Christopher Columbus: The Voyage That Changed the World

Christopher Columbus: The Voyage That Changed the World

A Return to History

After a long break focused on literature exploring novels and literary theories, it feels great to return to history. Indeed, this post will differ from typical history blogs. Today, we focus on the figure who rewrote history over 500 years ago: Christopher Columbus.

A Sailor from Genoa

Christopher Columbus was a Genoa-born sailor who lived between 1451-1506. While history accepts him as the man who discovered America, his journey began long before 1492.

Columbus, who was passionate about cartography (map-making), started making sea voyages at a young age. He travelled to England and possibly even to icy Greenland. In 1482, he visited the fortress built by the Portuguese on the Gold Coast of Africa, gaining valuable navigational experience.

The Great Miscalculation

Columbus was driven by a single, radical idea: “By travelling westwards, one could reach India and the Far East.”

Scientists of the time already knew the earth was round, but there was great uncertainty about its size. By analysing previous geographical data, Columbus mistakenly thought the world was much smaller than it actually was. He calculated the distance between Europe and Japan to be only one-fifth of reality. Like everyone else in Europe, he was completely unaware of the massive American continent and the Pacific Ocean standing in his way.

 Portrait of a Man, Said to be Christopher Columbus
Sebastiano del Piombo (Sebastiano Luciani) (Italian, Venice (?) 1485/86–1547 Rome)

The Search for Sponsorship: Kings, Queens, and a Legend

To fund this ambitious journey, he first applied to the King of Portugal in 1485. When he was rejected, he moved to Spain. In 1486, he presented his proposal to Queen Isabella.

It took six long years of lobbying, but finally, in 1492, Queen Isabella and King Ferdinand agreed to financially support Columbus's voyage.

Did you know? According to a fascinating legend, before securing Spanish support, Columbus even travelled to Constantinople (İstanbul) to seek funding from the Ottoman Sultan, Bayezid II, but his request was declined.

Colombus seeks support from Queen Isabella and King Ferdinand.
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The First Voyage: Into the Unknown (1492)

On 3 August 1492, with a crew of 120 people, Columbus sailed west from the port of Palos with the famous ships named Santa Maria, Nina, and Pinta. Taking advantage of the wind, he headed southwest and reached the Canary Islands on 3 September.

On 12 October, when he arrived in the Bahamas, his crew was on the brink of revolt. From this point on, and throughout his life, he remained convinced that he had reached East India.

The “Indian” Misconception

This geographical misconception led to a historical naming error that persists today: this region is called the ‘West Indies’ and the indigenous American people are referred to as ‘Indians’.

Starting from that region, Columbus tried to interpret everything to fit his vision of Asia. However, his dreams of gold and spices were not realized during this first trip.

The Return and the Second Fleet

As a result of the grounding of the Santa Maria, he left 39 people behind in this region, then returned in a north-easterly direction, arriving back at the port of Palos on 15 March 1493, exactly 224 days later.

In the spring of 1493, he was rewarded for his discovery. He sailed from Cadiz on 25 September 1493, this time with a massive fleet of 17 ships and 1200 sailors, soldiers, and immigrants to establish a permanent colony.

The Dark Side of Colonization: A Demographic Collapse

On 3 November, he easily reached Dominica. However, when he arrived at the location of the first 39 men he had left behind, he found that they had been expelled (and likely killed) by the locals due to their bad behaviour.

The new colony, established in the Hispaniola region, brought what historians describe as “European barbarism” to the island. The impact on the native population was devastating:

·         1492: 250,000 people

·         1508: 60,000 people

·         1560: Less than 500 people remain.

Columbus departed on 10 March 1496 and returned to Cadiz on 11 June, leaving behind a changed world.

Columbus lands on a beach in the Bahamas on October 12, 1492
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The Third Voyage: Discovery and Disgrace (1498-1500)

On 30 May 1498, Columbus embarked on his third voyage, venturing further south than before. He discovered the island of Trinidad and touched the coast of South America near Venezuela.

However, when he returned to the colony he had established earlier, he found the situation in chaos. The settlers were unhappy, and order had collapsed. In 1500, a royal official sent by Ferdinand and Isabella took over the administration. In a humiliating turn of events, the official arrested Columbus and sent him back to Spain in chains.

The Final Attempt and a Missed Ocean (1502-1504)

Although he arrived in Cadiz as a prisoner in October 1500, he was eventually released. However, Ferdinand and Isabella believed he was no longer fit to govern. A new governor was appointed, but Columbus was granted permission for one last expedition.

On 3 April 1502, he set sail for the fourth time. He travelled along the coast of Central America, desperately searching for a passage to India. Ironically, while in Panama, he was incredibly close to the Pacific Ocean but failed to discover it. (That honour would go to Vasco Núñez de Balboa just a few years later).

A Lonely End in Spain (1506)

The expedition ended in disaster. The lower parts of his ships were destroyed by shipworms (barnacles), leaving him stranded for a year before being rescued.

He arrived in Spain in November 1504, just a few days before the death of his greatest supporter, Queen Isabella. With the Queen gone, King Ferdinand paid no compliments to the aging explorer.

Columbus died on 20 May 1506 in Spain, abandoned by his friends and still believing he had found the path to Asia.

Columbus's voyages on the map

The Legend of the Sargasso Sea

Columbus’ voyages were full of natural challenges. One of the most famous incidents occurred when his ships entered the Sargasso Sea (often associated with the mysteries of the Bermuda Triangle).

There, they were unable to move forward for a long time; the calmness of the sea and the lack of wind caused the ships to remain dead in the water. Panic spread among the sailors. At one critical point, Columbus stood before his crew and said:

“Give me three days, and things will improve.”

Indeed, on the third day, the winds changed direction, and the ships began to move again, consolidating his reputation as a leader favoured by destiny.

A "Promised" Paradise

Throughout his four voyages between 1492 and 1502, Columbus proved to be a bold and pragmatic leader.

·         2nd Voyage: He explored the Caribbean islands further.

·         3rd Voyage: Upon discovering fresh water sources in South America, he genuinely believed he had found the Earthly Paradise.

·         4th Voyage: He reached Central America.

Columbus believed that the lands in the Americas belonged to him by divine right, stating, “This place was promised to me.” beyond his leadership, these voyages resulted in the mapping of vast regions, creating a revolution in Spanish mapmaking.

A symbolic representation of the "Columbian Exchange" that began with Columbus's voyages and forever changed the ecosystems of the Old and New Worlds
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The Columbian Exchange

Columbus’ journeys did more than just chart new waters; they accelerated cultural interactions between Europe and the Americas.

Columbus and his crew transported various plants, animals, and cultural elements, introducing Europeans to a completely new world. This exchange helps us understand why he has been remembered as a "hero" in traditional history.

However, the reality is complex. His legacy is also defined by the challenges he faced in the lands he discovered, specifically, the conflicts with native peoples and the clash of two very different realities.