First voyage of Columbus to "New World"
Columbus traveled to the Americas while searching for an all-water route to China. He began his career at sea sailing on Italian merchant vessels and studying navigation in Portugal. After years of study, Columbus approached the rulers of several European countries to help fund his exploration. Spain's King and Queen agreed to fund his exploration. On August 3, 1492, Christopher Columbus left from Spain for his initial journey. He journeyed with 88 men three small fleet ships: The Santa Maria, the Pinta, and the Nina. In the following ship log, Columbus described his first voyage to the Americas:
"September 24, 1492: "I am having serious troubles with the crew, despite the signs of land that we have. . . . In fact, the more . . . signs that we are near land, the more their impatience and inconstancy increases, and the more indignant they become against me. All day long and all night long those who are awake and able to get together never cease to talk to each other in circles, complaining that they will never be able to return home. They have said that it is insanity and suicidal on their part to risk their lives following the madness of a foreigner. They have said that not only am I willing to risk my life just to become a great Lord, but that I have deceived them to further my ambition. . . . I am told by a few trusted men . . . that if I persist in going forward they will throw me into the sea some night. They will then affirm that I fell overboard while taking the position of the North Star with my quadrant. Since I am a foreigner, little or no account will be asked of the matter. . . . I know that Mart’n Alonso [captain of the Pinta] cannot be trusted. He is a skilled mariner, but he wants the rewards and honors of this enterprise for himself. . . . I must use him, for his support is too great among the men. I am also confident that if I lose command, the fleet will never reach the Indies and will probably never get back to Spain."
On October 7, 1492, after 29 days out of sight of land, the crew spotted shore birds flying west and changed direction to make their landfall. On a later date, it was found out that the birds were Eskimo curlews and American golden plover. On October 12 at 2AM, land was spotted by sailor of the Pinta, Rodrigo de Triana. On the first voyage, Columbus also explored the northeast coast of Cuba where he landed on October 28. Martin Alonso Pinzon, captain of the Pinta, left the other two ships without permission and sailed on his own in search of of an island called Babeque, where he heard that there was much gold. Columbus continued with the Santa Maria and Nina eastward, and arrived at Hispaniola on December 5th. Here, the Santa Maria ran aground on Christmas morning of 1492 and had to be abandoned. Now down to one ship, Columbus continued eastward along the coast of Hispaniola, and was surprised when he came upon the Pinta on January 6th.
The two ships departed Hispaniola but were separated again by a fierce thunderstorm in the North Atlantic on February 14th. Both Columbus and Pinzon believed that the other had died. Columbus sighted the island of Santa Maria in the Azores the next day.
Columbus was received as a hero in Spain. He displayed several kidnapped natives and what gold he had found, as well as the previously unknown tobacco plant, the pineapple fruit, the turkey and the hammock. The news of his voyage sped throughout Europe and soon would inspire many expeditions.
The two ships departed Hispaniola but were separated again by a fierce thunderstorm in the North Atlantic on February 14th. Both Columbus and Pinzon believed that the other had died. Columbus sighted the island of Santa Maria in the Azores the next day.
Columbus was received as a hero in Spain. He displayed several kidnapped natives and what gold he had found, as well as the previously unknown tobacco plant, the pineapple fruit, the turkey and the hammock. The news of his voyage sped throughout Europe and soon would inspire many expeditions.
The first voyage of Columbus changed America by showing the world that the world was far larger than they thought it was. The discovery opened up new lands and resources as well as changed European commerce by opening up new financial venues to many of the poor and destitute. It also opened doors for religious freedom that Europe had not experienced since the fall of the Roman empire. Columbus came to prove that the world was not flat and that it was a myth. He proved even the most educated at that time that they were wrong.