Christopher Columbus

:For information about the film director, see the article on Chris Columbus.

Background

Columbus believed that the earth was a relatively small sphere, and argued that a ship could reach the Far East via a westward course. The widespread notion that Columbus encountered opposition based on the idea that the earth was flat is a literary myth created by Washington Irving. Educated people in Columbus's time agreed that the earth was round; anyone familiar with seafaring certainly knew it, since the roundness of the earth forms the basis of celestial navigation. The main debate was over whether a ship could circumnavigate the planet without running out of food or getting stuck in windless regions.

Related Topics:
Earth - Sphere - Far East - Myth - Washington Irving - Seafaring - Celestial navigation - Circumnavigate

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Columbus was not the first European to reach the continent. Many historians today acknowledge the fact that Leifur Eiríksson had traveled to North America from Iceland in the 11th century and set up a short-lived colony at L'Anse aux Meadows. There are also many theories of expeditions to the Americas by a variety of peoples throughout time; see Pre-Columbian trans-oceanic contact, one of the most consistent is the exploration (before 1472) of two, led by João Vaz Corte-Real to Terra Verde (today's Newfoundland). Giovanni Caboto (better known as John Cabot) was first to reach the American mainland (which Columbus did not reach until his third voyage). However, there is one thing that sets off Columbus' first voyage from all of these: less than two decades later, the existence of America was known to the general public throughout Europe. This is likely due to the invention of the printing press. Additionally although Columbus is credited in classical education as the "discoverer of America" , the two continents are named after Amerigo Vespucci who reached what is now the coast of Brazil in 1501.

Related Topics:
Leifur Eiríksson - North America - Iceland - 11th century - L'Anse aux Meadows - Pre-Columbian trans-oceanic contact - João Vaz Corte-Real - Giovanni Caboto - Printing press - Amerigo Vespucci - Brazil

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Columbus landed in the Bahamas and later explored much of the Caribbean, including the isles of Juana (Cuba) and Espanola (Hispaniola), as well as the coasts of Central and South America. He never reached the present-day United States where "Columbus Day" (12 October, the anniversary of Columbus' landing in the Bahamas) is celebrated as a holiday.

Related Topics:
Bahamas - Caribbean - Cuba - Hispaniola - Central - South America - United States - 12 October - Holiday

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Unlike the voyage of the Icelanders, Columbus's voyages led to a relatively quick, general and lasting recognition of the existence of the New World by the Old World, the Columbian Exchange of species (both those harmful to humans, such as viruses, bacteria, and parasites, and beneficial to humans, such as tomatoes, potatoes, maize, and horses), and the first large-scale colonization of the Americas by Europeans.

Related Topics:
New World - Old World - Columbian Exchange - Virus - Bacteria - Parasite - Tomato - Potato - Maize - Horse - Colonization

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Columbus remains a controversial figure. Some – including many Native Americans – view him as responsible, directly or indirectly, for the deaths of tens, if not hundreds, of millions of indigenous peoples, exploitation of the Americas by Europe, and slavery in the West Indies. Others honour him for the massive boost his explorations gave to Western expansion and culture. Italian Americans hail Columbus as an icon of their heritage.

Related Topics:
Native Americans - Indigenous people - West Indies - Italian American

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It has generally been accepted that he was Genovese, although doubts have persistently been voiced regarding this. His name in Italian is Cristoforo Colombo, in Spanish is Cristóbal Colón, in Catalan it is Cristòfor Colom and in Portuguese Cristóvão Colombo. Columbus is a Latinized form of his surname. The Latin roots of his name can be translated "Christ-bearer, Dove". Columbus' signature reads Xpo ferens ("Bearing Christ").

Related Topics:
Genovese - Italian - Spanish - Catalan - Portuguese - Xpo

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Columbus claimed governorship of the new territories (by prior agreement with the Spanish monarchs) and made several more journeys across the Atlantic. While regarded by some as an excellent navigator, he was seen by many contemporaries as a poor administrator and was stripped of his governorship in 1500.

Related Topics:
Monarch - Navigator - 1500

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