The Life of Christopher Columbus – Discover The True Story of the Great Voyage & All the Adventures of the Infamous Explorer

by Christopher Columbus

To these days, the best authorities agree that the children and the grown people of the world have never been mistaken when they have said: “America was discovered in 1492 by Christopher Columbus, a native of Genoa". But what do we really know about the man behind this name, the life behind the myth? Discover the man that experienced incredible adventures, the man with ferocious drive, but still a man of flesh and blood whose life story, spirit and destiny will move you in a way you didn't expect. Contents: Early Life of Columbus: Birth and Birth Place Early Education Experience at Sea Marriage and Residence in Lisbon Plans for the Discovery of a Westward Passage to the Indies Columbus Leaves Lisbon, and Visits Genoa Visits Great Spanish Dukes Six Years at the Court of Ferdinand and Isabella The Council of Salamanca Petition at Last Granted—squadron The Great Voyage: The Squadron Sails Refits at Canary Islands Hopes and Fears of the Voyage The Doubts of the Crew Land Discovered The Landing on the Twelfth of October The Natives and Their Neighbors Search for Gold Cuba Discovered Columbus Coasts Along Its Shores Landing on Cuba The Cigar and Tobacco Cipango and the Great Khan Cuba to Haiti Shores and Harbors Discovery of Haiti or Hispaniola Hospitality and Intelligence of the Natives A Shipwreck Colony to Be Founded Columbus Sails East and Meets Martin Pinzon The Two Vessels Return to Europe The Azores and Portugal Columbus Is Called to Meet the King and Queen His Magnificent Reception Negotiations With the Pope and With the King of Portugal The Second Expedition Sails From Cadiz Touches at Canary Islands Discovery of Dominica and Guadeloupe Skirmishes With the Caribs Porto Rico Discovered Hispaniola The Fate of the Colony at La Navidad The New Colony Guacanagari Mutiny in the Colony Collection of Gold Fortress of St. Thomas A New Voyage of Discovery Jamaica Visited The South Shore of Cuba Explored Letter to the King and Queen Discovery of Trinidad ...

Genres: History, Biography, Nonfiction

92 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1891

About the author

Christopher Columbus (c. 1451–1506) was a Genoese navigator, colonizer and explorer whose voyages across the Atlantic Ocean led to general European awareness of the American continents in the Western Hemisphere. Although not the first to reach the Americas from Europe—he was preceded by the Norse, led by Leif Ericson, who built a temporary settlement 500 years earlier at L'Anse aux Meadows — Columbus initiated widespread contact between Europeans and indigenous Americans. With his four voyages of discovery and several attempts at establishing a settlement on the island of Hispaniola, all funded by Queen Isabella of Spain, he initiated the process of Spanish colonization which foreshadowed general European colonization of the "New World." (The term "pre-Columbian" is usually used to refer to the peoples and cultures of the Americas before the arrival of Columbus and his European successors.)

His initial 1492 voyage came at a critical time of growing national imperialism and economic competition between developing nation states seeking wealth from the establishment of trade routes and colonies. In this sociopolitical climate, Columbus's far-fetched scheme won the attention of Queen Isabella of Spain. Severely underestimating the circumference of the Earth, he estimated that a westward route from Iberia to the Indies would be shorter and more direct than the overland trade route through Arabia. If true, this would allow Spain entry into the lucrative spice trade — heretofore commanded by the Arabs and Italians. Following his plotted course, he instead landed within the Bahamas Archipelago at a locale he named San Salvador. Mistaking the North-American island for the East-Asian mainland, he referred to its inhabitants as "Indios".

Academic consensus is that Columbus was born in Genoa, though there are other theories. The name Christopher Columbus is the Anglicisation of the Latin Christophorus Columbus. The original name in 15th century Genoese language was Christoffa Corombo. The name is rendered in modern Italian as Cristoforo Colombo, in Portuguese as Cristóvão Colombo (formerly Christovam Colom), and in Spanish as Cristóbal Colón.

The anniversary of Columbus's 1492 landing in the Americas is observed as Columbus Day on October 12 in Spain and throughout the Americas, except that in the United States it is observed on the second Monday in October.

Reviews

[Walt Kinsey · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good read.

It amazes me that history changes so much in the minds of men. His story, told largely from his own writings a century ago, is of a far more balanced man than we are led to believe today. He had his flaws, as we all do, but that should not deter us from appreciation.

[Ben · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is the story of Christopher Columbus' exploration based mostly on the writings of Christopher Columbus as told by a fan in celebration of the 400th anniversary of sailing the ocean blue. Hale presents Columbus as an imperfect hero explorer doing the work of God. This is the story of Columbus that I learned in school -- one that presents Columbus' own words written to extol himself to his financiers as the truth in spite of raising some concerns about the accuracy of his reporting.

[Gen · Rating 2 out of 5]

I couldn't track the author's narrations too well. I'm not sure if it's because I had a digital version, too ignorant of that era, or what, but it was arduous and painful trying to track events. Additionally, there are few direct quotes from Columbus, or his peer's, diaries to give evidence of Columbus' "unadulterated by time" character/personality.

[Dougel · Rating 4 out of 5]

Biography

Appears to be factually accurate , even if some things like kidnapping and forced servitude are told simply like took some natives . interesting account and expanded my knowledge of the man and his dealings.

[Frederick · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very good work which, using primary sources, dispels certain myths about Columbus, a complicated historical figure. Recommended for students of history and a good read.