Voyages of Christopher Columbus
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Pinta, Nina, and Santa Maria painting from Spain
Christopher Columbus was an Italian navigator who seek to find a new way to India by sailing westward. Columbus was born in Italy and raised in Portugal. Despite this relation with both countries, Columbus was denied his request of a Crown supported voyage to find the new route to India. However, when Columbus took his petition to the royalties of Spain, King Ferdinand and Queen Isabella, he was met with success. In the August of 1492, Columbus, accompanied by 90 men and armed with three ships: the Pinta, Nina, and Santa Maria (the largest of them all), set sailed to find the new route to India or as we now know the Americas.
After months of vigorous sailing against the rough seas and high winds, the battered crew finally spotted land on the near horizon. The timing could not have been better, for if it was any later, many of the crew members would've rebelled against their captain. Their first destination was in what is presently known as San Salvador (Guanahani). They then landed in Cuba and Espanola. Columbus believed this area to be the water of the Indies and the people, the Indians. On his second and third voyages, the navigator discovered Trinidad and Jamaica, and the closest he ever got to North America was Puerto Rico.
After months of vigorous sailing against the rough seas and high winds, the battered crew finally spotted land on the near horizon. The timing could not have been better, for if it was any later, many of the crew members would've rebelled against their captain. Their first destination was in what is presently known as San Salvador (Guanahani). They then landed in Cuba and Espanola. Columbus believed this area to be the water of the Indies and the people, the Indians. On his second and third voyages, the navigator discovered Trinidad and Jamaica, and the closest he ever got to North America was Puerto Rico.
The Importance of Columbus' Voyages
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Painting of Columbus reaching the New World
Columbus' Voyages sparked a widespread interest in transatlantic voyages and inversely influenced the colonization of the British colonies. Upon hearing Columbus' success in finding "India," many nations sent forth their best sailors to follow Columbus' journey into the yet unknown new world. Many seek to reap the resources and gain more land, as their countries overflowed with people. As people arrived and colonized the New World, trade had to follow. This trade that followed into the New World was named the Columbian Exchange. This exchange caused a new culture to emerge in both the New and Old Worlds. The exchange of ideas, resources, religion, and education was fairly mutual. With the basis of a new colonization set, there was no stopping the freight train that is now called the United States of America.