Christopher Columbus

By Ethan Cohen

Christopher Columbus was Born in 1451in Genoa, Italy. His father owned a wool weaving business. Christopher Columbus had little schooling as a child.

When Columbus was a teenager he got a job on a merchant ship. He was on several trading voyages in the Mediterranean and Aegean seas.

During one voyage off the coast of Portugal, his ship was attacked and sunk to the bottom of the ocean. Luckily he was able to swim to the Portuguese shore.

Attack on Ship

The First Expedition Commanded by Columbus

In 1492, King Ferdinand and Queen Isabella agree to give Columbus 3 boats in order to travel from Europe to Asia and find fame and fortune.

Routes explored by Columbus

1st Voyage – On his first voyage he took 3 boats, the Santa Maria, Nina, and Pinta and explored the Bahamas, Cuba, and Hispaniola.

2nd Voyage – He tried to establish a colony in La Navidad near Haiti, but when he came back 2 months later all his men were killed.

3rd Voyage – He found an Island in the West Indies and named it Trinidad. His crew were the first Europeans to see South America.

Columbus sailed on 4 voyages

4th Voyage – Columbus sailed to Santa Domingo but a hurricane hit and almost destroyed his boats. He then explored Central America.

4th Voyage

Columbus promised gold to any shipmate who spotted land while he was sailing.

Christopher Columbus led the way for the exploration of North and South America. Columbus died in 1506. He was 55 years old.