Christopher Columbus is one of the most enigmatic personalities of the Age of Discovery in particular, and among historical figures in general.
There is so little factual material about his birth, origin, education, professional activity before the first expedition to the West Indies that this allowed Columbus's biographers and historians to write more than a hundred books about him, introducing a lot of gag, guesswork and unverified statements into their writings. Even the main document of the first expedition to the New World - the original ship's logbook - has not survived, let alone the period when Columbus was, in fact, nobody.
Therefore, the story of Columbus is a story of continuous riddles without guesses - versions, assumptions and doubts … Almost everything is subject to doubt: date and place of birth, origin and social status, education and sphere of activity. Suffice it to say that more than two dozen cities in different European countries have applied for the title of the birthplace of Christopher Columbus.
Everything associated with the name of this legendary navigator is shrouded in a veil of mystery and mysticism.
Therefore, on the pages allotted to H. Columbus, both generally accepted versions of events and various hypotheses and, of course, a few facts will be presented.
So:
Columbus's date of birth
Christopher Columbus was born in 1451 sometime between August 25 and October 31. This is the main generally accepted version of the encyclopedia. The controversial version - in 1446.
The birthplace of
Genoa is a coastal city-state-republic. This is the main version. A number of other cities in Italy and Spain dispute the honor of being the small homeland of Columbus. There is no concrete evidence of the birthplace of the great traveler. In those days, there were no passports or registration.
Parents
Father - Domenico Columbus (Italian: Domenico Colombo). Mother - Susanna Fontanarossa (Italian Susanna Fontanarossa) This information is not disputed by anyone.
Social status
At this point, only one thing is clear - the Columbus were not from the nobility. And not from merchants. And not a banker. And not even a sailor. With equal probability, the researchers argue that Columbus Sr. was a poor weaver, wool cardiner, wine and cheese merchant, city gate guard, innkeeper, etc. In short, one of those who earned their living by their own labor. Most likely, Christopher began to earn extra money early. It is possible that a cabin boy or a lower rank on ships, and got acquainted with the sea from childhood.
Surname
For some reason, the very name "Columbus" raises numerous doubts among researchers. I do not know what they doubt, I have no doubts about it. In Italian, colombo is a pigeon. In Latin, the (direct ancestor of Italian) pigeon is columbus. In our opinion, it turns out - Golubev. Just nothing. What is there to doubt? And this indirectly confirms the Genoese-Italian origin of Senor Cristoforo Colombo. (For your information: in Spanish, a pigeon - paloma, in Portuguese - pombo.) Still, the official version that Columbus was from Genoa pulls all the others: Portuguese, Spanish, German and Slavic versions of his origin.
Childhood. Adolescence. Youth
How was the childhood, adolescence and youth of Christopher Columbus is unknown. One can only speculate.
Education
The main version - he studied at the University of Pavia (that is, at the University of Padua). But there is no documentary evidence of this.
Options: received home education or attended some kind of educational institution. An indirect proof of this statement is the fact that Columbus knew navigation well, and it provided for knowledge of mathematics, geometry, cosmography (astronomy) and geography. Then he worked as a cartographer. Then in the printing house. All these activities required a certain degree of education.
In addition, Columbus spoke Italian, Portuguese and Spanish. I partly knew Latin. There is evidence that he could write in Hebrew as well.
I believe that Christopher Columbus did receive some kind of basic systematic primary education. And on its basis he improved all his life. There is no doubt that Columbus was broad-minded.
Nationality
There are as many ambiguities here as in the previous paragraphs. Genoese is not a nationality. Rather, it is citizenship. There are a number of studies showing the Jewish origin of Christopher Columbus, for there are several circumstantial evidence for this assumption. However, one does not interfere with the other. Versions of the Spanish, Portuguese or German origin of Columbus are more reminiscent of the “wishlist” of researchers who pull a great man by the ears of his nationality.
Religion
Columbus's official religion was undoubtedly Catholic. Otherwise, he would simply not have been allowed on the doorstep either in Portugal, or even more so in Spain. The assertion that Christopher Columbus was a Maran (baptized Jew) did not hinder him in the least. He just disguised himself very well so as not to fall under the millstones of Catholic obscurantists. An indirect proof that Columbus was still his own is the fact that his undertakings were supported by the major financial tycoons of Castile and Aragon, who were all from the same environment.
Family status
Columbus was a prominent, albeit poor man. While serving in Portugal, apparently in one of the Genoese trading houses, he met his future wife Dona Felipe Moniz de Palestrello, whom he married in 1478. Soon they had a son, Diego. This happened near Madeira on the small island of Porto Santo, where Columbus was serving at the time. The Moniz de Palestrello family was not rich, but the noble origin of his wife allowed Christopher Domenikovich to establish contacts and establish connections in the circles of the Portuguese nobility.
Occupation
The main occupation that at the very least fed Columbus was associated with the sea and sea trade. Sales representative, captain, navigator pilot, cartographer … Most likely, Columbus took on any business that could feed him and his family. In Portugal, he was engaged in mapping, was a cartographer or something like that. In those days it was a prestigious occupation, cards were a secret and hot commodity. That is, something like a job at a prestigious secret enterprise. Basically, swimming and cartography are very intertwined activities.
Place (s) of residence of Columbus
Until 1472 he lived in Genoa. Columbus settled in Lisbon around 1473-1476. There is no exact date. In 1485 he moved to Andalusia, for a time he lived in the monastery of Rabida near the port of Palos, visited, of course, in Seville, then traveled a lot around Castile and Aragon after the royal court, earning a living with whatever he had to: cartography, work in a printing house, etc. … Columbus can be considered a Spanish subject, for he did not change the host country anymore, despite the rather difficult relations with the royal court.
Stay of Portugal
The reason Christopher Columbus ended up in Portugal is simple - looking for a job. After the capture of Constantinople by the Turks in 1453, Genoa lost huge markets in the East. Its citizens scattered across Europe in search of a piece of bread. At first, Columbus in Portugal was, in our opinion, a guest worker. Then he took root. Has mastered. I got married. He continued to engage in maritime trade and navigation. He sailed along the African coast, went to the northern latitudes, to England and Iceland. In Portugal, he began to draw up nautical charts. Most likely, the idea of finding a western route to India seized Columbus at this time. Several factors coincided - the need for European trade with the East in addition to the Turks. Plus Columbus' sea experience, life energy,the desire to break out of poverty and become a significant person thanks to their knowledge and experience as a sailor and cartographer.
For what reason Columbus left Portugal in 1485 is not known exactly. One of the possible reasons is the futility of the implementation of the main business of his life - an expedition to the West in search of a way to India and China. The Portuguese court relied on bypassing Africa from the south. Africa was already paying dividends, and the western direction was pie in the sky. Another possible reason is that Columbus went into debt and was simply hiding from creditors. Third: a chance to realize your idea, having received support from the Catholic kings. Isabella and Ferdinand at that time were still young, energetic, aggressive, building a new state and actively looking for new sources of income.
Stay in Spain
So, from 1485 to the last days of his stay on earth in 1506, Christopher Columbus was in Spain (Andalusia, Castile, Leon, Aragon). He lived here, was in the royal service and was actually a Spanish citizen. Although there was no country with such a name yet. Sharakhany Columbus in Spain can be devoted to a separate book. Wherever he was, where he only lived … His main occupation here was to get through to the Catholic kings, find influential people, and interest them in his project. Which he, in the end, achieved. Columbus not only opened the New World for the Spanish crown, he made three more trips to the West Indies, discovering more and more new lands.
Columbus' first expedition to the shores of the New World
August 3, 1492 - March 15, 1493
The first expedition of Christopher Columbus consisting of three ships "Pinta", "Ninya", "Santa Maria" started from the port of Palos. As a result of the expedition, the Bahamas, Cuba and Haiti were discovered. Read more here about the first expedition of Christopher Columbus.
Columbus' second expedition
September 25, 1493 - June 11, 1496
Columbus's second flotilla consisted of 17 ships. According to various sources, from 1500 to 2500 people took part in it, among whom were not only adventurers, but also intentional colonists who decided to seek their happiness in new lands. In addition to people, the ships were loaded with cattle, seeds, inventory and everything needed to organize a permanent settlement. The colonists completely conquered Hispaniola and laid the foundation for the city of Santo Domingo. The Lesser Antilles, the Virgin Islands, the islands of Puerto Rico, Jamaica were discovered, the southern coast of Cuba was further explored. At the same time, Columbus remained with the opinion that Western India was still open to him, and not a new land.
Columbus' third expedition
May 30, 1498 - 1499
Only six ships and 300 crew members went west. As a result, the island of Trinidad, the Orinoco delta and a number of other territories were discovered. During this expedition, Columbus was arrested by his ill-wishers and sent to Castile in shackles. Only the intervention of influential financiers made it possible to remove disgrace from him.
Columbus' fourth expedition
May 9, 1502 - October 1504
Columbus discovered the mainland coast of Central America: Nicaragua, Honduras, Costa Rica, Panama. The first meetings with the Maya Indians took place. Columbus stubbornly searched for a strait in the South Sea (Pacific Ocean), but never found it. Not salty slurp Christopher Columbus returned to Castile.
Christopher Columbus moved to a better world
on May 20, 1506 in Seville
Like many great people, Christopher Columbus was not appreciated by his contemporaries. His death passed completely unnoticed. He lost all his rights and privileges, spent his savings on his travelmates. This is the official version.
Nobody knows for certain where the ashes of the great traveler are now. And only Zurab Tsereteli sculpted Columbus in sizes worthy of his accomplishments. The fate of the statue, as well as the fate of the remains of the navigator, are unknown.
The historical significance of Columbus's discoveries
The tremendous significance of Columbus's discoveries for Spain and for the whole world was appreciated only half a century later, when galleons with gold and silver went from Mexico and Peru colonized by the Spaniards. Suffice it to say that the royal treasury, in terms of gold, spent only ten kilograms of the precious yellow metal on the preparation of the first expedition of Columbus. And according to the most conservative estimates, for 300 years of its rule in the New World, Spain mined and removed from there gold, silver and other valuables in an amount equivalent to 3 million kilograms of pure gold!
Although it didn’t work for Spain. Crazy gold did not stimulate the development of industry, progress and the country's economy. Spain became a colonial empire, parasitizing on the plunder of new lands, it is hopelessly lagging behind the leading European powers in all respects, and this gap has not yet been overcome.
