Christopher Columbus (1451-1506)

Christopher Columbus, as well as some learned men of his time, had decided that the eastern coast of Asia could be reached by sailing westwards across the Atlantic. In those far-away lands men thought they should find honour, wealth and fame.

Such an enterprise would require the equipment of vessels at much expense. Columbus had neither money nor influence. Isabella, Queen of Spain, helped Columbus in carrying out his plans. Before sunrise, August 3, 1492, his little fleet including three small vessels, the Santa Maria, headed by Columbus, the Nina and the Pinta with one hundred and twenty men and provisions for a year sailed out of the port Palos.

At last, after a voyage often weeks, land was discovered on October 12, 1492. Columbus had discovered one of the Bahama Islands, which he called San Salvador. He didn't find the cities of Asia as he had expected, but he had no doubt that he was in the East Indies, and therefore called the red-skinned natives Indians.

Having known of Columbus's discovery, people expected to get all kinds of wealth in the New World. But they found no silks, no precious stones, and no gold. They reproached Columbus, and the Court of Spain censured him. His last days were spent in disappointment and neglect. Heart-broken Columbus died ignorant of the greatness of his own discovery.