Columbus09

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=Script= ====Christopher Columbus is a well known explorer most known for his discovery of the Americas. His life did not go smoothly, though. He lived a life of pain, agony, and grief. He faced much adversity throughout his explorations and throughout his entire lifetime. He was a man of determination, strength, and courage, but as he went on through his life he became more and more scarred after each new conflict that found its way into Columbus's life.====

Christopher Columbus was born to a middle class family in Genoa in 1451. . His first taste of travel came when he was hired to a Genoese ship, working for Rene I of Anjou, whose goal was to conquer the Kingdom of Naples. In 1476, Columbus took part in an armed convoy sent by Genoa to ship important cargo to Northern Europe. Columbus married Filipa Moniz, the daughter of an important governor, and in 1479 or 1480 they had a son, Diego. Columbus either left Filipa in 1485 or she died, because he then met an orphan named Beatriz Enriquez de Arana in 1487. At this time Chrstopher Columbus was very interested in exploration and made ideas for himself on who he would ask to get money and supplies for his voyages.

Columbus took preparatory measures such as making calculations and estimating the total distance of the voyage to India. His estimated distance to India was way too short, partly because of the poor mapmaking skills in that time period. Those mathematical errors actually caused him to discover the Americas, but also to face many problems throughout his journey.

In 1485, Columbus proposed his plans of expedition to King John II of Portugal. John rejected the plans, only to have Columbus ask again in 1488, and King John and his audience said no. In hopes of gaining some small support, he traveled to Genoa and Venice to propose his plans, but his travels were to no avail. He then sets his eyes on Spain, and he appealed to King Ferdinand and Queen Isabelle, only to have his plans rejected.. He spent the next 2 years at the Spanish Royal Court, trying to negotiate a deal with Ferdinand and Isabelle, and he caught them in a good mood after the Spanish had conquered the last Muslim stronghold in Spain, Grenada. They finally granted him permission and Ferdinand gives Columbus the "Admiral of the Seas" title.

Columbus left for his voyage in August of 1492, with three ships: the Pinta, the Niña,and the Santa Maria. Not long after their departure, Columbus landed in the present day Bahamas, claiming it for Spain. Columbus also landed in Cuba and Hispaniola, meeting with the leaders of both islands. The Santa Maria had shipwrecked off the coast of Hispaniola, and Columbus and his crew made a temporary shelter for some of the sailors. They named it Villa De La Navidad, or "Christmas Town".

Returming to Spain in 1493 with the Niña and the Pinta, he was warmly greeted by the Spanish Royal Court. He did not stay for long though, as he left during the same year to explore more of the Atlantic. When he returned to the Christmas Town Settlement he had created in Hispaniola, he was surprised to find that it was destroyed and the sailors were massacred. Columbus then forced labor upon the islanders, and he himself searched for gold. During this time he also rebuilt the Christmas Town Settlement. Before leaving, he left two of his brothers on the island to make sure the the settlement was firmly protected.

During his third voyage he found the people at the settlement almost at point of mutiny, therefore he was brought back to Spain in chains to face the Spanish Royal Court. He was stripped of his title, his riches, and his authority. The Court dropped all charges against him, so he then convinced Ferdinand to give him one last chance to prove himself Admiral of the Seas.

Traveling along the coast of South America because of a failure to find a route to India was a big piece of his final voyage. He also shipwrecked off the Cuban coast, and was stranded there for a good amount of time, but since the natives recalled the last time Columbus came to their island badly mistreated them, they did not provide anything for the Spaniards, and they had previously run out of food. On February 9, 1504 the natives resumed trade with the Spaniards after being frightened by a lunar eclipse. Not long after the eclipse, a rescue crew from Hispaniola came and took Columbus and his men back to Spain. They arrived back in Spain in November of 1504.

During the last years of his life, Columbus worked to regain the titles he lost and the riches that were taken from him. He was partially successful in that he regained some of the lost riches, but nevertheless he not returned his titles. He died on may 20, 1506. Christopher Columbus is mostly known for his discovery of the Americas, but he is also known for various other achievements. He is known for opening up the Americas to European influence, accidently destroying the natives from the islands which he explored, and failing in his primary goal of discovering a route to Asia. He died believing he had found a route to Asia. Lastly, he exploration led to the start of the Columbian Exchange. The Columbian Exchange first benefitted Europe, then the other parts of the then-known world. The Columbian Exchange also introduced disease to the Americas. The diseases killed thousands of Native Americans, and the Exchange also led to a complete change of lifestyle for the Native Americans. Their old ways of life were forgotten. Thanks Columbus.

= = =Research= =Christopher Columbus (1451-1506)=

__Early Life__

 * Christopher Columbus was born in Genoa in 1451
 * He was born to a middle class family, his father was a wool weaver who also (later in life) had a cheese stand where Christopher would often help, either in Savona or Genoa
 * Columbus tells about his early life in his works, all of which were not written in his native language
 * In 1470, the Colon family (Columbus) moved to Savona, and later that year Christopher was hired to a Genoese ship, working for Rene I of Anjou (his goal was to conquer the Kingdom of Naples)
 * 1473 - Columbus began apprenticeship as a business agent to wealthy families of Genoa
 * May 1476 - took part in armed convoy sent by Genoa to ship important cargo to Northern Europe
 * Married Filipa Moniz, daughter of an important governor
 * 1479 or 1480 - son Diego is born
 * Filipa either died in 1485 or Columbus left her
 * Columbus meets Beatriz Enriquez de Arana in 1487

__Before the Voyages__

 * Much of Columbus's problems on his journey were related to mathematical errors on his calculations
 * made calculations as a preparatory measure
 * 1485 - King John II of portugal rejects idea
 * Columbus's estimated travel distance was much too short
 * 1488 - Columbus asks again, John's audience again rejects the plan
 * he then traveled to Genoa and Venice to gain support, but his plans did not succeed
 * before he was invited to England, he decided on Spain
 * Ferdinand and Isabelle granted his permission to present his plans
 * Isabelle reffered to committee, they said that the distance was much too short
 * They told Isabelle to reject the plans
 * After 2 years of negotiation and lobbying at the Spanish Royal Court, Columbus became successful in 1492
 * Ferdinand and Isabelle had conquered Granada, last Muslim stronghold, therefore in a good mood
 * Isabelle rejects, Ferdinand intervenes and grants Columbus "Admiral of the Seas" title
 * Columbus was not expected to return from his journey
 * Contract between Ferdinand/Isabelle and Columbus


 * __Voyages of Columbus__**
 * In August of 1492, Columbus left Spain with intentions of sailing in the Atlantic to find and claim land for Spain.
 * Columbus left in the Santa Maria, other ships were the Nina and the Pinta
 * After 36 days on the water, Columbus and the crew set foot in present day Bahamas and claimed it for Spain
 * Friendly and curious natives of the island traded goods with the crew
 * also visited Cuba and Hispaniola, and he met with the leaders of the native tribes of those islands
 * Santa Maria shipwrecked off the coast of Hispaniola, use salvaged parts as "Villa de la Navidad" (Christmas Town), a mini settlement for some of the sailors
 * then set for home with the Nina and the Pinta
 * Returning to Spain in 1493,, Columbus reported to the Spanish Royal Court, and was warmly appreciated
 * Left during that same year for a second voyage, where he explored more of the islands contained within the Atlantic
 * When Columbus and his crew arrived at Hispaniola, he found the Navidad settlement destroyed and the sailors massacred
 * He enforced labor on the native population and rebuilt the Navidad settlement and explored for gold
 * Left 2 of his brothers in Hispaniola to protect their settlements
 * Sailing around the larger Carribean islands convinced Columbus they were exploring the outer islands of China
 * THE THIRD VOYAGE
 * when Columbus sailed back to Hispaniola to check up on the settlement, he was surprised to see that the people were almost at point of mutiny and they said he was wrong about the gold and they also complained about the poor leadership of his brothers Diego and Bartholomew
 * The Spanish Crown sent a Royal Official who arrested Columbus and took away his authority, and returned to Spain in chains to face the royal court
 * the Royal Court dropped all charges, but much of the riches he gained during his voyages were taken away and his titles as governor of the West Indies were relieved of duty
 * Columbus convinced Ferdinand in 1502 that one more voyage would bring back untold riches
 * THE FINAL VOYAGE
 * He traveled along the coast of Central America, a failure to find a route to the Indian Ocean
 * Shipwreck caused Columbus and his men to be stranded on Cuba, and because of the bad treatment he showed the natives during previous visits, they refused to give Columbus nor any of the crew any sustenance
 * February 29, 1504 - lunar eclipse frightened natives enough to resume trade with the Spaniards
 * Rescue men sent from Hispaniola arrived in July and took Columbus and his men back
 * Arrived back in Spain during November of 1504
 * LAST YEARS OF LIFE
 * worked to regain royal titles and lost riches
 * May 1505 - regained some of his riches, but his titles were never returned
 * ===DEATH - May 20, 1506===

__Christopher Columbus is ultimately known for ...__

 * opening up the Americas to the Europeans
 * destroying (not literally killing on purpose) the native peoples of the islands he explored
 * failing in his primary goal to find a new route to Asia and the riches that came with it (he died still believing he had accomplished this goal)
 * His journeys led to the Columbian Exchange (Ex: horses to the Americas allowed the Native Americans to become hunters instead of nomads = brought change of lifestyle, but not just this specific example)
 * The Columbian Exchange also brought disease everywhere, greatly affected the Americas (ex: small pox killed millions of Native Americans)
 * Benefits of the Exchange first went to Europe, than to the rest of the world
 * Changing the culture of the Native Americans forever, their cultures before him were forgotten

Brigham, K. (1991). //Christopher Columbus: his life and discovery in the light of his prophecies//. Barcelona, Spain: Libros CLIE.

Kamen H. (2000). //Who's Who In Europe 1450-1750 (Columbus, Christopher)//. Retrieved (2009, 9 15) from http://www.historystudycenter.com/search/displayMultiResultReferenceItem.do?Multi=yes&ResultsID=12324354537&fromPage=search&ItemNumber=4&QueryName=reference

http://www.biography.com/columbus/

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christopher_Columbus