Early Years

• Born in Genoa in 1451
• Was shipwrecked of the coast of Portugal
• Was taken in by his brother
• Learned about Atlantic sailing.
• Voyaged to Iceland in 1477
• Believed Asia was locate to the west of Portugal.

• Approached King John of Portugal but was rejected.
• Was rejected elsewhere as well including England.
• Went to Spain but Spain was at war with the Moors
• After seven years Queen Isabella agreed to sponsor a voyage

• Port of Palos was chosen to provide a crew
• Helped by brothers Martin and Vincente Pinzon
• Given three ships: Nina, Pinta and Santa Maria
  

• Three ships set sail from Palos on August 3rd 1492
• Mutiny was prevented after 18 days by Martin Pinzon threatening to hang six crew members from the mast of the Santa Maria.
• Columbus often lied to his crew about the distance they had sailed.
• Land was sighted at 2am on October 12th by Roderigo de Triano in the crow's nest of the Pinta
• Columbus went ashore next day and placed a crucifix and a flag of Spain on the island and named it San Salvador(Our Saviour)
• Spent three months touring the neighbouring islands.
• Returned to Spain with six natives whom he had kidnapped to put on exhibition in Spain
• Believed he was in Asia and called natives Indians
• Returned to the "New World" twice more and reached mainland on this third voyage.