Maud wagner biography of christopher columbus

At the same time, the garrison was attacked, and the other ships were damaged. He left for Hispaniola on April 16, but sustained more damage in a storm off the coast of Cuba. Unable to travel any farther, the ships were beached in St. Ann's Bay, Jamaica, on June 25, Columbus and his men were stranded on Jamaica for a year. Two Spaniards, with native paddlers, were sent by canoe to get help from Hispaniola.

In the meantime, in a desperate effort to induce the natives to continue provisioning him and his hungry men, he successfully intimidated the natives by correctly predicting a lunar eclipse, using astronomic tables made by Rabbi Avraham Zacuto, who was working for the King of Portugal. Later life A statue of the Santa Maria, Columbus' flagship in his first voyage.

While Columbus had always given the conversion of non-believers as one reason for his explorations, he grew increasingly religious in his later years. He claimed to hear divine voices, lobbied for a new crusade to capture Jerusalem , often wore Franciscan habit, and described his explorations to the "paradise" as part of God's plan which would soon result in the Last Judgement and the end of the world.

In his later years, Columbus demanded that the Spanish Crown give him 10 percent of all profits made in the new lands, pursuant to earlier agreements. Because he had been relieved of his duties as governor, the crown did not feel bound by these contracts and his demands were rejected. His family later sued for part of the profits from trade with America, but ultimately lost some 50 years later.

Sepulchre of Columbus in the Cathedral of Seville On May 20, , Columbus died in Valladolid, fairly wealthy due to the gold his men had accumulated in Hispaniola. He was still convinced that his journeys had been along the east coast of Asia. Following his death, his body underwent excarnation—the flesh was removed so that only his bones remained.

Even after his death, his travels continued: First interred in Valladolid and then at the monastery of La Cartuja in Seville, by the will of his son Diego, who had been governor of Hispaniola, his remains were transferred to Santo Domingo in In , the French took over, and his remains was removed to Havana. After Cuba became independent following the Spanish-American War in , his remains were moved back to the Cathedral of Seville, where they were placed on an elaborate catafalque.

However, a lead box bearing an inscription identifying "Don Christopher Columbus" and containing fragments of bone and a bullet was discovered at Santo Domingo in Results announced in May show that at least some of Columbus' remains rest in Seville, but authorities in Santo Domingo have not allowed the remains in their custody to be tested.

Perceptions of Columbus The casting of Columbus as a "hero" or "villain" often depends on people's perspectives as to whether the arrival of Europeans to the New World and the introduction of Christianity is seen as positive or negative. In addition, the Columbus voyage has been woven into the narrative of nations that established sovereignty in the Americas in later centuries, and the political perceptions relative to those governments, most prominently the United States as a global superpower.

Columbus' tomb in the cathedral of Seville. It is borne by four statues of kings representing the Kingdoms of Castile, Leon, Aragon, and Navarre. Traditionally, Columbus is viewed as a man of heroic stature by some people in the United States. He has often been hailed as a man of heroism and bravery, and also of faith: He sailed westward into mostly unknown waters, and his unique scheme is often viewed as ingenious.

Columbus wrote of his journey, "God gave me the faith, and afterwards the courage. Bush , June 8, Hero worship of Columbus perhaps reached a zenith around , the th anniversary of his first arrival in the Americas. Monuments to Columbus including the Columbian Exposition in Chicago were erected throughout the United States and Latin America, extolling him as a hero.

Numerous cities, towns, and streets were named for him, including the capital cities of two U. The Knights of Columbus, a Catholic men's fraternal benefit society, had been chartered ten years earlier by the State of Connecticut. The story that Columbus thought the world was round while his contemporaries believed in a Flat Earth was often repeated.

This tale was used to show that Columbus was enlightened and forward looking. Columbus' apparent defiance of convention in sailing west to get to the far east was hailed as a model of "American"-style can-do inventiveness. In the United States, the admiration of Columbus was particularly embraced by some members of the Italian American, Hispanic, and Catholic communities.

These groups point to Columbus as one of their own to show that Mediterranean Catholics could and did make great contributions to the U. The modern vilification of Columbus is seen by his supporters as being politically motivated. A contrary view of Columbus has gained ascendancy in recent decades with the rise of movements for indigenous rights.

Criticism focuses on the continuing propaganda cultivated in Columbus myths and celebrations such as Columbus Day and their effects on American thought towards present-day Native Americans New World Mongoloids. Official celebrations of the th anniversary of Columbus' first voyage were muted in some areas, and a few demonstrators protested marking the anniversary at all.

They did this because they found Columbus and Spain guilty of "imperialist genocide. In the s, the Spanish conquistadors brought many slaves to the New World from Africa. What has been called the Columbian Exchange a term coined by Alfred W. Crosby brought a cross-fertilization that yielded both benefits and great social costs. Most importantly for Native Americans, the introduction of epidemic diseases such as smallpox , measles , and syphilis decimated native populations.

The Native Americans, in turn, introduced tobacco to Europeans. Columbus himself brought back tobacco from his first voyage, originally thought to have medicinal properties, but which over centuries of abuse has proven to be a dangerous and addictive plant when ingested.

Maud wagner biography of christopher columbus

In addition, the Old World gained potatoes, turkeys, rubber, and tomatoes, while the New World gained domesticated livestock, numerous foodstuffs, and modern methods of agriculture and husbandry. The legacy of Columbus continues five centuries later, with the growing integration of world trade, cultural exchange, and the modern emergence of the Pacific Rim into a globalized economy.

Harmondsworth: Penguin, ISBN Essays in Population History Volume I. Crosby, Alfred W. New York: Praeger, His curiosity about the sea and navigation developed during his teenage years, prompting him to work on various trading voyages across the Mediterranean and Aegean seas. This early exposure to maritime life would ultimately shape his future pursuits as an explorer.

As Columbus matured, he sought to expand his knowledge by studying sailing and mapmaking. In his early twenties, he relocated to Lisbon, Portugal, where he honed his navigational skills and learned about the latest advancements in cartography and navigation from other experienced sailors. This period was crucial for Columbus, as he became acquainted with the different theories regarding the globe's dimensions and various routes to Asia.

By immersing himself in this vibrant maritime culture, Columbus laid the groundwork for his ambitious plans to find a westward route to the East Indies, setting the stage for his historic voyages in later years. First Voyages in Search of Asia Christopher Columbus began his maritime career as a teenager, participating in several trading voyages across the Mediterranean and Aegean seas.

In his twenties, he settled in Lisbon, where he married Filipa Perestrelo and fathered a son, Diego. During this time, Columbus developed his expertise in sailing and navigation, gaining valuable experience that would later inform his transatlantic expeditions. His adventurous spirit led him to attempt a daring voyage across the Atlantic, motivated by his desire to find a westward route to Asia, which he believed would provide quicker access to the lucrative spice markets of the East.

Columbus's quest for a new maritime route faced significant challenges; his first major Atlantic expedition in was nearly fatal when his ship was attacked by French privateers. Undeterred, Columbus continued to refine his navigational techniques and studied ocean currents that could facilitate his planned voyage. After years of lobbying, he finally gained the support of Queen Isabella and King Ferdinand of Spain, who agreed to sponsor his journey.

Successes and Challenges of Exploration Christopher Columbus, an Italian explorer known for his ambitious voyages, achieved remarkable successes in his quest for a new route to Asia. His expedition marked a pivotal moment in history, as he became the first European to make contact with the Americas. When this failed, and appeals to the French and English courts were also rejected, Columbus found himself in Spain, still struggling to win backing for his project.

Ten weeks later, land was sighted. On 12 October, Columbus and a group of his men set foot on an island in what later became known as the Bahamas. Believing that they had reached the Indies, the newcomers dubbed the natives 'Indians'. Although he did regain some of his riches in May , his titles were never returned. How Did Columbus Die? Columbus probably died of severe arthritis following an infection on May 20, , in Valladolid, Spain.

At the time of his death, he still believed he had discovered a shorter route to Asia. There are questions about the location of his burial site. Santa Maria Discovery Claim In May , Columbus made headlines as news broke that a team of archaeologists might have found the Santa Maria off the north coast of Haiti. Columbian Exchange: A Complex Legacy Columbus has been credited for opening up the Americas to European colonization—as well as blamed for the destruction of the native peoples of the islands he explored.

Ultimately, he failed to find that what he set out for: a new route to Asia and the riches it promised. The horse from Europe allowed Native American tribes in the Great Plains of North America to shift from a nomadic to a hunting lifestyle. Wheat from the Old World fast became a main food source for people in the Americas. Coffee from Africa and sugar cane from Asia became major cash crops for Latin American countries.

And foods from the Americas, such as potatoes, tomatoes and corn, became staples for Europeans and helped increase their populations. The Columbian Exchange also brought new diseases to both hemispheres, though the effects were greatest in the Americas.