informative essay on christopher columbus

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Christopher Columbus

By: History.com Editors

Updated: August 11, 2023 | Original: November 9, 2009

The explorer Christopher Columbus made four trips across the Atlantic Ocean from Spain: in 1492, 1493, 1498 and 1502. He was determined to find a direct water route west from Europe to Asia, but he never did. Instead, he stumbled upon the Americas. Though he did not “discover” the so-called New World—millions of people already lived there—his journeys marked the beginning of centuries of exploration and colonization of North and South America.

Christopher Columbus and the Age of Discovery

During the 15th and 16th centuries, leaders of several European nations sponsored expeditions abroad in the hope that explorers would find great wealth and vast undiscovered lands. The Portuguese were the earliest participants in this “ Age of Discovery ,” also known as “ Age of Exploration .”

Starting in about 1420, small Portuguese ships known as caravels zipped along the African coast, carrying spices, gold and other goods as well as enslaved people from Asia and Africa to Europe.

Did you know? Christopher Columbus was not the first person to propose that a person could reach Asia by sailing west from Europe. In fact, scholars argue that the idea is almost as old as the idea that the Earth is round. (That is, it dates back to early Rome.)

Other European nations, particularly Spain, were eager to share in the seemingly limitless riches of the “Far East.” By the end of the 15th century, Spain’s “ Reconquista ”—the expulsion of Jews and Muslims out of the kingdom after centuries of war—was complete, and the nation turned its attention to exploration and conquest in other areas of the world.

Early Life and Nationality 

Christopher Columbus, the son of a wool merchant, is believed to have been born in Genoa, Italy, in 1451. When he was still a teenager, he got a job on a merchant ship. He remained at sea until 1476, when pirates attacked his ship as it sailed north along the Portuguese coast.

The boat sank, but the young Columbus floated to shore on a scrap of wood and made his way to Lisbon, where he eventually studied mathematics, astronomy, cartography and navigation. He also began to hatch the plan that would change the world forever.

Christopher Columbus' First Voyage

At the end of the 15th century, it was nearly impossible to reach Asia from Europe by land. The route was long and arduous, and encounters with hostile armies were difficult to avoid. Portuguese explorers solved this problem by taking to the sea: They sailed south along the West African coast and around the Cape of Good Hope.

But Columbus had a different idea: Why not sail west across the Atlantic instead of around the massive African continent? The young navigator’s logic was sound, but his math was faulty. He argued (incorrectly) that the circumference of the Earth was much smaller than his contemporaries believed it was; accordingly, he believed that the journey by boat from Europe to Asia should be not only possible, but comparatively easy via an as-yet undiscovered Northwest Passage . 

He presented his plan to officials in Portugal and England, but it was not until 1492 that he found a sympathetic audience: the Spanish monarchs Ferdinand of Aragon and Isabella of Castile .

Columbus wanted fame and fortune. Ferdinand and Isabella wanted the same, along with the opportunity to export Catholicism to lands across the globe. (Columbus, a devout Catholic, was equally enthusiastic about this possibility.)

Columbus’ contract with the Spanish rulers promised that he could keep 10 percent of whatever riches he found, along with a noble title and the governorship of any lands he should encounter.

Where Did Columbus' Ships, Niña, Pinta and Santa Maria, Land?

On August 3, 1492, Columbus and his crew set sail from Spain in three ships: the Niña , the Pinta and the Santa Maria . On October 12, the ships made landfall—not in the East Indies, as Columbus assumed, but on one of the Bahamian islands, likely San Salvador.

For months, Columbus sailed from island to island in what we now know as the Caribbean, looking for the “pearls, precious stones, gold, silver, spices, and other objects and merchandise whatsoever” that he had promised to his Spanish patrons, but he did not find much. In January 1493, leaving several dozen men behind in a makeshift settlement on Hispaniola (present-day Haiti and the Dominican Republic), he left for Spain.

He kept a detailed diary during his first voyage. Christopher Columbus’s journal was written between August 3, 1492, and November 6, 1492 and mentions everything from the wildlife he encountered, like dolphins and birds, to the weather to the moods of his crew. More troublingly, it also recorded his initial impressions of the local people and his argument for why they should be enslaved.

“They… brought us parrots and balls of cotton and spears and many other things, which they exchanged for the glass beads and hawks’ bells," he wrote. "They willingly traded everything they owned… They were well-built, with good bodies and handsome features… They do not bear arms, and do not know them, for I showed them a sword, they took it by the edge and cut themselves out of ignorance. They have no iron… They would make fine servants… With fifty men we could subjugate them all and make them do whatever we want.”

Columbus gifted the journal to Isabella upon his return.

Christopher Columbus's Later Voyages

About six months later, in September 1493, Columbus returned to the Americas. He found the Hispaniola settlement destroyed and left his brothers Bartolomeo and Diego Columbus behind to rebuild, along with part of his ships’ crew and hundreds of enslaved indigenous people.

Then he headed west to continue his mostly fruitless search for gold and other goods. His group now included a large number of indigenous people the Europeans had enslaved. In lieu of the material riches he had promised the Spanish monarchs, he sent some 500 enslaved people to Queen Isabella. The queen was horrified—she believed that any people Columbus “discovered” were Spanish subjects who could not be enslaved—and she promptly and sternly returned the explorer’s gift.

In May 1498, Columbus sailed west across the Atlantic for the third time. He visited Trinidad and the South American mainland before returning to the ill-fated Hispaniola settlement, where the colonists had staged a bloody revolt against the Columbus brothers’ mismanagement and brutality. Conditions were so bad that Spanish authorities had to send a new governor to take over.

Meanwhile, the native Taino population, forced to search for gold and to work on plantations, was decimated (within 60 years after Columbus landed, only a few hundred of what may have been 250,000 Taino were left on their island). Christopher Columbus was arrested and returned to Spain in chains.

In 1502, cleared of the most serious charges but stripped of his noble titles, the aging Columbus persuaded the Spanish crown to pay for one last trip across the Atlantic. This time, Columbus made it all the way to Panama—just miles from the Pacific Ocean—where he had to abandon two of his four ships after damage from storms and hostile natives. Empty-handed, the explorer returned to Spain, where he died in 1506.

Legacy of Christopher Columbus

Christopher Columbus did not “discover” the Americas, nor was he even the first European to visit the “New World.” (Viking explorer Leif Erikson had sailed to Greenland and Newfoundland in the 11th century.)

However, his journey kicked off centuries of exploration and exploitation on the American continents. The Columbian Exchange transferred people, animals, food and disease across cultures. Old World wheat became an American food staple. African coffee and Asian sugar cane became cash crops for Latin America, while American foods like corn, tomatoes and potatoes were introduced into European diets. 

Today, Columbus has a controversial legacy —he is remembered as a daring and path-breaking explorer who transformed the New World, yet his actions also unleashed changes that would eventually devastate the native populations he and his fellow explorers encountered.

HISTORY Vault: Columbus the Lost Voyage

Ten years after his 1492 voyage, Columbus, awaiting the gallows on criminal charges in a Caribbean prison, plotted a treacherous final voyage to restore his reputation.

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118 Christopher Columbus Essay Topic Ideas & Examples

Inside This Article

Christopher Columbus is one of the most iconic figures in world history. Known for his voyages across the Atlantic Ocean, Columbus played a significant role in the exploration and colonization of the New World. Writing an essay on Columbus can be a fascinating and educational experience, as it allows you to delve into various aspects of his life, achievements, controversies, and impact on the world. To help you get started, here are 118 topic ideas and examples for your Christopher Columbus essay.

• Christopher Columbus's early life and background.
• The motivations behind Columbus's voyages.
• Analyzing Columbus's journals: What do they reveal about his mindset?
• The impact of Columbus's voyages on European exploration.
• Columbus's interactions with indigenous peoples: Perspectives and consequences.
• The role of religion in Columbus's expeditions.
• Columbus's relationship with Queen Isabella and King Ferdinand of Spain.
• The legacy of Columbus: Hero or villain?
• The controversy surrounding the Columbus Day holiday.
• Columbus's encounters with indigenous civilizations: A clash of cultures.
• The impact of Columbus's voyages on the economies of Europe and the New World.
• Analyzing the treatment of indigenous peoples by Columbus and his crew.
• Columbus's impact on the global exchange of goods, ideas, and diseases.
• The different perspectives on Columbus's achievements in European and American history textbooks.
• The role of Columbus in the Columbian Exchange.
• Columbus's navigation techniques: How did he navigate across the Atlantic?
• The impact of Columbus's voyages on European cartography.
• Columbus's influence on subsequent explorers and colonization efforts.
• The impact of Columbus's expeditions on the development of the modern world.
• The perception of Columbus in different countries and cultures.
• The myth and reality of Columbus's discovery of America.
• Columbus's portrayal in literature and art.
• Columbus's impact on the indigenous population of the Caribbean.
• The impact of Columbus's voyages on the African slave trade.
• Columbus's exploration of the coast of Central and South America.
• The significance of Columbus's fourth and final voyage.
• Columbus's treatment by the Spanish monarchy after his voyages.
• The impact of Columbus's discoveries on the scientific understanding of the world.
• Columbus's encounters with sea monsters: Fact or fiction?
• The impact of Columbus's voyages on European geopolitics.
• Comparing Columbus's voyages to other major explorations in history.
• Columbus's legacy in the Caribbean: Examining his influence on culture and society.
• Columbus's impact on the Spanish language and its spread across the Americas.
• The impact of Columbus's voyages on the Native American population.
• Columbus's interactions with the Taino people of Hispaniola.
• The impact of Columbus's voyages on the environment and ecology.
• Columbus's relationships with other explorers and navigators of his time.
• The influence of Columbus's expeditions on European imperialism.
• Columbus's reputation in modern-day Italy.
• The impact of Columbus's voyages on the world's population distribution.
• Columbus's legacy in the United States: Examining his influence on American history.
• Columbus's impact on the development of the transatlantic slave trade.
• The role of Columbus in the formation of racial and ethnic identities in the Americas.
• Columbus's influence on the development of maritime technology.
• Columbus's perception of the indigenous peoples he encountered.
• The impact of Columbus's voyages on the spread of Christianity.
• Columbus's encounters with cannibalism: Fact or myth?
• Columbus's impact on European attitudes towards exploration and colonization.
• The impact of Columbus's voyages on the development of capitalism.
• Columbus's interactions with the Aztec and Inca civilizations.
• The impact of Columbus's voyages on the spread of disease.
• Columbus's influence on the development of international law.
• Columbus's portrayal in historical films and documentaries.
• The impact of Columbus's expeditions on the European Renaissance.
• Columbus's legacy in the field of geography and cartography.
• Columbus's impact on the development of global trade routes.
• The impact of Columbus's voyages on the spread of European languages.
• Columbus's treatment of his crew members: Rewards and punishments.
• The impact of Columbus's expeditions on the geopolitical balance of power in Europe.
• Columbus's encounters with indigenous religious practices and beliefs.
• The impact of Columbus's voyages on the development of the Spanish Empire.
• Columbus's impact on the development of international trade networks.
• The perception of Columbus in indigenous oral traditions.
• Columbus's role in the transmission of knowledge between the Old and New Worlds.
• The impact of Columbus's voyages on the development of European art and literature.
• Columbus's encounters with hurricanes and storms at sea.
• The impact of Columbus's expeditions on the development of Western civilization.
• Columbus's interactions with indigenous women: Examining power dynamics and cultural exchange.
• The impact of Columbus's voyages on the development of modern medicine.
• Columbus's influence on the development of colonial administration and governance.
• Columbus's portrayal in popular culture: From hero to anti-hero.
• The impact of Columbus's expeditions on the European perception of the world.
• Columbus's encounters with indigenous flora and fauna.
• The impact of Columbus's voyages on the development of scientific thinking.
• Columbus's influence on the development of global trade networks.
• Columbus's treatment of indigenous peoples: Humanitarianism versus exploitation.
• The impact of Columbus's expeditions on the development of the modern nation-state.
• Columbus's interactions with African kingdoms and civilizations.
• Columbus's influence on the development of international diplomacy.
• The impact of Columbus's voyages on the spread of European fashion and style.
• Columbus's encounters with indigenous warfare and military tactics.
• The impact of Columbus's expeditions on the development of Western philosophy.
• Columbus's role in the transmission of diseases between the Old and New Worlds.
• Columbus's influence on the development of global cultural exchange.
• The impact of Columbus's voyages on the development of European cuisine.
• Columbus's encounters with indigenous art and craftsmanship.
• The impact of Columbus's expeditions on the development of global seafaring.
• Columbus's interactions with indigenous healers and medicine.
• Columbus's influence on the development of international trade laws and regulations.
• The impact of Columbus's voyages on the spread of European musical traditions.
• Columbus's encounters with indigenous gender roles and relationships.
• The impact of Columbus's expeditions on the development of Western education.
• Columbus's role in the transmission of agricultural practices between the Old and New Worlds.
• Columbus's influence on the development of global maritime culture.
• The impact of Columbus's voyages on the development of European architecture.
• Columbus's treatment of indigenous children: Education and assimilation.
• The impact of Columbus's expeditions on the development of Western literature.
• Columbus's interactions with indigenous systems of governance and leadership.
• Columbus's influence on the development of international migration patterns.
• The impact of Columbus's voyages on the spread of European scientific knowledge.
• Columbus's encounters with indigenous spiritual practices and rituals.
• The impact of Columbus's expeditions on the development of Western music.
• Columbus's role in the transmission of technological innovations between the Old and New Worlds.
• Columbus's influence on the development of global maritime trade routes.
• The impact of Columbus's voyages on the development of European fashion and clothing.
• Columbus's encounters with indigenous agricultural practices and crops.
• The impact of Columbus's expeditions on the development of Western art.
• Columbus's treatment of indigenous elders: Respect and cultural exchange.
• The impact of Columbus's voyages on the spread of European philosophical ideas.
• Columbus's interactions with indigenous systems of justice and law.
• Columbus's influence on the development of international human rights.
• The impact of Columbus's expeditions on the development of global cultural heritage.
• Columbus's role in the transmission of architectural styles between the Old and New Worlds.
• Columbus's influence on the development of global maritime warfare.
• The impact of Columbus's voyages on the development of European jewelry and accessories.
• Columbus's encounters with indigenous hunting and gathering practices.
• The impact of Columbus's expeditions on the development of Western theater.
• Columbus's treatment of indigenous spiritual leaders and shamans.

These topics offer a wide range of options for exploring different aspects of Christopher Columbus's life, achievements, and impact. Choose a topic that interests you and conduct thorough research to develop a compelling and informative essay. Remember to critically analyze different perspectives and sources to present a balanced and nuanced understanding of Columbus's complex legacy.

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Early career and preparation for the first voyage

• The first voyage
• The second and third voyages
• The fourth voyage and final years
• Written sources
• Calculations

What is Christopher Columbus known for?

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Christopher Columbus

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• Table Of Contents

• Christopher Columbus was a navigator who explored the Americas under the flag of Spain.
• Some people think of him as the "discoverer" of America, but this is not strictly true.
• His voyages across the Atlantic paved the way for European colonization and exploitation of the Americas.

Columbus sailed in search of a route to Cathay (China) and India to bring back gold and spices that were highly sought in Europe. His patrons, Ferdinand II and Isabella I of Spain, hoped that his success would bring them greater status.

Where did Christopher Columbus go?

Columbus made four transatlantic voyages: 1492–93, 1493–96, 1498–1500, and 1502–04. He traveled primarily to the Caribbean, including the Bahamas , Cuba , Santo Domingo , and Jamaica , and in his latter two voyages traveled to the coasts of eastern Central America and northern South America.

Some people say Columbus discovered America or the "New World," but Vikings such as Leif Eriksson had visited North America centuries earlier, and Native American tribes had lived in the Americas for centuries before either Columbus or the Vikings arrived.

• Columbus's journeys to the Americas opened the way for European countries to colonize and exploit those lands and their peoples.
• Trade was soon established between Europe and the Americas. Plants native to the Americas (such as potatoes, tomatoes, and tobacco) were imported to Europe.
• This trade route also paved the way for the slave trade between Europe, Africa, and the Americas.
• Explorers and settlers brought with them diseases that had a devastating effect on Native American populations. Many native peoples perished or were driven from their homes by colonizers.

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Christopher Columbus (born between August 26 and October 31?, 1451, Genoa [Italy]—died May 20, 1506, Valladolid , Spain) was a master navigator and admiral whose four transatlantic voyages (1492–93, 1493–96, 1498–1500, and 1502–04) opened the way for European exploration , exploitation, and colonization of the Americas. He has long been called the “discoverer” of the New World, although Vikings such as Leif Eriksson had visited North America five centuries earlier. Columbus made his transatlantic voyages under the sponsorship of Ferdinand II and Isabella I , the Catholic Monarchs of Aragon , Castile , and Leon in Spain . He was at first full of hope and ambition, an ambition partly gratified by his title “Admiral of the Ocean Sea,” awarded to him in April 1492, and by the grants enrolled in the Book of Privileges (a record of his titles and claims). However, he died a disappointed man.

The period between the quatercentenary celebrations of Columbus’s achievements in 1892–93 and the quincentenary ones of 1992 saw great advances in Columbus scholarship. Numerous books about Columbus appeared in the 1990s, and the insights of archaeologists and anthropologists began to complement those of sailors and historians. This effort gave rise to considerable debate. There was also a major shift in approach and interpretation; the older pro-European understanding gave way to one shaped from the perspective of the inhabitants of the Americas themselves. According to the older understanding, the “discovery” of the Americas was a great triumph, one in which Columbus played the part of hero in accomplishing the four voyages, in being the means of bringing great material profit to Spain and to other European countries, and in opening up the Americas to European settlement. The more recent perspective, however, has concentrated on the destructive side of the European conquest, emphasizing, for example, the disastrous impact of the slave trade and the ravages of imported disease on the indigenous peoples of the Caribbean region and the American continents. The sense of triumph has diminished accordingly, and the view of Columbus as hero has now been replaced, for many, by one of a man deeply flawed. While this second perception rarely doubts Columbus’s sincerity or abilities as a navigator, it emphatically removes him from his position of honour. Political activists of all kinds have intervened in the debate, further hindering the reconciliation of these disparate views.

Little is known of Columbus’s early life. The vast majority of scholars, citing Columbus’s testament of 1498 and archival documents from Genoa and Savona , believe that he was born in Genoa to a Christian household; however, it has been claimed that he was a converted Jew or that he was born in Spain , Portugal , or elsewhere. Columbus was the eldest son of Domenico Colombo, a Genoese wool worker and merchant, and Susanna Fontanarossa, his wife. His career as a seaman began effectively in the Portuguese merchant marine . After surviving a shipwreck off Cape Saint Vincent at the southwestern point of Portugal in 1476, he based himself in Lisbon , together with his brother Bartholomew . Both were employed as chart makers, but Columbus was principally a seagoing entrepreneur . In 1477 he sailed to Iceland and Ireland with the merchant marine, and in 1478 he was buying sugar in Madeira as an agent for the Genoese firm of Centurioni. In 1479 he met and married Felipa Perestrello e Moniz, a member of an impoverished noble Portuguese family. Their son, Diego , was born in 1480. Between 1482 and 1485 Columbus traded along the Guinea and Gold coasts of tropical West Africa and made at least one voyage to the Portuguese fortress of São Jorge da Mina (now Elmina, Ghana ) there, gaining knowledge of Portuguese navigation and the Atlantic wind systems along the way. Felipa died in 1485, and Columbus took as his mistress Beatriz Enríquez de Harana of Córdoba, by whom he had his second son, Ferdinand (born c. 1488).

In 1484 Columbus began seeking support for an Atlantic crossing from King John II of Portugal but was denied aid. (Some conspiracy theorists have alleged that Columbus made a secret pact with the monarch, but there is no evidence of this.) By 1486 Columbus was firmly in Spain, asking for patronage from King Ferdinand and Queen Isabella. After at least two rejections, he at last obtained royal support in January 1492. This was achieved chiefly through the interventions of the Spanish treasurer, Luis de Santángel, and of the Franciscan friars of La Rábida, near Huelva , with whom Columbus had stayed in the summer of 1491. Juan Pérez of La Rábida had been one of the queen’s confessors and perhaps procured him the crucial audience.

Christian missionary and anti-Islamic fervour, the power of Castile and Aragon, the fear of Portugal, the lust for gold, the desire for adventure, the hope of conquests, and Europe’s genuine need for a reliable supply of herbs and spices for cooking, preserving, and medicine all combined to produce an explosion of energy that launched the first voyage. Columbus had been present at the siege of Granada , which was the last Moorish stronghold to fall to Spain (January 2, 1492), and he was in fact riding back from Granada to La Rábida when he was recalled to the Spanish court and the vital royal audience. Granada’s fall had produced euphoria among Spanish Christians and encouraged designs of ultimate triumph over the Islamic world , albeit chiefly, perhaps, by the back way round the globe. A direct assault eastward could prove difficult, because the Ottoman Empire and other Islamic states in the region had been gaining strength at a pace that was threatening the Christian monarchies themselves. The Islamic powers had effectively closed the land routes to the East and made the sea route south from the Red Sea extremely hard to access.

In the letter that prefaces his journal of the first voyage, the admiral vividly evokes his own hopes and binds them all together with the conquest of the infidel, the victory of Christianity, and the westward route to discovery and Christian alliance:

…and I saw the Moorish king come out of the gates of the city and kiss the royal hands of Your Highnesses…and Your Highnesses, as Catholic Christians…took thought to send me, Christopher Columbus, to the said parts of India, to see those princes and peoples and lands…and the manner which should be used to bring about their conversion to our holy faith, and ordained that I should not go by land to the eastward, by which way it was the custom to go, but by way of the west, by which down to this day we do not know certainly that anyone has passed; therefore, having driven out all the Jews from your realms and lordships in the same month of January, Your Highnesses commanded me that, with a sufficient fleet, I should go to the said parts of India, and for this accorded me great rewards and ennobled me so that from that time henceforth I might style myself “Don” and be high admiral of the Ocean Sea and viceroy and perpetual Governor of the islands and continent which I should discover…and that my eldest son should succeed to the same position, and so on from generation to generation forever.

Thus a great number of interests were involved in this adventure, which was, in essence, the attempt to find a route to the rich land of Cathay ( China ), to India , and to the fabled gold and spice islands of the East by sailing westward over what was presumed to be open sea. Columbus himself clearly hoped to rise from his humble beginnings in this way, to accumulate riches for his family, and to join the ranks of the nobility of Spain. In a similar manner, but at a more exalted level, the Catholic Monarchs hoped that such an enterprise would gain them greater status among the monarchies of Europe, especially against their main rival, Portugal. Then, in alliance with the papacy (in this case, with the Borgia pope Alexander VI [1492–1503]), they might hope to take the lead in the Christian war against the infidel.

At a more elevated level still, Franciscan brethren were preparing for the eventual end of the world, as they believed was prophesied in the Revelation to John . According to that eschatological vision, Christendom would recapture Jerusalem and install a Christian emperor in the Holy Land as a precondition for the coming and defeat of Antichrist , the Christian conversion of the whole human race , and the Last Judgment . Franciscans and others hoped that Columbus’s westward project would help to finance a Crusade to the Holy Land that might even be reinforced by, or coordinated with, offensives from the legendary ruler Prester John , who was thought to survive with his descendants in the lands to the east of the infidel. The emperor of Cathay—whom Europeans referred to as the Great Khan of the Golden Horde —was himself held to be interested in Christianity, and Columbus carefully carried a letter of friendship addressed to him by the Spanish monarchs. Finally, the Portuguese explorer Bartolomeu Dias was known to have pressed southward along the coast of West Africa, beyond São Jorge da Mina, in an effort to find an easterly route to Cathay and India by sea. It would never do to allow the Portuguese to find the sea route first.

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Christopher Columbus Essay | Essay on Christopher Columbus for Students and Children in English

February 13, 2024 by Prasanna

Christopher Columbus Essay: Christopher Columbus is one of the most well-known explorers of all times and is credited with the discovery of America. He had made four trips across the Atlantic Ocean with the intent of finding a direct water route from Europe to Asia.

Christopher Columbus is, without doubt, one of the most notable personalities of history who had revolutionized the way we visualize the word on a map and opened doors to several new trade opportunities.

You can also find more  Essay Writing  articles on events, persons, sports, technology and many more.

Long and Short Essays on Christopher Columbus for Students and Kids in English

We are providing students with essay samples on an extended essay of 500 words and a short essay of 150 words on the topic Christopher Columbus for reference.

Long Essay on Christopher Columbus 500 Words in English

Long Essay on Christopher Columbus is usually given to classes 7, 8, 9, and 10.

Christopher Columbus is one of the most well-known explorers of all times who had made history with the discovery of America. The explorer had made four trips across the Atlantic Ocean in order to find a direct water route connecting Europe and Asia. He never managed to achieve his intentions but instead ended up discovering the ‘New World’.

Christopher Columbus was the son of a wool merchant and born in the city of Genoa, Italy in 1451. As a teenager, he worked on a merchant ship and remained at sea till the ship was sunk by pirates. Columbus managed to escape and floated to safety on a scrap of wood.

Columbus studied mathematics, astronomy, navigation and cartography in Lisbon and there started his will to explore the world. The first voyage of Columbus was at the end of the 15 the century when it was very difficult to reach Asia from Europe by land. The Portuguese had started sailing around the cape of good hope to reach Asia, but Columbus had other plans in his mind.

Columbus wanted to discover a way to sail west along the Atlantic instead of going around the vast African continent. Although Columbus’ plan was sound, the calculations were not entirely correct since his estimation of the earth’s circumference was smaller than reality. Nevertheless, Columbus presented his plans to English and Portuguese officials, where he secured the support of Ferdinand and Isabella. They started their journey on three ships—Nina, Pinta and Santa Maria. The ships reached the Bahamian Islands two months after their departure.

Columbus sailed to various islands after that in search of spice and valuables but could not find much. In January 1943, he left behind several dozen men on the settlement of Hispaniola which is present-day Haiti and the Dominican Republic and set course for Spain. After returning six months later, Columbus saw to his dismay that the Hispaniola settlement had been completely destroyed.

After leaving his brother responsible for rebuilding Hispaniola, Columbus headed west to find gold and other goods. In May 1948, Columbus set out on his third voyage. He visited Trinidad and South Americas before reaching Hispaniola settlements where a revolt had broken out against the mismanagement of the Columbus brothers. The conditions were so poor that the Spanish authorities had to step in and send a new governor.

Following this, Christopher Columbus was arrested and returned to Spain. He was acquitted of significant charges but also stripped of all the noble titles he had. An ageing Columbus persuaded the Spanish government to pay for one last trip where he went all the way to Panama. His ships suffered significant damages from hostile enemies and storms, and the great explorer had to return to Spain empty-handed where he died in 1506.

Christopher Columbus is today remembered as an essential yet controversial figure. Although he transformed the new world and facilitated trade, his actions would also set give way to a series of inhuman atrocities on the indigenous populations that his fellow explorers encountered.

Short Essay on Christopher Columbus 150 Words in English

Short Essay on Christopher Columbus is usually given to classes 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, and 6.

Christopher Columbus is an important historical figure who was born in Genoa, Italy, in 1451. His journey along the Atlantic led to the discovery of several new trade routes and altered the course of trade and travel in history. He was the son of a wool merchant, and his first job was as a teenager on a merchant ship. He continued his work there till pirates attacked his ship and he escaped on a plank of wood.

Christopher Columbus made four trips in 1492, 1493, 1498 and 1502. Although he wanted to discover a faster route along the Atlantic Ocean connecting Asia and Europe, he ended up finding the Americas. His role in discovering the new world and setting a series of atrocities on the native population makes him one of the most talked-about, analysed and controversial figure in history.

10 Lines on Christopher Columbus in English

• Christopher Columbus was born in Genoa, Italy, in 1451.
• His first work was as on a merchant ship which was later attacked by pirates.
• Columbus studied various subjects like mathematics, navigation and cartography in Lisbon.
• The first voyage of Columbus was in 1492.
• Columbus wanted to find a direct trade route linking Asia and Europe along the Atlantic Ocean.
• Columbus landed on the Bahamian islands instead of the East Indies.
• The mismanagement of the Columbus brothers caused a revolt by the natives of the Hispaniola settlement.
• Columbus was arrested and brought back to Spain.
• Although the charges against Columbus were removed, he was stripped of his major titles.
• Columbus set out for his last voyage in 1502.

FAQ’s on Christopher Columbus Essay

Question 1.  Where was Christopher Columbus born?

Answer: Columbus was born in Genoa, Italy, in 1451.

Question 2. What did Columbus want to discover?

Answer: Columbus wanted to discover a direct route connecting Asia and Europe along the Atlantic Ocean.

Question 3.  Why was Columbus arrested?

Answer: Christopher Columbus was arrested because of the mismanagement by the Columbus brothers in Hispaniola, which caused unrest and led the natives to revolt.

Question 4.  Why is Columbus a controversial figure?

Answer: Columbus helped in opening up new avenues of trade and travel and discovered the ‘new world’ but is responsible for the mistreatment of the natives of the places the explorers visited.

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Columbus’s Letter on the First Voyage: Analysis

This essay is about Christopher Columbus’ letter in which he reports on his first voyage. Here, you’ll find “Letter from the New Land” summary and analysis.

Introduction

Letter of christopher columbus: summary, analysis of columbus’s letter on the first voyage.

Christopher Columbus is arguably the world’s most renowned explorer. His discovery of the New World was of epic significance to the European nations. In his voyages, Columbus wrote letters detailing his discoveries and other items of interest. In this paper, I shall review a letter written by Columbus on his return journey from his first voyage. By reviewing this letter, I shall highlight Columbus’s intentions, his attitudes, and the various arguments that he raises in the letter. His prospective audience shall also be deduced from the contents of the letter.

The main purpose of this letter by Columbus is to shed light on discoveries in the New World. It is possible that by outlining the successes of his voyage, Columbus aims to encourage future expeditions to the New World as well as encourage the ruling class in Spain to finance future voyages. The voyage is deemed to be a great success and Columbus records that he has found many islands with a significant population. More importantly, Columbus aims to demonstrate that he has taken possession of these new lands for his King. This is highlighted by the subsequent renaming of various islands. Columbus also intends to reassure all that the lands are fertile and rich with gold.

Columbus argues that the inhabitants of the islands that he comes across are inherently timid people. To support his claims, he illustrates how fathers flee without waiting for their sons when Columbus’s scouts appear in the village. This is despite Columbus and his team showing nothing but hospitality to the natives. In addition to this, Columbus observes that his crew members and other sailors take advantage of the natives’ naivety and kind-heartedness. In his opinion this taking advantage is wrong and he goes on to forbid his men from dealing unfairly with the natives.

While the people of the islands are intelligent and have knowledge of weapons, Columbus proposes that they would be no match for his men whom he has left at a fort. While the king of the land is an agreeable character and indeed treats him as a brother, Columbus argues that even if the king changes his attitude and decides to attack the fort, the arms and artillery held by his men will ensure their safety. Furthermore, Columbus restates that the people are the timidest in the world and his few men could easily destroy the whole land if they so wished.

This letter is addressed to the monarchs in Spain. The chief recipient of this letter is probably the King himself who is throughout the letter referred to as “his highness”. Columbus’s voyage had been financed by the monarchy and as such he was enthusiastic to report his findings. From the statements made by Columbus, it can safely be assumed that there were other voyages to the Indies before his. These voyages brought home tales of violent tribes and inhospitable lands. Columbus refutes these claims and says that his voyage was a victory. He also insists that the stories told about the lands were baseless and mostly lies.

Some of Columbus’s ideologies and attitudes can be deduced from the letter. For example, it can be observed that Columbus was a staunch believer of the Christian faith. He gives thanks to the Lord for a successful voyage. He also names one of the islands for his Lord and Savior. Throughout his expedition, Columbus seeks to convert the natives to his Christian faith demonstrating that he regards the natives’ religion as inferior and based on error.

This paper set out to analyze the letter by Columbus To discover Columbus’s intentions in drafting the letter. It has been identified from the various arguments that the letter was mainly aimed at highlighting the success of his voyage to the new world. Columbus envisions another voyage and asserts that the newfound land contains treasures for Spain and a lot of people to be converted to the holy faith of Christianity.

Columbus, C. (2019). Select Letters of Christopher Columbus: With Other Original Documents, Relating to His Four Voyages . Wentworth Press.

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Christopher Columbus and the Discovery of the New World

In the annals of history, few names resonate as profoundly as Christopher Columbus’s. To many, he is a visionary navigator, a daring explorer who courageously ventured into the uncharted waters of the Atlantic, driven by an insatiable curiosity and a fierce determination. To others, he symbolizes European imperialism, whose voyages led to the colonization and subjugation of indigenous populations. This dichotomy presents a tantalizing enigma: Who was Christopher Columbus truly? Beyond the folklore and mythology, who was the man who set foot on the shores of the New World in 1492? This essay will traverse the seas of time, dispelling myths and unearthing facts as we journey alongside Columbus on his epoch-making voyage to the Americas. Through a lens of historical scrutiny, we will attempt to understand this seminal figure’s motivations, challenges, and legacies, setting the stage for a deep exploration into the repercussions of his discoveries.

Table of content

The landscape of the late 15th century was a tapestry of burgeoning empires vying for dominion and wealth. Europe, especially, was in the throes of a profound transformation. Renaissance ideals were fanning the flames of knowledge, art, and human potential. Cities like Florence and Venice were not just magnificent hubs of culture; they were cauldrons of ambition, with tales of Marco Polo’s adventures to the East echoing in their streets.

Against this backdrop, nations like Spain and Portugal were engaged in an intense rivalry, seeking the elusive and profitable passage to the East. The overland Silk Road, though historically significant, had its limitations and dangers. Moreover, the Ottomans’ control over Constantinople in 1453 challenged Europe’s access to the Asian trade markets. Maritime supremacy became the watchword of the day.

Enter Christopher Columbus – a Genoese sailor with a grand vision. Armed with a blend of experience and audacity, Columbus believed the key to these Eastern riches was not by navigating around Africa, as the Portuguese were attempting, but by sailing westward. Though met with skepticism from various quarters, this idea found a sympathetic ear in the Spanish monarchs Ferdinand and Isabella. Columbus’s ambitious dream was poised to become a reality with their patronage.

However, more than the promise of trade fueled this venture. There was an undercurrent of religious zeal, as Christendom hoped to find a route to spread Christianity to the East. Columbus himself harbored such hopes, as evident in his writings.

This chapter sets the stage for Columbus’s monumental voyage, exploring the confluence of economic aspirations, geopolitical rivalries, and personal ambitions that propelled him into the vastness of the Atlantic.

The Journey

In the late summer of 1492, the harbors of Palos, Spain, were abuzz with frenetic activity. Three ships – the Niña, the Pinta, and the stately Santa Maria – anchored side by side were being outfitted for an expedition into the unknown. Sailors exchanged whispers of both anticipation and trepidation. Many were venturing out of the confines of the known world, fueled by a cocktail of hope, fear, and curiosity.

Under Columbus’s leadership, the flotilla embarked on this daring voyage, charting waters that, according to some naysayers of the time, hid leviathans and where the horizon might drop into oblivion. The ocean’s vastness proved to be both a challenge and a marvel. Stars that once felt familiar to these seasoned sailors took on new patterns, and the compass, their trusted ally, began behaving unpredictably as they ventured farther from home.

Days turned into weeks. The monotony of the open sea, with its endless blue horizons, tested the crew’s mettle. Whispers of mutiny began to circulate as land remained elusive. However, with a blend of stern leadership and guile, Columbus managed to quell the rising discontent, promising his crew that they were on the cusp of discovery.

Then, in the pre-dawn hours of October 12th, a cry echoed from the Pinta’s lookout: “Tierra! Tierra!” (Land! Land!). The relentless expanse of the Atlantic had finally yielded its secret. As dawn broke, an island, lush and teeming with life, unfurled on the horizon – presenting a world untouched by European footsteps. Unaware that they had stumbled upon a new continent altogether, Columbus and his crew believed they had reached the outskirts of Asia.

The challenges and tribulations of this voyage were not merely physical but psychological. Columbus’s journey was a testament to human endurance and navigation skills and the indomitable spirit of exploration and discovery. This chapter seeks to recreate the highs and lows, the anxieties and elations, of this historic passage across the Atlantic.

Encounter with the Natives

As Columbus and his men disembarked, they found themselves amidst a world startlingly distinct from their European milieu. This land was painted with the vivid hues of tropical flora and filled with the harmonious notes of unfamiliar fauna. Nevertheless, most arresting were the inhabitants of this newfound land, the native peoples, who looked on with curiosity and caution.

The indigenous tribes, diverse in their cultures and languages, had lived in harmony with their surroundings for millennia. Their societies were intricate tapestries of tradition, spirituality, and communal kinship. From the intricate patterns they weaved in their baskets to the tales they spun around evening fires, these tribes possessed a vibrant heritage.

Initial encounters were marked by a sense of wonderment on both sides. The natives, skin bronzed by the sun and adorned with feathers and beads, approached the Europeans, fascinated by their pale complexions, shining armor, and large vessels. In his journals, Columbus often vacillated between admiration for their gentle nature and a patronizing tone, noting their “naivety” as an opportunity for both conversion to Christianity and subjugation.

However, as days turned into months, the veneer of mutual fascination began to crack. The Europeans’ insatiable hunger for gold and other treasures put them at odds with the indigenous populations. Barter turned to coercion, and coercion soon gave way to violence. Many natives were forced into servitude, their freedoms curtailed, and their cultures derided. The dichotomy of the Europeans’ approach – marveling at the ‘New World’ while attempting to mold it in their image – set the stage for centuries of colonial conflict and cultural erosion.

The Impact of the Discovery

The wake of Columbus’s voyages sent ripples across the Atlantic and worldwide, ushering in an era of transformation on an unprecedented scale. This newly discovered realm, abundant in resources and potential, became the cynosure of European ambitions, altering geopolitics, economies, and societies in ways previously unimagined.

Economically, the ‘New World’ opened up a treasure trove for Europe. Precious metals, particularly gold and silver from the mines of South America, began flooding European coffers. This influx of wealth, while bolstering the fortunes of monarchies like Spain, also wreaked havoc on European economies by leading to inflation and economic disparities.

Nevertheless, it was not just mineral wealth that reshaped the global landscape. The Columbian Exchange, as historians call it, was a vast bi-directional transfer of plants, animals, technologies, and even diseases. Tomatoes, potatoes, and maize, staple diets of many countries today, were introduced to Europe, while horses, cattle, and wheat made their way to the Americas. The cultural and culinary landscapes of entire continents were rewritten, creating a rich tapestry of global interconnectedness.

However, this exchange came with its shadowy underbelly. Diseases from Europe, such as smallpox, for which the indigenous populations had no immunity, decimated tribes, wiping out vast swathes of native inhabitants. It is a somber testament to the unintended consequences of exploration.

On the sociopolitical front, the discovery heralded the rise of European colonial empires. Territories were claimed, borders were drawn, and indigenous populations were often subjugated and marginalized in their ancestral lands. The seeds of modern nation-states in the Americas were sown, often drenched in the blood of colonial conflict and native resistance.

As waves of European settlers arrived, they also brought their beliefs, religions, and ways of governance, forever altering the societal mosaic of the New World. The spread of Christianity, in particular, became a cornerstone of colonial policy, leading to the establishment of missions and the often forceful conversion of indigenous populations.

Modern Perspectives

As the mists of time roll forward, the figure of Christopher Columbus, once celebrated with near-mythic reverence, now stands at the intersection of evolving historical narratives and present-day discourses. Today, as we stand on the precipice of a globalized, interconnected world, the legacy of Columbus is reevaluated through lenses tinted with nuances and introspection.

The earlier portrayals of Columbus, especially in Western education, painted him as an intrepid explorer, a symbol of human tenacity and the quest for knowledge. Parades, statues, and even a national holiday in the United States were instituted in his honor, commemorating the ‘discovery’ of a new land. To many, Columbus became emblematic of the spirit of exploration and the breaking of frontiers.

However, a paradigm shift began to unfold in the latter half of the 20th century and into the 21st. Historians, anthropologists, and indigenous activists began to spotlight the darker facets of the Columbian encounter. The tales of exploitation, enslavement, and ecological upheaval started to challenge the monolithic narrative of Columbus as a hero. In modern classrooms and public discourses, the emphasis shifted to understanding the profound human and environmental costs that accompanied the European incursion into the Americas.

Furthermore, indigenous voices, long marginalized in retelling their own history, began to resurface with vigor. Their oral histories, traditions, and perspectives provided a counter-narrative, re-centering the story from one of ‘discovery’ to one of ‘invasion’ or ‘encounter.’ The implications of this linguistic shift are profound, reframing the entire narrative to be more inclusive and representative.

Today, statues of Columbus, once erected with pride, have become flashpoints of contention in some regions, with debates raging over their removal or preservation. These debates are emblematic of a broader societal reckoning with colonial legacies and the quest for historical truth.

Columbus’s discovery of the New World changed the course of history. While his achievements in navigation and exploration cannot be denied, it is essential to approach his legacy with a nuanced understanding. The history is enlightening and cautionary, reminding us that every action has repercussions.

By focusing on the various facets of Columbus’s journey and the subsequent consequences, this essay sample offers a comprehensive overview of a turning point in global history. The aim is to foster a balanced perspective, highlighting both the achievements and the dark sides of the era of exploration.

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Christopher Columbus: The Contested Legacy of a Hero

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Portrayal of Christopher Columbus in Children’s Biographies

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The Long-term Consequences of Christopher Columbus' Encounters

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Between 25 August and 31 October 1451

May 20, 1506

Christopher Columbus was an Italian explorer and navigator, who discovered the "New World" of the Americas on an expedition in 1492. Columbus was born in 1451 in the Republic of Genoa. In his 20s he moved to Lisbon.

On August 3, 1492, Christopher Columbus started his voyage across the Atlantic Ocean, departed from Palos de la Frontera with a crew of 90 men and three ships—the "Niña", "Pinta", and "Santa Maria". Columbus made it to what is now the Bahamas in 61 days.

On 24 September 1493, Italian explorer sailed from Cádiz with 17 ships and 1,500 colonists aboard. The purpose was to convert the indigenous Americans to Christianity. On 3 November 1493, he landed on an island that he named Dominica. It was the Canary Islands. From April to August 1494, Columbus explored Cuba and Jamaica. The second voyage marked the start of colonialism in the New World.

On 30 May 1498, Columbus left with six ships from Sanlúcar, Spain. They arrived at Gomera in the Canary Islands on June 19. On July 31, they sighted an island, which Columbus named Trinidad. Finally, being shipped back to Spain as a prisoner, Columbus’ Third Voyage was a fiasco.

On 11 May 1502 Columbus, left Cadiz with his flagship Santa María and three other vessels. Columbus explored Honduras, Nicaragua and Costa Rica between August 14th and October 16th. After that, he spent five months exploring Panama. On 25 June they were beached in St. Ann's Bay, Jamaica, and spent there one year. On 7 November 1504 he sailed back to Sanlúcar.

The Columbus voyages became a turning point in world history. It marked the beginning of globalization and demographic, economic, social, and political changes in the world.

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Analysis of Christopher Columbus Voyage Report (Assessment)

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Introduction

Christopher columbus, intends in the caribbean islands, new ways of agricultural practices, societal impact, strategies for acquiring wealth and consequences, colonization and slavery, works cited.

Christopher Columbus is historically revered because of positive contribution brought about by his voyages such as founding of New Lands, introduction of new agricultural methods and fostering interaction among others. However, many historians have viewed Christopher’s Columbus legacy on a different perspective.

They claim that his voyages were flawed as illustrated by preparing New Lands for Spanish colonization, slavery, spread of diseases and plundering of wealth in discovered lands.

In analyzing Christopher’s Columbus, and comprehending his ambition and ideas of his voyages in the Americas, this paper analyzes various aspects of his voyages and how it impacted on the society.

Christopher Columbus lived during a period when Europeans encountered various challenges. According to Butterway (24) these challenges were mainly brought about by religious oppression, famine, and diseases. During his years of exploration, there was an ongoing discussion of Spanish looking for a direct trade route to the West Indies.

According to Butterway (38), the fallacy anchored on the aim of Christopher’s voyages was that he was not motivated by the possibility of gaining more wealth for himself and his Spanish government, but to construct the New world for Spanish colonization Christianity that would necessitate future colonization (Gregory, 75).

Christopher had a strong catholic faith and a firm believer of the Bible; therefore, it was a role for him to expand his believes of Christianity in the Americas.

Christopher sailed across the oceans for almost 1492 days (McNeese, 13). Thus, through his voyages, he opened up New Lands such as the Caribbean islands and countries such as the Tobago and Trinidad for Europeans.

Many cities, towns and streets have also been named after Christopher Columbus. In some of his many voyages, Christopher can be described as a role model of perseverance and courage, a prudent navigator, “the icon of America evolution”.

This is because; his discovery of new territories provided an opportunity for the growth of trade, science and contemporary edifices of administration.

Christopher Columbus description by Native Americans is that he was a fascinating and friendly person the world has ever produced. This fact is asserted by himself in one of his diaries when he affirmed that, no other man had ever encountered people with a good heart like the natives than himself (Butterway, 79).

Thus, through this interpretation, we can understand that Christopher’s conveyed a message that, his intents was refined to exploit the New Lands he voyaged.

According to Butterway, However, in he challenges himself when he refers to Taino Indians, a generation of Indians descendants of the Caribbean as sub-humans (112). He could not believe that they were fellow human being.

Many people believe that Christopher was one of the ultimate benefactors of all time. McNeese asserts this when he introduced agricultural activities to the lands he visited (76). Thus, this provided contact opportunity for both old and new world.

Consequently, he continued to introduce new and useful plants such as the oranges, tomatoes, which later formed as an important ingredient in Italian cuisine, and wheat in America to New Lands (McNeese, 97). Besides these, he surged different kinds of foods from plants and animal sources.

However, critics of Christopher claim that he was a desperado. They criticize that, Christopher ruined the existing beauty of New Lands, with his enthusiasm of greed and fame.

Further, they argue that, he and his men raped the lands and women spreading diseases such as syphilis acquired in Europe, thus this caused a lot of death and destabilizing the civilization which had stabilized for hundreds of years (Butterway, 97).

Environmentalist, on the other hand, critics that, Christopher by introducing the art of animal farming, it contributed to the destruction of the countryside and its flora. They also contend that he introduced diseases which the Natives lacked immunity.

More than ninety percent of the natives died by the new generation of diseases introduced such as the; plague, tuberculosis and smallpox. Consequently, his voyages in the Northern Hemisphere were regarded as an opportunity of conquering but an opportunity of bringing new ideas and discoveries.

Interestingly, Christopher and his did not consider the ill of stealing or taking by force from the Indians. They felt that, it was their right to steal or take by force when the Indians resisted what they wanted.

Therefore, the majority of Indians believed that this was one of the different cultures introduced by Christopher and his men (Gregory, 128). The culture of stealing developed within the Indian society because they felt that it was appropriate to steal.

They began stealing from the Spanish. However, Columbus realized that it was indispensable to instill discipline by punishing the Indians when they found with stolen items.

Gregory points out that Columbus other purpose was to increase wealth by trading in spices and gold (97). Thrilled with immense deposits of gold, in the Caribbean’s he established a three month quota system.

These meant that, every Indian in the Caribbean island regardless of being a man woman or child over the age of 14, were supposed to deliver the set quota every month (Butterway, 79). Were the quota were not realized, Christopher would order severe punishment of chopping off their arms with an axe.

This punishment aimed at setting an example for other Indians who did not honor the three quota system. Christopher warranted his actions by sending heathens to Spain while chained rather than Christians. This indicates that, he was cruel and power thirsty in the islands of the Caribbean.

Christopher discovery of the Caribbean island is linked to the rise of Spanish colonization and the enslaving of the natives. The inspiration of Christopher and his men was slavery, by finding Caribbean islands suitable; he invited his government the suitability of regions in serving the Spanish interests in terms of economic resources.

This was in terms of free and cheap labor through slavery and raw materials (McNeese, 123). Presence of Spanish administration ensured that his interests remained protected. Slavery was essential for him because he needed money to pay for the sponsors who funded his voyages.

He would order large slave assault by his men. This was an option taken to fill his ship when he realized the amount of gold and spices collected was relatively low. For instance, the Arawak community was affected in the Caribbean; he captured large numbers of men, women and children and shipped them to Spain.

However, the saddest part of the fact is that, most of them died along the voyage before finally arriving in Spain. This clearly indicates that he was an autocrat and was never satisfied with the new world he had discovered and all the beauty it provided. Hence, this subsequently led to the establishment of the great Trans-Atlantic slave route.

The Christopher voyages accompanying his legacy had a significant impact on the society, both positively and negatively. His voyages transformed the world from old to the New world. This can be demonstrated by design brought about by the interaction of people from across Americas and other places he visited.

Besides, his steadfastness as a navigator and mariner, the sheer force of his spirituality, personal motivation, courage, endurance, courage and his prowess as a voyager are still felt in the contemporary world.

Also, his arrival in the America numerous positive and harmful experienced have continued to define the contemporary world.

For example, positive contribution introduced includes; tomato into Italian cuisine and wheat in the United States mainland. Without his numerous voyages, the world in which we feel proud of now would not have existed (Gregory, 83).

Further, his ardent faith in Christianity contributed to spreading of Christianity to the Indians. This led to mass conversions of Indians to Christianity. This can be illustrated in the descendants of Arawaks and Tianos Indians (McNeese, 126).

Butterway, Elizabeth Georgia, A Critical Analysis of the Works on Christopher Columbus , London: History Press, 1933

Gregory, M Gordon. Retrieving the American Past , New Jersey: Pearson publishers, 2010

McNeese, Tim. Christopher Columbus and the Discovery of the Americas , New York: InfoBase publishing, 2005

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Bibliography

IvyPanda . "Analysis of Christopher Columbus Voyage." March 21, 2019. https://ivypanda.com/essays/analysis-of-christopher-columbus-voyage/.