Christopher Columbus or also known as Cristoforo Colombo and Cristobal Colon, a well known Italian explorer, discovered the “New World” of America on an expedition seen through by King Ferdinand of Spain in 1492. Columbus had a family and went on many voyages. Columbus was a historical figure who changed the perception of the American continents for the European countries.
Columbus was born on October 31, 1451 in the Republic of Genoa. His father, Domenico Colombo, was a weaver. His mother was Susanna Fontanarossa. Columbus’ brothers were Bartolomeo, Geovanni, Pellegrino, Giacomo, and Bianchinetta. Although Columbus didn’t meet his brother, Barotolomeo, until 1479.
He eventually settled in Lisbon, Portugal, where he studied mathematics, astronomy,
…show more content…
When he went to the sea he was helping in many trading voyages in the Mediterranean and Aegean seas. His voyage to the islands of Khios brought him as near as he would come to Asia. Supposedly, his first voyage to the Atlantic Ocean nearly cost him his life because the commercial fleet he was sailing with was attacked by French privateers off the coast of portugal. When the ship was burned it caused Columbus to have to swim to the Portuguese shore and make his way to Lisbon, Portugal. Of course Columbus participated in several other expeditions. Many of them were to Africa where he was learning about the Atlantic currents. Columbus then created a plan to sail west to reach the east. Because Columbus’ three-ship voyage of discovery was rejected by the Portuguese king, Columbus took his plan first to Genoa and then to Venice, but was rejected there too. Christopher Columbus was a legacy. Even though he didn’t discover America. He wasn’t even the first European to visit the “New World” (America). Columbus was the one who started the exploration and the exploitation of the American continents. Today he was a mixed legacy because he is remembered as a great explorer who transformed the New World, but his actions caused changes that would eventually devastate the native populations that him and his fellow explorers