Biography
Christopher Columbus: Explorer of the New World
While Christopher Columbus' "discovery" of the Americas has recently been the subject of great controversy, there is little doubt that this celebrated historical figure was an extraordinary man and that his explorations were of tremendous historical importance. Born around 1451 in Genoa, Italy, Columbus was a gifted mariner and talented navigator from a young age. Obsessed with finding a western sea route to Asia after the land course became impassable, Columbus spent nearly a decade trying to gain monetary and material support from Spanish monarchs to launch an expedition that would test his theories of the geography of the globe. His persistence and resolution paid off- in 1492 Columbus led the Nina, Pinta and Santa Maria across the Atlantic Ocean, where he eventually landed after three arduous months on an unknown Caribbean island. Believing he had reached the Indies, Columbus christened the native people "Indians" and proclaimed that the rich Asian ports were just beyond these islands. While Columbus and his crew felt victorious about their findings, the native peoples of these islands and the others explored by Europeans during this era were met with a host of new and unexpected conflicts, power struggles, and diseases.
After returning home to Spain with a hero's welcome, Columbus would make three more voyages across the Atlantic Ocean over the course of the next twelve years. He would never achieve the same level of glory and prestige after that first fateful journey. By the early 16th century, Ferdinand and Isabella had withdrawn their royal sponsorship, multitudes of mariners had ventured across the ocean, and Columbus' mismanagement of the colonies and later expeditions had left him with a battered reputation. While he died in relative obscurity in 1506, Columbus' legend had only just begun to grow. Over the centuries, he would be adopted as a cultural icon of entrepreneurship, enterprise, and exploration and celebrated as an ingenious navigator and explorer. Yet even as Columbus is celebrated, he continues to generate controversy for the legacy of conquest and violence toward native people the European explorers left in their wake. With commentary from historians and rich details, this one-hour Biography gives students a resourceful and factual look at Columbus and his journeys at sea, introducing them to this pivotal era in world history.
Vocabulary
Discussion Questions
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How did Columbus' mistaken belief in a westward route to China help him to secure the men necessary for his expedition?
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What role did religion play in Columbus' discovery?
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When Columbus and his men met the Native Americans, two very distinct cultures collided. Discuss the first impressions of Columbus by the natives and vice versa.
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What role did Columbus' discovery play in the slave trade?
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In your opinion, was Columbus a savvy businessman, intrepid explorer, or foolhardy idealist?
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What technology did Columbus use to navigate his voyages?
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What was Ferdinand and Isabella's motivation for supporting Columbus?
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Some say pride comes before a fall. What contributed to Columbus' mismanagement of his colonies and later sea expeditions?
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To the day he died, Columbus refused to believe that he had not found the route to China and the Indies. Why do you think it was so important to him to believe that he had found the route?
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Columbus died in relative obscurity. What happened over the following centuries to elevate him to such an important figure after his death?
Extended Activities
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As recently as 50 years ago, Christopher Columbus was one of the single most celebrated historical figures in global history. Today, his "discovery" of America has become undeniably controversial. Some argue that he could not have "discovered" a land where natives had lived for centuries and that his voyages wreaked havoc upon the native peoples he and his crew encountered. Others argue that Columbus was an ingenious discoverer who should be acknowledged and remembered for his daring spirit and mastery of the seas. Divide the class up into two groups. Have one group put together an argument for continuing to celebrate Christopher Columbus as a national hero and have the other argue for removing Columbus Day as a recognized National Holiday. Hold a debate between the two sides. Or, have students write newspaper editorials or letters to the editor arguing for or against the celebration of Columbus Day.
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One of the greatest challenges Columbus faced was one he had to confront before he could even embark on his journey: finding funding to pay for his expedition. Ask students to imagine they were Columbus and needed to write a letter to the Spanish monarchs requesting money for his expedition to the Americas. Students should write a letter from his perspective, describing the reasons he believed the funds would be justified and why the journey would benefit the Spanish crown.
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At the time of his explorations, Columbus attempted to determine the location of lands and islands based on his own cartography and the maps of others. Often, he miscalculated the locations of the continents and misinterpreted the size and contours of the oceans. Ask students to break up into small groups and research Columbus' route to the Americas in 1492. Then, students should create a map of the world at the time of this journey and chart Columbus' route. Students should discuss their maps with the larger class or group.
References
Websites
Books
- Columbus, Christopher and J.M. Cohen. The Four Voyages: Being His Own Log Book, Letters and Dispatches with Connecting Narratives (Penguin Classics, 1992).
- Sale, Kirkpatrick. Christopher Columbus and the Conquest of Paradise: Second Edition (Tauris Paperback, 2006)
- Phillips, William D. and Carla Rahn Phillips. The Worlds of Christopher Columbus (Cambridge University Press, 1993)
- Reston, James. Dogs of God: Columbus, the Inquisition, and the Defeat of the Moors (Doubleday, 2005)
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