Christopher Columbus E-Book

50MINUTES

• Herausgeber: 50Minutes.com
• Kategorie: Lebensstil
• Serie: History
• Sprache: Englisch

Seitenzahl: 31

Veröffentlichungsjahr: 2017

Beschreibung

Keen to learn but short on time? Get to grips with the life of Christopher Columbus in next to no time with this concise guide.

50Minutes.com provides a clear and engaging analysis of Christopher Columbus. Christopher Columbus set out in 1492 to find a new route to Asia and the East Indies. But on 12 October, he accidentally discovered America. While most people know that the discovery of America is credited to Columbus, few know the true story behind his epic saga; his conflict with the Native Americans, his arrest by the Spanish monarchy and his time spent shipwrecked in Jamaica. Columbus’ expedition was packed with adventures and challenges, but it led to an incredible discovery that changed the world forever.

In just 50 minutes you will:
   • Learn about how Christopher Columbus came to discover America with the help of the Spanish monarchy
   • Understand the political, social and economic context of the time and how this drove Columbus’s desire to explore
   • Identify what the aim of his expedition really was and how his discovery of America was an accident that changed the world

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Leseprobe

Christopher Columbus

Key information

Born: Between 25 August and 31 October 1451 in Genoa (Republic of Genoa)Died: The 20 May 1506 in Valladolid (Republic of Spain)Goal of expeditions: Mark out a commercial route to Asia and the East Indies travelling westwardExplored regions of the world:First voyage: The Bahamas, Cuba, Hispaniola (Haiti)Second voyage: The Lesser Antilles, JamaicaThird voyage: Trinidad, South America, the mouth of the Orinoco River (South American river)Fourth voyage: The Honduran, Costa Rican and Panamanian coasts (Central America)Most notable discovery: The American continent

Introduction

“As the Pinta was the finest ship and went before the admiral nave, it was she who discovered the land” (Balard, 1992)1

At 2am on 12 October 1492, 33 days since Christopher Columbus and the crews of his three ships departed from the edge of the world’s mapped territory. They had set off into a new world hoping to reach Asia, unaware of the discovery they were about to make.

It was not, however, such an easy goal to reach. For years the explorer's project had been judged unachievable and refused support and funding. His objective was indeed major: to find a new westward route to the East Indies, seen as symbols of wealth and prosperity due to the spices and gold to be found there. It was not until April 1492 that Columbus' expedition was finally approved by the Spanish crown. His epic saga was just beginning.

Christopher Columbus embarked on four westward voyages towards what we now know is the American continent, though at the time he was unaware of this. Each of these journeys featured significant discoveries and contributed to the development of the geography and our understanding of the world. However, exploring new lands would also go hand in hand with colonisation, something which would profoundly shape Spanish history. Spain became one of the most powerful countries of the modern era; as Europe emerged from the middle ages, it readied itself for world domination.

1 All quotes from this text have been translated by 50Minutes.com

Biography

Portrait of Christopher Columbus painted around 1835 by Antoine Maurin

Childhood and education

Christopher Columbus was a navigator and explorer. He was the first European of the modern era to cross the Atlantic and reach the American continent, which was at the time undiscovered and uncharted territory. He was born some point between 25 August and 31 October 1451 in Genoa to an ordinary family; the destiny which awaited him was far-removed from his humble beginnings. The oldest child of a modest weaver, his most important duty was to learn his father's trade. The young Columbus was not at all inspired by this prospect and eventually renounced this line of work altogether. He then became a sailor and embarked on several commercial voyages in the Mediterranean, meanwhile acquiring a strong awareness of the world's mapped territory through his own personal research and studies.

The long-awaited venture