigue. She ordered the shackles to be replaced with expensive clothes and sent part of her personal guard to Columbus's honor guard. However, the pain from the insult did not dull until the admiral's last breath. According to his son Ferdinand, these chains were constantly lying on desk father, who wished to be buried with them.

On May 20, 1506, Columbus uttered his last words: “Into your hands, Lord, I commit my spirit.” A troubled fate awaited his remains. Columbus was buried in Seville, but then, in fulfillment of his will, the remains were reburied in Hispaniola. In 1795

the island became a French colony, and Columbus's ashes ended up in Cuba, and in 1877 - again in Seville, where they still rest.

Brief biography of Christopher Columbus, the most important thing

Christopher Columbus was born in the fall of 1451 into a poor family.

The navigator was tall with a long face and a large nose. His eyes were blue-gray, his skin was white, and his beard and mustache were red. Christopher was a believer. He was also smart, his knowledge was absolutely different areas. The traveler was married twice and had two sons. The eldest son became viceroy of New Spain, and the youngest found his calling in creativity: he became a writer and biographer.

At about 14 years old, the young man was accepted into the navy and was soon wounded.

Then he began to engage in trade and travel a lot, he drew maps and studied. He calculated how to get from Europe to India in the shortest period of time.

They refused to sponsor Christopher's journey in Portugal, so he went to Spain, to Castile, where he organized a naval expedition. The traveler assembled a team that consisted of 90 men and three ships. They began their journey in 1492, in August. The team reached the island, which was named San Salvador, about two months later. Then Christopher visited other Bahamas, Cuba, and Haiti.

In the spring, the navigator arrived in Castile.

During the second trip, the explorer discovered the island of Dominica, Guadeloupe and other small islands. He again visited Cuba and Haiti, where Columbus attempted to find gold. In June, the traveler returned to his homeland. People began to be resettled to the lands discovered by Christopher, but sponsoring them turned out to be expensive. Therefore, later they began to send criminals there, reducing the time they had to serve in prison.

The explorer undertook another expedition in 1498.

During this voyage he again discovered various islands and bays, and came close to discovering South America. In Haiti, the navigator was arrested and put in shackles. Christopher kept them as souvenirs for the rest of his life. The traveler was released in his homeland.

The fourth voyage began in 1502. The explorer was still trying to find a way to India.

It was during this expedition that South America was discovered. Unfortunately, after this campaign, Christopher’s health was undermined.

Unfortunately, due to the discoveries of Christopher, Spanish settlements were created in the colonized lands due to the fact that the Indians were killed and their culture was greatly destroyed.

Many people believe that Christopher discovered America. In fact, researchers have proven that the Normans were the first to discover America, but Christopher's travels were historically significant. It was after him that exploration of a new part of the world began.

Thanks to the navigator, new products brought from America appeared in Europe, and interest in geography and geology increased. Many of Christopher's contemporaries began to go to America in search of wealth, they found in large quantities pearls and other jewelry.

Many places were named after the navigator, such as rivers, counties, states, cities, waterfalls, streets, parks and so on.

The navigator died in the spring of 1506.

4th grade, 5th grade for schoolchildren

Biography of Columbus Christopher about the main thing

Christopher Columbus is one of the most famous navigators, travelers and discoverers.

He was born in 1451 in Spain. He studied at the University of Pavia, where he received an excellent education. He spent almost his entire life sailing and in 1472 set off on his first expedition, where he reached Mediterranean Sea. After 4 years he reached Portugal and from there went to the North Atlantic.

In 1484, Columbus met with the Portuguese king and wanted to convince him to assemble an expedition to the west of Asia, but he was refused.

Without thinking twice, the navigator leaves for Castile. There he negotiates with the Queen of Castile and her husband that he will be awarded all sorts of titles and positions, the continents of which he will discover.

After 4 years, the expedition was ready and set off on its journey. The first thing Columbus was able to discover was the Bahamas. Then came the discovery of Cuba and the island of Hispaniola.

In 1493, his ship ran aground and the navigator returned to Castile.

In connection with the discovery of new lands, the idea arose to create another expedition. Six months later, several ships left Cadiz and headed to the Atlantic. Several more islands are discovered there, and Columbus heads to the previously discovered Hispaniola. He learns that all the residents have become victims of the local aborigines. The navigator decides to establish a settlement there and calls it La Isabela.

In 1494, Columbus, as a result of another successful expedition, discovered Jamaica.

And two years later he returns to his homeland. He understands that he cannot stop there and gathers a group with which he sets sail along the shores of South America. While near the Ganges, Columbus encountered Indians who demanded Europeans to leave the open lands, and in 1503 the navigator decided to return.

A year later, Christopher Columbus dies, having made a great contribution to world history.

4th, 5th grade for children and its opening

Interesting facts and dates from life

COLOMBE (Spanish colon, Italian Colombia, Latin Columbus) Christopher (fall 1451, Genoa - 20.5.1506, Valladolid), Spanish navigator. Around 1465, Columbus entered the Genoese fleet, but after some time he was seriously wounded.

Before 1485, he sailed to the Portuguese courts of Guinea and the Gold Coast (Africa), lived in Lisbon and the islands of Madeira and Porto Santo, which were mainly engaged in trade, cartography and self-education. The exact information about when and where the plan for the western side was developed, and what he believed was the shortest sea route from Europe to India, is based on the ancient doctrine of the sphericity of the Earth and the incorrect calculations of 15th century scientists. In 1485, when the Portuguese king's failure to support Columbus' project moved to Castile and financial support Andalusian merchants and bankers - the ocean shipping organization that he headed.

The first expedition (1492-1493), consisting of 90 people on three ships "Santa Maria", "Pinta" and "Nina", arrived from Palos on 03/08/1492, turning from the Canary Islands to the west, for the first time crossing the subtropical Atlantic Ocean zone, around 27°S, opened the Sargasso Sea. Columbus landed on 12/10/1492 (the official date of the discovery of America), perhaps not on the island of San Salvador (one of the Bahamas), as previously thought, and on the island of Samana, located 120 kilometers to the southeast (you will see first sailor Juan Rodriguez Bermejo).

In October 1492, he discovered one of the islands of the Bahamas and part of the northeastern coast of the island of Cuba in December on the northern coast of the island of Haiti, where the leading settlement was "Santa Maria" on a ridge, the crew managed to escape, a fort was established near the wreck,

On the ship "Ninja" on March 15, 1493, Columbus returned to Castile. The second expedition (1493-96), led by Colombo in admiral's command and vice-president of the newly discovered countries, consisted of 17 ships with a crew of over 1,500 men.

In early November 1493, Columbus discovered the island of Dominica, Guadeloupe, about 20 islands between the Little Antilles (including Antigua and Maidens) and the island of Puerto Rico and sailed to the northern coast of Haiti, to a fortress that had survived the Spanish. 12-29.3.1494 in search of gold, which is an aggressive campaign on the island of Haiti, at the same time crossed the Cordillera Center ridge. May–June 1494 almost all (approximately 1,700 km) took place on the southern coast of the islands of Cuba, Juventud and Jamaica.

In 1495 he continued his conquest of Haiti. He left the island on March 10, 1496 and returned to Castile on June 11. The third expedition (1498-1500) consisted of six ships, of which only one sailed the Atlantic Ocean. In July 1498, he discovered the island of Trinidad, which entered the Gulf of Paris, discovered part of the Orinoco delta and the Paria Peninsula, where the exploration of South America began; after crossing the Caribbean Sea until August 31, on the island of Haiti.

In 1500 they were arrested for their resignation and were taken to Castile, but they were soon released. The fourth expedition (1502-04) of up to 4 ships continued the search for the western route to India and reached the island of Martinique on June 15, 1502, and the Gulf of Honduras on July 30; from 1.8.1502 to 1.5.1503 Columbus first excavated 2,200 km of the Caribbean coast of Central America between Côte d'Ivoire and Uraba and demonstrated that in the tropics between the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans there is a mountain barrier; Finally, the boundaries of the Caribbean were defined.

25.6.1503 Columbus crashed near the Jamaican island; Help from Santo Domingo appeared only a year later. Columbus returned to Castile on November 7. 504. The discoveries of Columbus, accompanied by the colonization of lands, the creation of Spanish settlements, the enslavement and mass destruction of the autochthonous population, designated the Indians, had a global significance. After Columbus sailed, U.S. Land entered a realm of geographical understanding of the world that helped redefine the medieval worldview and the rise of colonial empires.

Name Columbus: state of South America, province of Canada, federal district, plains and rivers in the United States, is a glacier in the Alaska Bank (Bahamas), an ocean basin in the Caribbean, the capital of Sri Lanka, as well as many rivers, mountains, lakes , waterfalls, capes, places in different countries, especially in the United States.

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E. Christopher Columbus - navigator. M., 1958; Christopher Columbus travels. Diaries, letters, documents. M., 1961; A light weight. M. Seville fall. (“Action on Colombian Heritage”). M., 1969; it is the same. Columbus. M., 1992; Taviani R.E. Christopher Columbus: great design. L., 1985; Magidovich V.I., Magidovich I.P. The age of great discoveries. M., 2003; Sell ​​C. Christopher Columbus and conquer paradise. L., 2006.

V. I. Magidovich.

Christopher Columbus.

Columbus (Colombo - Italian, Colon - Spanish, Columbus - Lat.) Christopher, born August 25, 1451 in Genoa (Italy), died May 20, 1506 in Valladolid (Spain), navigator. Under his leadership, four expeditions were conducted to find the shortest route to India.

During the first of them, America was discovered (10/12/1492).

Columbus was born into a poor family. Indeed, his family was not rich, but this did not prevent Columbus from getting a good education- according to some sources, he graduated from the University of Pavia. Her marriage to Dona Felipe Moniz de Palestrello most likely played a significant role, since her father was a famous navigator during the time of Prince Enrique.

The traveler who gave the world the New World died without knowing that he had found the wrong continent that he was looking for.

In those days, there was an assumption that in order to get to India, China or Japan, one had to cross the Atlantic Ocean. The entire expedition of Columbus was organized precisely for the discovery of a new direct route to Far East. Geographer Paolo Toscanelli calculated that it was necessary to sail 5,600 km to reach the shore, which coincided with Columbus's calculations. As a result, having discovered the New World during his first voyage, Columbus believed until the last that he landed on the border of China.

Columbus did not equip his first expedition for long.

This is wrong. Quite a lot of time passed from the moment he conceived the expedition until it was equipped. Until 1485, Columbus served on Genoese and Portuguese ships, visited Ireland, England, and Madeira. At this time, in addition to trading, he was intensively engaged in self-education. He conducted extensive correspondence with famous scientists and cartographers of the time, compiled maps, and studied shipping routes.

Most likely, it was during those years that he came up with the idea of ​​getting to India by the Western route. Presumably in the period from 1475-1480. (there are no exact data) he sent the first proposal to the merchants and government of Genoa. He had to write many more such letters; for about 10 years he received only refusals. Moreover, having been shipwrecked off the coast of Portugal, he tried for a long time to persuade the Portuguese king and only after several wasted years headed to Spain.

As a result, he was able to go on his first expedition only in 1492, thanks to the support of the Spanish Queen Isabella.

Columbus's return from his first expedition aggravated the political situation. When Columbus returned in 1493, having discovered new lands, this message excited minds and aggravated the situation between Spain and Portugal.

Until this time, the main discoverer of all new routes to Africa was Portugal. She was given all the lands south of the Canary Islands. But spanish king Ferdinand and Queen Isabella did not intend to give up Spain's rights to the newly discovered lands, and therefore turned to Pope Alexander VI.

The Pope decided that 600 km west of the Azores a vertical line should be drawn on the map (the so-called papal meridian), to the east of which all lands would belong to Portugal, and to the west - to Spain.

However, the Portuguese king did not agree with this decision, since in this case Portuguese ships could not sail to the south and east without entering Spanish territory. As a result, the Spaniards made concessions and moved the vertical line 1600 km to the west.

Spain could not even imagine how fatal this decision would be. Literally 7 years later, in 1500. Portuguese navigator Pedro Cabral, sailing to India, came across land that was not marked on the map. As it turned out, the line drawn on the map cut off this piece in favor of Portugal, which immediately laid claim to its rights.

As a result, even before America was recognized as a new continent, the future Brazil began to belong to Portugal.

Thanks to Columbus, the local residents began to be called Indians. Let us remember that Columbus was looking for India and when he reached the Bahamas, he was completely sure that he had found it. Therefore, he began to call the local residents Indians.

This name has stuck with the indigenous people to this day.

Columbus was able to equip the second expedition thanks to boasting. No one can confirm this for certain. But it is known that upon his return to Barcelona, ​​Columbus actually boasted of his achievements.

Moreover, he repeatedly demonstrated gold jewelry obtained from local tribes, while speaking about the riches of the Indian land.

His vanity sometimes lifted him so high that he began to talk about future negotiations with the Great Khan. Therefore, it is not at all surprising that the king and queen of Spain could succumb to the speeches of Columbus. In any case, they very quickly, with the support of the Pope, organized a second expedition (from 1493 to 1496).

Columbus was a pirate. This is a very controversial proposition.

However, there are some facts that do not characterize his best features. In his reports from the second expedition, he asks to send ships with livestock, supplies, and tools from Spain. He further writes: “Payment ... can be made by slaves from among the cannibals, cruel people ...

well-built and very smart.” This means that he caught local residents as slaves for Spain.

In fact, all of his activities in the new lands boiled down to robbery and robbery, which is typical of pirates, although it cannot be denied that this may be a consequence of the upbringing of the era.

Of course, you can blame Columbus for all the further troubles of the American continent, but this is unlikely to be fair. No one is obliged to answer for the sins of others.

Columbus had a monopoly on all discovered lands. Indeed, upon arrival from the first expedition, Columbus (Don Cristoval Colon) was given the title of admiral of the sea, viceroy and governor of the islands discovered in India.

His monopoly was unquestioned until after the second expedition it became clear that the new territories were too vast and one person was not able to rule them. In 1499, the kings abolished Columbus's monopoly on the discovery of new lands. This was primarily due to the fact that in 1498 the Portuguese Vasco da Gama sailed by sea to real India and began trade relations with it.

Against the backdrop of his achievements, Columbus, with his complicated situation, small profits for the treasury and conflicts in new territories, seemed like a liar. In an instant, he lost all the privileges he had won.

Christopher Columbus gloriously completed all three of his expeditions.

The first expedition brought glory to Columbus. The second, for which 17 ships were allocated, brought doubts about the riches of the open lands. The third expedition became fatal for Columbus. During it, he lost all rights to the lands. Francisco Bobadilla, sent to Hispaniola with unlimited powers, arrested the admiral and his brothers Bartalomeo and Diego. They were shackled. Columbus was put in shackles by his own cook. They were imprisoned in the Sandoming Fortress. Columbus was accused of "cruelty and inability to govern the country."

Two months later they were sent in chains to Spain. Only two years later the kings dropped the charges against Columbus. He was awarded 2,000 gold pieces, but the promise to return his property and money was not fulfilled.

Christopher Columbus was buried with honors.

Columbus returned from his fourth expedition seriously ill. He still hoped to defend his rights, but with the death of his patron, Queen Isabella, this hope faded.

At the end of his life he needed money. In 1505, an order was given for the sale of all movable and immovable property of Columbus in Hispaniola to pay off creditors.

On May 20, 1506, the great navigator passed away. No one noticed his death. His discoveries were almost forgotten amid the conquests of the Portuguese. His death was recorded only 27 years later. At the end of his life, all his dreams of wealth, mined gold and honors suffered complete collapse...

Columbus (Colombo - Italian, Colon - Spanish, Columbus - Lat.) Christopher, born August 25, 1451 in Genoa (Italy), died May 20, 1506 in Valladolid (Spain), navigator. Under his leadership, four expeditions were conducted to find the shortest route to India. During the first of them, America was discovered (10/12/1492).

Columbus was born into a poor family. Indeed, his family was not rich, but this did not prevent Columbus from receiving a good education - according to some sources, he graduated from the University of Pavia. Her marriage to Dona Felipe Moniz de Palestrello most likely played a significant role, since her father was a famous navigator during the time of Prince Enrique.

The traveler who gave the world the New World died without knowing that he had found the wrong continent that he was looking for. In those days, there was an assumption that in order to get to India, China or Japan, one had to cross the Atlantic Ocean. The entire expedition of Columbus was organized precisely to open a new direct route to the Far East. Geographer Paolo Toscanelli calculated that it was necessary to sail 5,600 km to reach the shore, which coincided with Columbus's calculations. As a result, having discovered the New World during his first voyage, Columbus believed until the last that he landed on the border of China.

Columbus did not equip his first expedition for long. This is wrong. Quite a lot of time passed from the moment he conceived the expedition until it was equipped. Until 1485, Columbus served on Genoese and Portuguese ships, visited Ireland, England, and Madeira. At this time, in addition to trading, he was intensively engaged in self-education. He conducted extensive correspondence with famous scientists and cartographers of the time, compiled maps, and studied shipping routes. Most likely, it was during those years that he came up with the idea of ​​getting to India by the Western route. Presumably in the period from 1475-1480. (there are no exact data) he sent the first proposal to the merchants and government of Genoa. He had to write many more such letters; for about 10 years he received only refusals. Moreover, having been shipwrecked off the coast of Portugal, he tried for a long time to persuade the Portuguese king and only after several wasted years headed to Spain. As a result, he was able to go on his first expedition only in 1492, thanks to the support of the Spanish Queen Isabella.

Columbus's return from his first expedition aggravated the political situation. When Columbus returned in 1493, having discovered new lands, this message excited minds and aggravated the situation between Spain and Portugal. Until this time, the main discoverer of all new routes to Africa was Portugal. She was given all the lands south of the Canary Islands. But the Spanish King Ferdinand and Queen Isabella were not going to give up Spain's rights to the newly discovered lands, and therefore turned to Pope Alexander VI. The Pope decided that 600 km west of the Azores a vertical line should be drawn on the map (the so-called papal meridian), to the east of which all lands would belong to Portugal, and to the west to Spain. However, the Portuguese king did not agree with this decision, since in this case Portuguese ships could not sail to the south and east without entering Spanish territory. As a result, the Spaniards made concessions and moved the vertical line 1600 km to the west. Spain could not even imagine how fatal this decision would be. Literally 7 years later, in 1500, the Portuguese navigator Pedro Cabral, sailing to India, came across land that was not marked on the map. As it turned out, the line drawn on the map cut off this piece in favor of Portugal, which immediately laid claim to its rights. As a result, even before America was recognized as a new continent, the future Brazil began to belong to Portugal.

Thanks to Columbus, the local residents began to be called Indians. Let us remember that Columbus was looking for India and when he reached the Bahamas, he was completely sure that he had found it. Therefore, he began to call the local residents Indians. This name has stuck with the indigenous people to this day.

Columbus was able to equip the second expedition thanks to boasting. No one can confirm this for certain. But it is known that upon his return to Barcelona, ​​Columbus actually boasted of his achievements. Moreover, he repeatedly demonstrated gold jewelry obtained from local tribes, while speaking about the riches of the Indian land. His vanity sometimes lifted him so high that he began to talk about future negotiations with the Great Khan. Therefore, it is not at all surprising that the king and queen of Spain could succumb to the speeches of Columbus. In any case, they very quickly, with the support of the Pope, organized a second expedition (from 1493 to 1496).

Columbus was a pirate. This is a very controversial proposition. However, there are some facts that do not characterize his best features. In his reports from the second expedition, he asks to send ships with livestock, supplies, and tools from Spain. He further writes: “Payment... can be made by slaves from among the cannibals, cruel people... well-built and very intelligent.” This means that he caught local residents as slaves for Spain. In fact, all of his activities in the new lands boiled down to robbery and robbery, which is typical of pirates, although it cannot be denied that this may be a consequence of the upbringing of the era. Of course, you can blame Columbus for all the further troubles of the American continent, but this is unlikely to be fair. No one is obliged to answer for the sins of others.

Columbus had a monopoly on all discovered lands. Indeed, upon arrival from the first expedition, Columbus (Don Cristoval Colon) was given the title of admiral of the sea, viceroy and governor of the islands discovered in India. His monopoly was unquestioned until after the second expedition it became clear that the new territories were too vast and one person was not able to rule them. In 1499, the kings abolished Columbus's monopoly on the discovery of new lands. This was primarily due to the fact that in 1498 the Portuguese Vasco da Gama sailed by sea to real India and began trade relations with it. Against the backdrop of his achievements, Columbus, with his complicated situation, small profits for the treasury and conflicts in new territories, seemed like a liar. In an instant, he lost all the privileges he had won.

Christopher Columbus gloriously completed all three of his expeditions. The first expedition brought glory to Columbus. The second, for which 17 ships were allocated, brought doubts about the riches of the open lands. The third expedition became fatal for Columbus. During it, he lost all rights to the lands. Francisco Bobadilla, sent to Hispaniola with unlimited powers, arrested the admiral and his brothers Bartalomeo and Diego. They were shackled. Columbus was put in shackles by his own cook. They were imprisoned in the Sandoming Fortress. Columbus was accused of "cruelty and inability to govern the country." Two months later they were sent in chains to Spain. Only two years later the kings dropped the charges against Columbus. He was awarded 2,000 gold pieces, but the promise to return his property and money was not fulfilled.

Christopher Columbus was buried with honors. Columbus returned from his fourth expedition seriously ill. He still hoped to defend his rights, but with the death of his patron, Queen Isabella, this hope faded. At the end of his life he needed money. In 1505, an order was given for the sale of all movable and immovable property of Columbus in Hispaniola to pay off creditors. On May 20, 1506, the great navigator passed away. No one noticed his death. His discoveries were almost forgotten amid the conquests of the Portuguese. His death was recorded only 27 years later. At the end of his life, all his dreams of wealth, mined gold and honors suffered complete collapse...

Christopher Columbus was born between August 26 and October 31, 1451 on the island of Corsica in the Republic of Genoa. The future discoverer received his education at the University of Pavia.

A brief biography of Columbus does not preserve exact evidence of his first voyages, but it is known that in the 1470s he carried out sea expeditions for trading purposes. Even then, Columbus had the idea of ​​traveling to India through the west. The navigator many times appealed to the rulers of European countries with a request to help him organize an expedition - to King João II, the Duke of Medina Seli, King Henry VII and others. It was not until 1492 that Columbus's voyage was approved by the Spanish rulers, most notably Queen Isabella. He was given the title of “don” and was promised rewards if the project was successful.

Four expeditions. Discovery of America

Columbus's first voyage took place in 1492. During the journey, the navigator discovered the Bahamas, Haiti, and Cuba, although he himself considered these lands to be “Western India.”

During the second expedition of Columbus's assistants there were such famous personalities like the future conqueror of Cuba Diego Velazquez de Cuellar, the notary Rodrigo de Bastidas, the pioneer Juan de la Cosa. Then the navigator's discoveries included the Virgin Islands, Lesser Antilles, Jamaica, and Puerto Rico.

Christopher Columbus's third expedition took place in 1498. The navigator's main discovery was the island of Trinidad. However, at the same time, Vasco da Gama found the real route to India, so Columbus was declared a deceiver and sent under escort from Hispaniola to Spain. However, upon his arrival, local financiers managed to persuade King Ferdinand II to drop the charges.

Columbus never abandoned the hope of discovering a new shortcut to South Asia. In 1502, the navigator was able to obtain permission from the king for a fourth voyage. Columbus reached the coast of Central America, proving that a continent lies between the Atlantic Ocean and the South Sea.

Last years

During his last voyage, Columbus became seriously ill. Upon his return to Spain, he failed to restore the privileges and rights granted to him. Christopher Columbus died on May 20, 1506 in Seville, Spain. The navigator was first buried in Seville, but in 1540, by order of Emperor Charles V, Columbus's remains were transported to the island of Hispaniola (Haiti), and in 1899 again to Seville.

Other biography options

• Historians still do not know the true biography of Christopher Columbus - there is so little factual material about his fate and expeditions that the navigator’s biographers introduce many fictitious statements into his biography.
• Returning to Spain after the second expedition, Columbus proposed settling criminals on the newly discovered lands.
• Columbus's dying words were: “In manus tuas, Domine, commendo spiritum meum” (“Into your hands, Lord, I entrust my spirit”).
• The significance of the navigator's discoveries was recognized only in the middle of the 16th century.

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