COLUMBUS SEEKS A NEW ROUTE AND FINDS A NEW WORLD

6. Early Life of Columbus. Christopher Columbus was born in Genoa, probably in 1446, when that city was at the height of its maritime enterprise. In his boyhood days he studied geography, astronomy, and drawing. When not in school he made frequent voyages on the Mediterranean, the ancient training school for sailors, and

CHRISTOPHER COLUMBUS

on his return he sometimes engaged in making maps and charts. In 1470 Columbus, attracted by the fame. of Portuguese discoveries, journeyed to Lisbon. The story

runs that while there he married the daughter of one of Prince Henry's most famous navigators, and went to live on the island of Porto Santo, of which his father-in

From the portrait by Antonis van Moor, painted law had been gov

in 1542, from two miniatures in the Palace

of Pardo. Reproduced by permission
of C. F. Gunther, Chicago

ernor. There he came into possession

of the old sailor's charts and maps.

7. Columbus Thinks Out a Shorter Route. It is said that the idea of a shorter route to India by way of the west first came to Columbus while he was poring over these maps. He had gradually come to believe that the earth is round. This was not a new theory, for it had been believed for hundreds of years by learned But Columbus alone determined to make good his theory by a voyage to the westward. He had figured

men.

out from maps, charts, and books of travel that the earth was a third smaller than it is, and that Asia was a great deal larger than it is, and from this he reasoned that the East Indies were about where the West Indies are.

It explains the prevalent idea of the size of the world at that time, and how Columbus expected to find India when he found America

On

Toscanelli, a celebrated Italian geographer, sent Columbus a map which he used on his first voyage. this map Zipangu (Japan) and the mainland of India were both shown, Japan being placed only twenty-five hundred miles west of the Canaries. This mistake was a fortunate one, for probably neither Columbus nor any one else would have then ventured on a voyage that promised to be longer, more dangerous, and more expensive than that around the southern point of Africa.

8. Columbus Begins the Struggle for Aid (1474). And now began one of the most heroic struggles in the history of the world-a struggle of faith, patience, and wisdom against superstition, jealousy, and ignorance. Only great courage and resolution could have succeeded.

As the mind of Columbus dwelt upon the greatness of his undertaking, he felt that God had called him to carry it out. Once convinced of this, no opposition was too strong for him to overcome, no suffering too great for him to bear. Columbus believed, too, that the untold wealth of India would be his; but even here his noble views led him to pledge the riches he was to gain to the service of the church. He was also ambitious to win an honorable place for himself by doing great deeds.

With such reasons to urge him on, Columbus went bravely forward. Tradition tells us that, still loving the land of his birth, he first offered his services to Genoa, but in vain. Later he appealed to the King of Portugal. The king, although he pretended to reject the scheme, sent a secret expedition to test the ideas of Columbus. But the sailors lost heart and soon returned. Insulted by such two-faced treatment, Columbus resolved to try his fortunes in Spain.

Ferdinand and

9. Columbus in Spain (1484-1492). Isabella, the Spanish king and queen, were busy trying to drive the Moors, a people from Africa, out of Spain, but they summoned Columbus to meet their wise men in the University of Salamanca. The majority doubted his views and argued against him. Though he found friends among the most learned friars, no decision was made.

Then came years of waiting and disappointment. His brother Bartholomew, having returned from the great voyage of Dias, appealed in vain to England and to France for help.

In the fall of 1491 Columbus, grown old with waiting, decided to go to France himself. While on the way he told the story of his hopes and disappointments to the prior of a convent near Palos on the coast of Spain. The prior hastened to the queen and begged her to call

Columbus back. She did so and sent him money to buy clothes and food. But he had to wait still another year!

Spain was carrying on her last great struggle with the Moors; but soon Granada, the Moorish capital, fell, and

COLUMBUS AND HIS SON ASKING ALMS AT THE CONVENT NEAR PALOS

The prior of this convent was the person who begged the queen to call
Columbus back

all Spain was now Christian. America's time was at hand, for the good queen was at last ready to aid Columbus. She provided more than half the money for the voyage and compelled the town of Palos to furnish him two vessels.

10. The First Voyage (1492-1493). After very solemn religious services had been held, Columbus, with three small vessels and about one hundred sailors, left the little port of Palos, August 3, 1492. The world's most famous voyage had begun.

The little fleet sailed directly for the Canary Islands, where final preparations were made. In September it began its journey across an unknown sea. The sailors

were sad, because they felt that they had said good-by to the world, while Columbus was happy because he saw the hopes of a lifetime about to be realized.

For over a month they sailed directly west. When the sea was calm the sailors feared the breezes would never blow again; and when the trade-winds carried them steadily away from their home the crews imagined no west wind would ever rise to carry them back. But worst of all, that steadfast friend, the compass, began to vary. The sailors clamored to return, and at one time threatened to rebel, but Columbus held resolutely on his way. Finally he yielded to their wishes to follow a flock of birds to the southwest, hoping sooner to reach land. On October 12th the shores of a new world came into view, although what they saw was to them only an island of the East Indies. The dream of Columbus had more than come true. With great pomp and ceremony the

THE FOUR VOYAGES OF COLUMBUS

The period covered by Columbus on his voyages was twelve years

flag of Spain was planted on one of the Bahama Islands. Later Cuba, which they thought to be a portion of Asia itself, was discovered.