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Christopher Columbus and Initial European
Contact
Who was Christopher Columbus?
• Birth: 1451 in Genoa, Italy.
• Career: Began sailing as a teenager.
• Known as possibly the best dead reckoning sailor.
• Inspiration: Influenced by Paolo del Pozzo Toscanelli’s letter, aiming for
a westward route to India.
Motivation and Voyage
• Goal: A faster route to Asia for wealth (gold, spices).
• Rejection: Portugal rejected his plan.
• Support from Spain: Received support from King Ferdinand and Queen
Isabella of Spain.
• Voyage: Set sail in August 1492 with three ships: the Nina, the Pinta, and
the Santa Maria.
• Discovery: Arrived in the Bahamas, mistaking it for India.
Achievements and Exploitation
• Established a settlement on Hispaniola (now Haiti and the Dominican
Republic).
• Became a hero in Spain, leading to more voyages.
• Enslaved indigenous people to mine gold and rebuild settlements.
Consequences and Controversy
• Mismanagement: Arrested due to issues in Hispaniola.
• Final Years: Returned to Spain, died disillusioned.
• Legacy: Seen as both a hero and a figure associated with genocide and
slavery.
Modern Perspectives and Controversy
Christopher Columbus and Initial European
Contact
Who was Christopher Columbus?
• Birth: 1451 in Genoa, Italy.
• Career: Began sailing as a teenager.
• Known as possibly the best dead reckoning sailor.
• Inspiration: Influenced by Paolo del Pozzo Toscanelli’s letter, aiming for
a westward route to India.
Motivation and Voyage
• Goal: A faster route to Asia for wealth (gold, spices).
• Rejection: Portugal rejected his plan.
• Support from Spain: Received support from King Ferdinand and Queen
Isabella of Spain.
• Voyage: Set sail in August 1492 with three ships: the Nina, the Pinta, and
the Santa Maria.
• Discovery: Arrived in the Bahamas, mistaking it for India.
Achievements and Exploitation
• Established a settlement on Hispaniola (now Haiti and the Dominican
Republic).
• Became a hero in Spain, leading to more voyages.
• Enslaved indigenous people to mine gold and rebuild settlements.
Consequences and Controversy
• Mismanagement: Arrested due to issues in Hispaniola.
• Final Years: Returned to Spain, died disillusioned.
• Legacy: Seen as both a hero and a figure associated with genocide and
slavery.
Modern Perspectives and Controversy
