Christopher Columbus

Explorer and navigator Columbus was born in 1451, in the Republic of Genoa (Italy). He sailed and traded as a teenager, participating in many journeys and expeditions. Columbus thought that sailing west across the Atlantic Ocean would be a faster and safer way to get to China and India to trade.

The king of Portugal did not help Columbus look for a route, and neither did the leaders in Italy. Then, he went to Spain and spent a long time trying to convince the king and queen to help him look for a water route to China and India. Finally, they agreed.

In 1492, Columbus left Spain with 3 ships. After 36 days of sailing, they landed on an island in the present-day Bahamas and claimed it for Spain. There, they traded with the native people. Columbus and his men continued their journey and visited other islands. They established a settlement, and 39 men stayed behind. Columbus returned to Spain to report back.

Columbus journeyed back to the settlement in 1493. He found that the settlement had been destroyed, and the men had been killed. Angry, Columbus forced the native people to become slaves and rebuild the settlement. He also forced them to search for gold, but not much was found. Columbus left his brothers in charge and sailed around other islands. He was sure he had found China.

On his third voyage, Columbus reached present-day Venezuela. Finally, on his fourth voyage, he traveled along the coast of Central America looking for a route to the Indian Ocean. During this time, a storm wrecked one of his ships and stranded the sailors on the island of Cuba. The native people were very tired of being badly treated by the Spaniards, and did not help Columbus and the sailors. Columbus eventually was able to return to Spain, and he always thought that he had found a water route to Asia.