Voyages of Columbus

Christopher Columbus, an Italian explorer, was motivated by the desire for wealth and status, religious conviction, and the spirit of adventure.
Columbus was convinced of the existence of a westward maritime route from Europe to the rich spice lands of Asia, a theory unsupported by most geographers of the time.
The lure of riches and spices propelled Columbus’ expedition, as did his devout Catholic faith - he saw himself as an instrument of God’s will to spread Christianity.

Columbus set sail from Spain in August 1492, funded by Spanish monarchs Ferdinand and Isabella.
The fleet of three ships, the Santa Maria, Niña, and Pinta, made landfall in the Bahamas in October 1492, mistakenly believing they’d reached islands off Asia.
Columbus and his crew encountered the native Taino people, whom they found peaceful and friendly, leading to an exchange of gifts.
Columbus returned to Spain in 1493, bringing with him evidence of the lands he discovered, including natives (whom he called “Indians” assuming he was in India), gold, and exotic flora and fauna.

Armed with royal patronage again, Columbus departed for the New World in September 1493 with a much larger fleet of 17 ships and 1,200 men.
Columbus established a colony in Hispaniola (present-day Haiti/Dominican Republic) and explored other islands including Puerto Rico and Cuba.
Conditions in the colony were tough and interactions with natives became hostile, leading to deteriorating conditions and eventual failure of the colony.

Columbus embarked on his third voyage in 1498, this time reaching the coast of South America.
He returned to Hispaniola to find the colony in rebellion. His rule was deemed ineffective and brutal, leading to his arrest and removal.
Columbus was sent back to Spain in chains, and stripped of his governorship.

Columbus set sail for the fourth and final time in 1502, despite his downfall from favour. He aimed to find a strait that would lead him to the Indian Ocean.
He explored Central America but failed to find the strait. Instead, he and his crew were stranded in Jamaica for a year due to a shipwreck.
Columbus returned to Spain in 1504, and never set sail again.

Columbus’ voyages led to the lasting connection between the Old and New Worlds leading to a period known as the Columbian exchange, which significantly impacted global history.
His actions and treatment of the indigenous people have been controversially assessed, with views ranging from a pioneering explorer to a symbol of genocide and colonial repression.
Nonetheless, Columbus’s voyages remain a major milestone in world history, marking the start of sustained European exploration and eventual conquest of the Americas.