Christopher Columbus
"When asked by an anthropologist what the Indians called America before the white man came, an Indian said simply, Ours.'" Christopher Columbus was always thought as a brave man who discovered America, but does this tell the entire story? The real Columbus may not be the person people once thought he was.
Events that may have influenced Columbus
Century long conflicts between the Christians and Muslims greatly impacted Columbus. In 1415 the Portuguese invaded North Africa in an attempt to destroy Islam by destroying its commercial empire, Ceuta. The conquering of Ceuta later led to the exploration of Africa and the finding of a passage around the southern tip of Africa. The exploration affected Columbus because the Portuguese no longer needed another passage to Asia. The fall of Constantinople in 1453 also affected Columbus. The Islamic Empire captured the city from the Christians, which affected Columbus' home city of Genoa, Italy. The war was basically happening in Genoa's "backyard." The lost colonies in the eastern Mediterranean were a major calamity to a seafaring city. The Genoese now had to look to the western Mediterranean for trade. Because of the war in Constantinople, many Italians immigrated to the west, including Columbus himself.
Early Life
Many historians believe Christopher Columbus was born between August 25th and October 31st, 1451 in Genoa, Italy. His parents are believed to be Domenico Colombo, a wool weaver, and Suzanna Fontanarossa, a daughter of a wool weaver. Columbus was the eldest of five children and would remain closest to his brother Bartolomeo. Little is known about the education Columbus received as a child, but historians do know that Italian schools taught basic reading and writing. At a time where sons were expected to follow their fathers in the family business, it was also natural for many men living near the seas to turn to the seas for a career and that is what Columbus did....
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