Exploration, Exploitation and Colonization of America: Christopher Columbus

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Christopher Columbus was a Spanish master navigator and admiral whose four transatlantic voyages opened the way for European exploration, exploitation, and colonization of the Americans. He has long been called the “discoverer” of the New World. Although, Vikings such as Leif Eriksson had visited North America five centuries earlier. Christopher Columbus made his voyage under the sponsorship of Ferdinand II and Isabella I. Who were the Catholic Monarchs of Aragon. And how he made is voyage and why he did it.
Christopher Columbus was an Italian explore, navigator and colonizer, born in the Republic of Genoa, in what is today northwestern Italy. He was born October 1451 and he died May 20, 1506. His full name was Cristoforo Colombo. Not many people know about his childhood but people believed that he was well-educated because he was able to speak several languages as an adult and had a wide variety of knowledge of classical literature. Columbus took the sea at a young age. He was only fourteen and it continued throughout his younger life.
Columbus’s first voyage started on August 3, 1492. This was when he left for Spain for is initial journey. The Santa Maria, the Pinta, and the Nina made up Christopher’s small fleet of ships with teams of men that would join him for nearby towns. He planned to land for a short period on the Canary Islands but he ended up with a month’s layover instead of a short period of time which is what he planned. This was due to problems with weather, like lack of wind, also, for the lack of requirements of ship maintance. Wind remained flat therefore it took him a few days at the start of September to establish visual contact with the island of Hierro.
Columbus landed at the Bahamas October 12 and contin...

... middle of paper ...

... location in the world, and he never found the route he wanted, but he did begin European trade, travel and colonization of the Americas.
After all of his voyages and discover America Christopher Columbus died because of gout on May 20, 1506. Well, that is what his son Fernando said. Christopher lived a life full of discovering different places. Columbus was one of the famous people that we look up to that founded America. And, that was how Columbus lived his life till May 20th.

Works Cited

“Christopher Columbus." About.com Geography. N.p., n.d. Web. 27 Oct. 2013.

"Christopher Columbus." History.com. A&E Television Networks, n.d. Web. 24 Oct. 2013.

"Christopher Columbus First Voyage." Christopher Columbus First Voyage. N.p., 27 Oct. 2013. Web. 24 Oct. 2013.

"The First Voyage." Encyclopedia Britannica Online. Encyclopedia Britannica, n.d. Web. 22 Oct. 2013.

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