Christopher Columbus and The New World

Christopher Columbus is often associated as the original founder of the North American continent. However, whilst one exploration did succeed his own 500 years prior, Columbus is responsible for establishing communication among the indigenous Americans. As a European navigator and explorer, Columbus initially sought to develop trade routes across the Atlantic Ocean. However, various voyages and expeditions eventually resulted in colonization of the New World.

“For this purpose I determined to keep an account of the voyage, and to write down punctually everything we performed or saw from day to day, as will hereafter appear.”

After sailing along Northeastern Cuba, and modern day Bahamas in 1942, Columbus embarked on his voyage back to Spain. This travel provides significant evidence that crew members contracted the disease known as syphilis, which eventually resulted in the death of more than 5 million Europeans. In 1493, Columbus departed Spain and explored various islands throughout the Lesser Antilles. After reaching Puerto Rico, sources depict the first skirmish between Natives and Europeans as Columbus attempted to rescue two captors who had only momentarily been castrated. After quickly leaving the conflicted island, the crew reached modern day Dominic Republic. Due to natural resources, etc., the settlement in this location was only temporarily constructed.

In 1498, Christopher Columbus embarked on his 3rd voyage. After exploring the Canary Islands and sailing along South America, Columbus was requested at a previous settlement he had established in Hispaniola. Apparently, the colonists were discontent and deprived of the riches they were supposedly promised. Due to disobeying his commands, Columbus had the problematic crew members sentenced to death. The Natives of Hispaniola were enslaved and forced to work the land.

During his 4th journey, Columbus sailed along the Moroccan coast in hopes of rescuing Portuguese solders seeking refuge from the Moors. However, a harsh storm prevented him from settling and forced him to journey towards Central America. The crew became stranded in Jamaica for over a year before reinforcements arrived and captured Columbus and his men. He was eventually accused of governing tyrannically, and after the 4 expeditions, Columbus was weary and stricken with arthritis. He died at the age of 55, wealthy from the fortunes he had accumulated after depriving Hispaniola.