Christopher Columbus
Christopher Columbus was a Italian explorer, from Genoa Italy, on the Nina Pinta Santa Maria, that reached America while trying to find a faster trade route to Asia on August 3,1492-October 12,1492. After the Spanish army captured the last Muslim in Granda in January 1492, the monarchs finally agreed to finance his expedition on August 1492. After 36 days they set foot on what is now present day Bahamas, claimed it for Spain, and did some trading with friendly Native Americans. They visited Cuba and Hispaniola (now present day Haiti and Dominican Republic.) meeting with leaders. The Santa Maria wrecked and with the help of some islanders they salvaged whatever they could and built Villa De La Navidad ("Christmas Town"). 39 men stayed and convinced they had reached Asia they headed back. He returned to Spain in 1493, gave a exaggerated report, and was warmly welcomed by the royal court. That same year he traveled to Hispaniola and found the Navidad settlement destroyed and the sailors massacred. Columbus established a forced labor policy to rebuild the settlement and explore for gold. His effort produced small amounts of gold and great amounts of hatred. Columbus left his brothers Bartholomew and Diego to govern Hispaniola, convincing himself ha had reached the outer cities of China. The Spanish crown sent a royal official who arrested Columbus and stripped him from his authorities. The charges were dropped and Columbus lost his title as governor for a time. Convincing King Ferdinand this last voyage would bring the riches promised he left on his last voyage in 1502. A storm wrecked the ship and left the captain and his sailors stranded on Cuba. Local islanders, tired of the Spaniards poor treatment and obsession for gold, refused to give food. Columbus devised a plan with an almanac to "punish" the islanders by taking away the moon. On February 29, 1504 alarmed the natives to re-establish the trades with the Spaniards. In the last two years of his life Columbus tried to gain the titles he had lost back. He did regain some riches but his titles were never returned. He died May 20, 1506 still believing he had reached a shorter route to Asia.