Christopher Columbus 2 Essay, Research Paper

Who is a great figure of the Millennium? A great figure of the Millennium is a very intelligent human being that has accomplished more than the average person, and some how did something for the rest of society, and by doing this, he or she has become famous. There are many great figures of the Millennium, but they all have different qualities. Christopher Columbus is a perfect example of a great figure of the Millennium. Columbus accomplished many things throughout his life, however he is remembered most by one thing. Though Columbus did not actually discover the world, he allowed people to explore the land as well as settle there.

Christopher Columbus was born in the year of 1451 in Italy. His father was a wool merchant and weaver. Columbus is the oldest of five brothers and sisters in his family (Readers Digest 102). As Columbus grew in to a man he was interested in sailing to Asia by going west. He presented this idea to the King of Italy, but he was not looking for a way to Asia (C. Columbus Navigation). He then set sail in his ship during The Battle of Portugal in 1476 and the next thing he knew he was swimming ashore when his ship sunk. After this he joins his brother Bartholomew, a cartographer, in Lisbon (Grolier). From here until 1482 he makes merchant voyages as far as Iceland and Guinea (Columbus Day). In 1484 he comes up with a plan called The Enterprise of The Indies , his plans to explore the Indies, however he fails to convince the King of Portugal to back the plan (Grolier). Almost a year later, before moving to Spain, he gained support from two Catholic monarchs, Ferdinand and Isabella. They provided him with enough food, men and ships for his expedition (Encyclopedia 268).

August 3, 1492, Columbus set sail from Palos, Spain, with Columbus in the Santa Maria; accompanied by the Nina and the Pinta, and less than one hundred men (Readers Digest 102). After three days the Pinta was damaged and anchored in the Canarie Islands to repair it. They set sail again in September when they finished the repairs on the Pinta (C. Columbus Navigation). As days went by, they still did not spot any signs of land nearby. The crew was very tired of Columbus and believed that he was completely lost and had no idea where he was going (Columbus Day). After more than a month at sea, the crew could have been forgiven for thinking that their commander had lost his way and perhaps his mind too (Encyclopedia 269). Columbus altered course to the southwest and the men soon saw signs that they were near or approaching lands (C. Columbus Navigation).

Early on the morning of October 12, Rodrigo de Trina, a crewman, spotted land. A landing party arrived on the islands, now known as the Bahamas, and named it San Salvador (Grolier). The natives must have been surprised to hear that their land now belonged to Spain (Readers Digest 103). Columbus then took possession of the Island in the name of the rulers in Spain. The crewman than begged Columbus for his forgiveness for their poor behavior while they were on the sea (Columbus Day). Since Columbus believed San Salvador to be an island of the Indies he named the natives on the island Indians (Readers Digest 103). Once they visited their first discovery long enough they set sail again. They left San Salvador and seventeen days later they arrived in Cuba (C. Columbus Navigation). During their time spent in Cuba, Martin Alonso Pizon, captain of the Pinta, deserted the expedition off in Cuba (Columbus Day). Columbus than set sails again, only to arrive in Hispaniola on the first of December. Twenty-four days later the Santa Maria sinks off Hispaniola, then he finds La Navidad. Martin Alonso Pizon then rejoined Columbus and his crew (Columbus Day).

On January 16, 1493, the Nina and Pinta made their way back to Spain to meet Isabella and Ferdinad. They took back gold, strange animals, foreign plants, native cloth and ornaments, and several Indians (Encyclopedia 269). On the journey back the Nina and Pinta were separated in the fierce storms of the sea. The storm caused plenty of damage to both the Nina and the Pinta (Grolier). When Columbus finally reached his alternate destination he docked in at the Spanish town of Bayona, which is just north of Portugal. Columbus was then welcomed by King John in Lisbon, King John offered to repair his ship so they could get back to Palos as soon as possible. After repairs were complete they set sail for Spain (C. Columbus Navigation). Around mid-day on March 15, 1493 the Nina dropped anchor in Palos harbor. The Pinta made it in later that same day (Encyclopedia 270). The Spanish King and Queen welcomed Columbus and his crew back at the court in Barcelona. Columbus brought six Indians, some gold, and some of the animals and plants that he discovered to the court (C. Columbus Navigation).

Christopher Columbus made three more trips to the New World: 1493-1496, 1498-1500, and 1502-1504 (Encyclopedia 270). On the first voyage back to the New World he went to Hispaniola. Here he found thirty-nine of his men, a colony started from the first voyage, killed and the town was burned to the ground. So Columbus then started a new colony in place of the old one that was destroyed (Grolier). After he left Hispaniola he began his second voyage. Columbus explored different places off the northeastern shore until he was arrested. He was then immediately shipped back to port Palos in chains. A new governor was then sent to replace Columbus. The Monarchs finally released him and restored his titles so he could make more voyages (Grolier). Once he was free he went on his third and final voyage. He set sail to try to find a passage to Asia. He never found the passage because he got sick. Two rescue ships had to come get him and take him back to Spain. He was not only dying, but he was sick in spirit as well as health (Grolier). When he returned the king refused to restore his honors and privileges. However, Columbus was far from poor because he brought back so much gold. Columbus did not live too much longer, on May 20, 1506 Columbus passed away in Valladolid, Spain. In the year 1513 Columbus s remains were transferred to a monastery in Seville, where his son Diego had been buried (Encyclopedia 270).

Although Christopher Columbus did not actually discover the world, he allowed people to explore the land and settle there. It is easy to see now how Christopher Columbus is listed under Great figures of the Millennium . He received credit for landing first in the New World, and opened many doors for others. In a way Columbus was cheated out of his discovery, but he still continues to be recognized on Columbus Day as one of greatest figures of the Millennium. All of Columbus s expeditions meant well in their own ways, rather it was discovering a New World or just exploring around the northeastern coast. Christopher Columbus is a great figure of the Millennium.