Start of the expedition of Christopher Columbus year. Geographical discoveries Columbus

On August 3, 1492, the first expedition of the navigator Christopher Columbus, who opened new land for Europeans.

Born in Genoa, Columbus became a sailor at an early age, floated Mediterranean Sea. on shopping ships. Then settled in Portugal. Under the Portuguese flag sailed to the north in England and Ireland, walked along western coast Africa to the Portuguese Shopping Point San Georges-da Minine (modern Ghana). He engaged in trade, mapping and self-education. During this period, Columbus had an idea to get to India west through the Atlantic Ocean.

At that time, many Western European countries were looking for sea routes to the countries of South and East Asia, which then united by the general name "India". From these countries, pepper, nutmeg, carnation, cinnamon, dear silk fabric came to Europe. Traders from Europe could not penetrate into Asia countries, as Turkish conquests blocked traditional merchant ties with the East through the Mediterranean Sea. They were forced to acquire Asian goods from the Arab merchants. Therefore, the Europeans were interested in finding a sea route to Asia, which would allow them to acquire Asian goods, bypassing intermediaries. In the 1480s, the Portuguese tried to beat Africa to penetrate Indian Ocean to India.

Columbus nominated the assumption that Asia can be hit by moving to the West through the Atlantic Ocean. His theory was founded on an ancient teaching on the shag-likeness of the Earth and the incorrect calculations of the scientists of the XV century, which were considered earth Significantly smaller in size, and also improved the real length of the Atlantic Ocean from the west to the East.

Between 1483 and 1484, Columbus tried to interest the Portuguese King Juan II by his expedition plan to Asia Western. Monarch handed over his project to the examination of the scientist "Mathematical Hunt" (Lisbon Academy of Astronomy and Mathematics). Experts recognized the calculations of Columbus "fantastic," and the king refused Columbus.

Without receiving support, in 1485, Columbus went to Spain. There, at the beginning of 1486, he was represented by the Royal Court and received an audience at the King and Queen of Spain - Ferdinand II Aragon and Isabella Castilskaya. The royal couple became interested in the project of the Western way to Asia. For his consideration, a special commission was created, which in the summer of 1487 issued an unfavorable conclusion, but the Spanish monarchs postponed the decision to organize the expedition until the end of the war they led with the Granada Emirate (the last Muslim state in the Pyrenean Peninsula).

In the autumn of 1488, Columbus visited Portugal, where he re-offered his project Zhuan II, but again received a refusal and returned to Spain.

In 1489, he unsuccessfully tried to interest the idea of \u200b\u200bswimming the west of Regent France Anna de God and the two Spanish dukes.

In January 1492, without causing a long siege to Spanish troops, Granada Pala. After long negotiations, Spanish monarchs, rejecting the objection of their advisers, agreed to subsidize the expedition of Columbus.

On April 17, 1492, the royal couple concluded a contract with him ("Capitulation") in Santa Fe, complaining to him the noble rank, the titles of the Admiral Sea-Ocean, Vice-King and the Governor-General of all islands and the mainland, which he will open. The title of Admiral gave Columbus the right to make a decision in disputes arising from trade affairs, the position of Vice-King made it a personal representative of the monarch, and the position of the Governor's General Provided the highest civil and military power. Columbus was granted the right to receive the tenth of the total foundation found in the new lands and the eighth share of trading operations with foreign goods.

Spanish crown pledged to finance most of the expeditions of the expedition. Part of the funds on her for the navigator gave Italian merchants and financiers.

He called San Salvador (St. Savior), and its inhabitants - Indians, believing that it was off the coast of India.

However, there is still a discussion on the first place of the Columbus disembarkation. Long time (1940-1982) San Salvador was considered Watling Island. In 1986, American geographer George Judge processed on the computer all the collected materials and came to the conclusion: the first seen the Columbus of American Earth was the island of Saman (120 km southeast Watling).

October 14-24, Columbus approached several of the Bahamas. Having learned from the Aboriginal on the existence in the south of the rich island, the ships of October 24 left the Bahamas archipelago and floated further to the southwest. On October 28, Columbus landed on the northeast coast of Cuba, called "Juan". After that, the Spaniards, inspired by the stories of the natives, spent a month in search of the Golden Island Bakene (modern Big Inagua).

November 21, the captain "Pinta" Martin Pinson took his ship, deciding to search for this island independently. Having lost hope to find a can, Columbus with the two remaining courts turned east and on December 5 reached the North-Western tip of the island of Bahio (modern Haiti), who gave the name of Espanyol ("Spanish"). Moving along the northern coast of Espanyol, the expedition on December 25 approached the Holy Cape (modern Cap-Ayugen), where Santa Maria got stranded and sank, but the crew was saved. With the help of local residents from the ship managed to remove guns, supplies and valuable cargo. From fragments of the vessel built fort - the first European settlement in America, named on the occasion of the Christmas holiday "Navidad" ("Christmas City").

The loss of the ship forced Columbus to leave a part of the team in a founded settlement (39 people) and go to the "Ninje" in the opposite way. For the first time in the history of navigation, Indian hammocks were adapted for the order of sailor bows. To prove that the part of the world has reached, previously not known to Europeans, Columbus took the seven captive inhabitants of the islands, the wonderful feathers of birds and the fruits of unprecedented plants in Europe. Having visited open Islands, Spaniards first saw corn, tobacco, potatoes.

On January 4, 1493, Columbus on "NNINI" came out into the sea and swam east along the northern coast of Espanyola. Two days later, he met Pintu. On January 16, both ships took the course to the north-east, using the passing current - Golfustrim. On February 12, the storm rose, and on the night of February 14, ships lost sight of each other. At dawn on February 15, the sailors saw the land, and Columbus determined that the Azores islands. February 18 "NNINI" managed to stick to the shore of one of the islands - Santa Mary.

February 24 "Ninya" left the Azores. Two days later, she again fell into a storm, which 4 March nailed her to the shore of Portugal. On March 9, "Ninya" led an anchor in the port of Lisbon. The team needs a passage, and the vessel required the repair. King Juan II gave Columbus an audience on which the navigator informed him about the opening of the Western path to India. March 13 "Ninya" was able to sail to Spain. March 15, 1493, on the 225th day of swimming, the ship returned to the Spanish port Palos. On the same day, "Pint" came there.

King Ferdinand II Aragon and Queen Isabella Castilskaya provided Columbus a solemn reception and in addition to the previously promised privileges gave him permission to a new expedition.

During the first trip, Columbus was discovered by America adopted by Eastern Asia and named West India. Europeans first stepped on the islands Caribbean - Huan (Cuba) and Espanyol (Haiti). As a result of the expedition, the width of the Atlantic Ocean became reliably known, the Sargasso Sea was found, the ocean water flow was installed from the west to the East, the incomprehensible behavior of the compass magnetic arrow was noted for the first time. The political resonance of the navigation of Columbus was "Papal Meridian": the head of the Catholic Church established a demarcation line in the Atlantic, indicating the rival Spain and Portugal various directions for the discoveries of new lands.

In 1493-1504, Columbus made three more swimming through the Atlantic Ocean, as a result of which discovered part of the small Antilles, the coast of South and Central America. The navigator died in 1506, being in full confidence that the land open to them was part of the Asian mainland, and not a new continent.

Material prepared on the basis of RIA news and open sources

AT Western Europe Large cities grew, trade developed, the general means of exchange was the money. The demand for gold has sharply increased. At the same time it was believed that gold can be found in the same place where spices come from, in India.

The first appeal of Columbus with a proposal to sail to India to the West was in 1475-1480 ( exact time Unknown). He addressed him to the government and merchants of his native Genoa. The response did not follow.

Here the step to meet the Queen Isabella. The idea of \u200b\u200bthe coming liberation of the Holy Sepulcher so captured her heart that she decided not to give this chance either Portugal nor France. Although the Spanish kingdom and was formed as a result of the dynastic marriage of Ferdinand Aragon and Isabella Kastilskaya, their monarchies retained, however, separate independent administrations, Cortes and Finance. "I'll put my jewelry," she said.

Pint, Ninya and Santa Maria at bills 1 Sucre

Second expedition

The second fleet of Columbus consisted of 17 ships. Flagship - "Maria Galant" (200 tons displacement). According to various sources, the expedition consisted of 1500-2500 people. There were already not only sailors, but also monks, priests, officials, serunen nobles, courtiers. Horses and donkens, cattle and pigs, grape vines, seeds of crops were brought with them, for organizing a permanent colony.

During the expedition, the Espanyola was fulfilled, the mass extermination of the local population began. The city of Santo Domingo is laid. The most convenient sea route is laid in West India. Small Antilles, Virgin Islands, Puerto Rico Islands, Jamaica, are studied almost completely southern coast of Cuba. At the same time, Columbus continues to argue that it is located in Western India.

Chronology

September 25 - the expedition left Cadiz. On the Canary Islands they took sugar cane and dogs specially accustomed to the hunt for people. The course ran at about 10 ° south than for the first time. Later, all ships from Europe in Western India began to use this way.
With successful passing wind (in the Equatorial area of \u200b\u200bthe Atlantic Ocean, the wind is constantly blowing to the West) the path took only 20 days, and already on November 3, 1493 (on Sunday) was opened from the Ridge of Small Antilles, called Dominica.
November 4 - the expedition arrived to the largest of the local islands, called Guadelupe. In the open islands, the Caribbeans lived at the large chelny raids on the islands of peaceful Aravakov. The arms of them were onions and arrows with tips from the debris of turtle shells or serrated fish bones.
November 11 - the islands of Montserrat, Antigua, Nevis.
November 13 - the first armed collision with the Caribbean occurred at the Island of Santa Cruz.
November 15 - To the north of Santa Cruz, an archipelago was opened, which Columbus called the "Islands of the eleven thousand maids" - now they are referred to Virgin Islands. Bypassing the archipelago on both sides, the ships of the flotilla joined the western tip of the ridge in three days.
November 19 - Spaniards landed on the West Bank big IslandsThat Columbus called San Juan Bautista. From the XVI century, he is called Puerto Rico.
On November 27 - Flotilla approached the FortaDa Fort built during the first expedition, but on the shore, the Spaniards found only traces of a fourse and corpses.
January - to the east of the burned fort, a city called Isabella was built. Many Spaniards struck the epidemic of yellow fever. The detachment sent to exploration inside the country found gold in the river sand in the mountainous area of \u200b\u200bCordillera Sentral.
March 1494 - Columbus made a campaign inside the island. Meanwhile, in Isabelle because of the heat, most of the edible supplies spoiled, and Columbus decided to leave only 5 ships on the island and about 500 people, and the rest to send to Spain. With them, he handed over to the king and queen, which found rich gold deposits, and asked to send livestock, edible supplies and agricultural tools, offering to pay slaves from among the local residents for them.
April 24, 1494 - Leaving a garrison in Isabelle under the team of his younger brother Diego, Columbus led three small ships to the west along the southeast coast of Cuba.
May 1 - a narrow and deep bay detected ( modern city With Guantanamo Bay). Next to the West - Mountains of Sierra Maestra. From here, Columbus turned to the south.
On May 5, Jamaica is open (Columbus called him Santiago).
May 14 - passing along the northern shore of Jamaica and not finding gold, Columbus returned to Cuba. The next days, ships moved through small islands along the southern coast of the island.
On June 12, passing almost 1700 km along the southern coast of Cuba and not reaching only 100 km to the Western tip of the island, Columbus decided to turn, because the sea was much crushed, the sailors showed discontent, and the provision was on the outcome. Before that, in order to protect yourself from the accusations of facilitates, which could follow in Spain, he demanded from the whole team to swear that the cube is part of the continent, and therefore there is no point in sailing. Turning back, the flotilla opened the island of Evanheelist (later called Pinos, and from 1979 - Humentand).
June 25 - September 29 - on the way back, he was reinforced from the West and the South Jamaica, held along the southern coast of Espanyola and returned to Isabella. By this time, Columbus was already pretty seriously sick.
For five months, the second brother of Columbus, Bartolome, brought three ships from Spain with army and supplies. The Spaniards group captured them and ran home. The rest scattered around the island, robbery and raping the natives. They had resistance and killed a part of the Spaniards. After the return, Christopher was sick for five months, and when he recovered, then in March 1495 organized the conquest of Espanyol with a detachment of 200 soldiers. The natives were almost unarmed, and Columbus used the Connection against them and brought specially trained dogs against them. After 9 months, the island was conquered. The Indians were laid in tribute, turned into slavery on gold supports and plantations. The Indians fled from the village of Mountains, gibbles from unknown diseases brought by the colonists from Europe. Meanwhile, the colonists moved to south coast The islands, where in 1496 Bartoloma Columbus laid the city of Santo Domingo - the future center of Espanyola, and later - the capital of the Dominican Republic.
Meanwhile, the Spanish royal couple, finding that the income from Espanyola (a little gold, copper, valuable tree and several hundred slaves directed to Spain Columbus) are insignificant, allowed all Castilian citizens to move to new lands, calculating the treasury gold.
On June 11, 1496, Christopher Columbus returned to Spain to defend the rights provided to him earlier. He provided the document according to which he really reached the Asian mainland (see above, although in fact it was the island of Cuba), said that in the center of Espanyola, he opened a wonderful country an officer, where gold was once mined for the biblical king Solomon. Finally, Columbus proposed to send non-free settlers to new lands, and criminals reducing them half a sentence. The last sentence could not not find a response from the ruling elite, since, on the one hand, Spain was delivered from unwanted elements, reducing the costs of ensuring the restrictions of their freedom, and on the other hand, it ensured the development of newly desperate lands with "human material".

Third expedition

On the third expedition of funds managed to find a bit, and only six small ships and about 300 people of the team went with Columbus, and criminals from Spanish prisons were taken to the team.

With Alonso, the Okreat on the expedition in 1499 also set off a representative of Florentine bankers financing the enterprise - Amerigo Vespucci. Approximately 5 ° S.Sh., approximately 5 ° S.Sh., approximately 5 ° S.Sh., hidden went to the north-west, passed 1200 km along the coast of Guiana and Venezuela to Orinoco delta, then - through the straits in the Caribbean Sea and to the pearl shore.

Meanwhile, Amerigo Vespucci, moving to the southeast, opened the mouths of the Amazon and Couple rivers. Rising by boats 100 km upstream, he could not fall ashore because of the thick forest. The movement further to the southeast was extremely difficult to be a strong oncoming course. So the Gwiank current was discovered. Total Vespucci opened about 1,200 km of the northeast coast of South America. Returning back to the north and north-west, Veszpucci landed on Trinidad, and later connected with the ships of Okia. Together, they examined the coast to the west of the pearl coast, opened the eastern part of the Caribbean Andes, participated in armed skins with unfriendly Indians, opened the Islands of Curaçao and Aruba - the most western out of small antilles. The bay to the west of the hut called Venezuela ("Little Venice"). Later, this name has spread to the entire South Coast of the Caribbean to the Orinoco delta. Total honey examined more than 3,000 km of the north bank of an unknown sushi and did not find her end, and this meant that such land should be continent.

last years of life

Heavily sick Columbus transported to Seville. He could not achieve the restoration of the rights and privileges given to him, and I spent all the money on travel comrades.

Events after death

Riddle of origin

Another mystery is associated with the origin of Columbus. According to generally accepted opinion, he was born in Genoa in the family of weaver. The Italian Encyclopedia also reports about the Genoese and Jewish origin of Columbus as a well-known fact. There is, however, several other versions.

Monuments

Works of Tsereteli.

Subsequently, the developments of the monument to Columbus were used by Zurab Tsereteli in 1997, when applied to the Russian capital of Russia in the capital of the Moscow-River Island and the Owl Canal, a huge statue of Peter's first in the medieval clothes of the Spanish Grand's medieval clothing behind the Russian Slut's helmet with a height of 98 meters.

Demolition

In honor of Columbus named

State in South America Colombia
Mountain Cristobal Colon In Colombia, height 5775
Provinces British Columbia. In Canada
River Colombia In the USA and Canada
Studio

Causes of the overseas expansion of Spain

on the second half of the XV century. Feudalism in Western Europe was in the decomposition stage, grew big cities, Trade developed. The general means of exchange was the money, the need for which increased dramatically. Therefore, in Europe, the demand for gold has increased strongly, which strengthened the desire for "India" - the birthplace of the spices ", On the meaning of spices for medieval cities, see Arab trading paths. Where there is a lot of gold. But at the same time, for Western Europeans, as a result of Turkish conquests, it was becoming more difficult to use old, oriental combined land and marine paths to "India." The search for southern sea routes was then engaged only by Portugal. For other Atlantic countries by the end of the XV century. It remained open only way to west through the unknown ocean. The idea of \u200b\u200bsuch a way appeared in Europe's revival era in connection with the distribution among the relatively wide range of interested persons of the ancient teaching about the shag-formation of the Earth, and long-range swimming were made possible thanks to the achieved in the second half of the XV century. Successors in shipbuilding and navigation.

Such were the total prerequisites for the overseas expansion of Western European countries. The fact that it was Spain that the first sent in 1492 to the west of the small flotilla of Christopher Columbus, is explained by the conditions that have developed in this country by the end of the XV century. One of them was the strengthening of the Spanish royal power, previously limited. The fracture was launched in 1469, when the Queen of Castile Isabella married the heir to the Aragonian throne of Ferdinand. After 10 years he became King Aragon. So in 1479 there was a union of the largest Pyrenean states and a single Spain arose. Skillful policies strengthened royal power. With the help of urban bourgeoisie, the crowned couple curbed the recalcitrant nobility and large feudalists. Having created in 1480-1485. Inquisition, kings turned the church into the worst weapon of absolutism. For a short time, the last Muslim Pyrenean State could resist the Granada Emirate - under their NATOV. At the beginning of 1492 Granada Pala. The eight-year-old process of reconquists, and "United Spain" entered the world arena.

Bartolome de Las Casas (Bartolome de Las Casas)

"Archives Indium", Seville, Spain

The overseas expansion was in the interests of both the worst of royal power and its allies - the city bourgeoisie and the church. Bourgeoisie sought to expand the sources of initial accumulation; The church is to spread its influence on pagan countries. Military power For the conquest of "pagan indius" the Spanish nobility could give. It was in his interest, and in the interests of the absolutist royal power and urban bourgeoisie. The conquest of Granada put an end to the almost continuous war with Moors in Spain itself, the war, former craft for many thousands of Hidalgo. Now they sat down without affairs and became even more dangerous for monarchies and cities than in recent years, reconquists, when kings in the Union with citizens had to lead a stubborn fight against the robbery noble sauces. It was required to find a way out for the accumulated energy of Hidalgo. The exit, profitable for the crown and cities, for the clergy and the nobility, was the overseas expansion.

The royal treasury, especially Castille, was constantly empty, and the overseas expeditions were thrilled. Hidalgo dreamed of land possessions outside the ocean, but even more - about the gold and jewels of "China" and "India", as the majority of the nobles were in debt, like in silk, in the usurists. The desire for profit was combined with religious fanaticism - a consequence of the centuries-old struggle of Christians against Muslims. However, it should not be exaggerated in the Spanish (like Portuguese) colonial expansion. For initiators and organizers of the overall expansion, for the leaders of the Conquists, religious zeal was the usual and comfortable mask, under which the desires for power and personal profit were hidden. With an amazing force, the contemporary of Columbus, the author of the "shortest contemplation of India" and a multi-volume "History of India", Bishop Bartolome Las Casas with his winged phrase: "They walked with a cross in his hand and with an insatiable thirst for gold in his heart." "Catholic kings" jealously defended the interests of the church only when they coincided with their personal. That Columbus in this case did not differ from the kings, clearly seen from those documents that were personally written or dictated to them.

Christopher Columbus and his project

WITH

porn almost all the facts from the life of Columbus, Columbus - Latinized shape of the Italian surname Colombo. In Spain his name was Cristoval Colon. Related to his youth and a longest stay in Portugal. It can be considered established, albeit with some doubt that it was born in the fall of 1451 in Genoa in a very poorly catholic family. At least until 1472, he lived in the Genoa itself or (from 1472) in Savon and consisted of his father, in the wastnikov shop. It is not known whether Columbus studied at any school, but it was proved that he read in four languages \u200b\u200b- Italian, Spanish, Portuguese and Latin, read quite a few and more closely. Probably the first long voyage of Columbus relates to the 70-th years .: documents there are indications of his involvement in the Genoese trading expeditions, visited in 1474 and 1475 years. about. Chios in the Aegean Sea.

In May 1476, Columbus Moru went to Portugal as the clerk of the Genoese Trading House and lived there nine years - in Lisbon, on Madeira and Porto Santa. According to him, he had been in England, and in Guinea, in particular, on the Gold Coast. We, however, do not know, as whom he plastered - Sailor or a trading house clerk. But already during his first expedition, Columbus, despite the inevitable enterprises of the enterprise, the company and failure, showed itself as a very experienced sailor, which combined the qualities of the captain, astronomer and navigator. He not only completely mastered the art of navigation, but also raised him at a higher stage. According to the traditional version, Columbus in 1474 appealed for advice on the shortest sea route in India to Paolo Toskanuelley, Astronoma and Geographer. Florentian sent a copy of his letter to the Portuguese monk to him before on behalf of the King AFOSU V.. In this letter, Tuscanlli pointed out that through the ocean to the country of spices there is a shorter way than the one that the Portuguese was looking for, swimming along the Western shores of Africa. "I know that the existence of such a path can be proved on the grounds that the Earth is a ball. Nevertheless, to facilitate the enterprise, I send ... a card made by me ... Your shores and islands are depicted on it, from where you should swim continuously to the West; and places where you will arrive; And how far should you stay from the pole or from the equator; And what distance you have to go through to reach countries where most of all different spices and gems. Do not be surprised that I call the West of the country, where spices are growing, whereas they are commonly called the East, because people floating steadily west reached the eastern countries over the ocean in another hemisphere. But if you go on land - through our hemisphere, then the countries of the spices will be in the east ... "

Obviously, Columbus told Toskannelly about his project at the second letter, since he wrote a Genoez in the second letter: "I consider your dressing project from the East to the West ... noble and great. I am pleased to see what I understood well. " In the XV century No one else knew how land and ocean were distributed on Earth. Tuscangelli almost doubled the stretch of the Asian mainland from the west to the east and, accordingly, understood the width of the ocean, separating to South Europe from China in the West, determining it in the third part of the land circumference, i.e., by its calculus, less than 12 thousand km Japan (Chipani) lay in Toskanjelli, about 2 thousand km east of China, and, therefore, from Lisbon to Japan need to be less than 10 thousand km; The stages on this transition could serve as Azores or Canary O-Wa and mythical antihily. Columbus made her own amendments to this calculus, leaning on some astronomical and geographic books: to East Asia it is most convenient to sail through the Canary O-Wa, from where you need to go to the west of 4.5-5.0 thousand km to achieve Japan. According to the expression of French geographer XVIII century. Jean AnvilleThat was the "the greatest mistake that led to the greatest discovery." We did not react or the originals nor a copy of the map of Toskanlyli, but it was not reconstructed on the basis of his letters.

The Columbus project suggested Zhuan II.. After a long delay, the Portuguese king in 1484 gave him a draft of the Academic Council has just arranged for the preparation of navigation aids. The Council rejected the proof of Columbus. The well-known role in the refusal of the king also played excessive rights and advantages that Columbus spoke on behalf of the enterprise. Genoese left Portugal with young son Diego.. According to the traditional version, in 1485, Columbus arrived in Palos in the Cadis Bay and found shelter near Palos, in the Rabid Monastery. The priser became interested in the project and sent Columbus to influential monks, and they recommended his Castilian Grandm, including the duke Medinasel. These recommendations only damaged the case: Isabel Suspiciously reacted to the enterprise, which, if lucky, would enrich her political opponents - large feudalists - and would contribute to the growth of their influence. Duke asked Isabella to allow the organization of the expedition at his own expense. The queen ordered the project for consideration by a special commission.

The commission, consisting of monks and courtiers, four years later gave a negative conclusion. It did not reach us. If you believe the biographers of Columbus XVI century, the Commission brought various ridiculous motifs, but did not deny the shag-likeness of the Earth: at the end of the XV century. Clear this truth is unlikely to be decided by a church, applying for a scholarship. On the contrary, Christian writers tried at the time to reconcile the data supporting the spherical shape of the Earth, with biblical concepts, as a direct denial of the truth that has become publicly known, could damage the already tottering authority of the Church. Note by the way: the version of the solemn meeting of the Council of the Salamankoy University, on which the Columbus project was allegedly rejected on the grounds that the scholars were indignant to his considerations about the ferrousness of the Earth, is fictional from beginning to end. However, the kings have not yet expressed their final judgment. In 1487-1488. Columbus received a benefit from the treasury, but it did not move it while the kings were busy with war. But he found the most reliable point of support: with the help of monks, it became close to Spanish financiers. It was a faithful way that led him to victory. In 1491, Columbus again appears in the Rabid Monastery and get acquainted through the rector with Martin Alonso Psonon, experienced sailor and influential palomic ship. At the same time strengthening links with the royal Columbus financial advisors to Seville's merchants and bankers.

At the end of 1491, the Columbus project is again considered by the Commission, and in it, along with theologians and cosmographers, prominent lawyers take part. And this time the project is rejected: Columbus demands are considered excessive. The king and queen joined the decision, and Columbus went to France. At that moment I came to Isabelle Louis Santanhel, The head of the largest trading house, the nearest financial adviser to Kings, and convinced her to accept the project, promising a loan for an expedition equipment. A police officer was sent for Columbus, who caught up with him not far from Granada and transmitted to the court. On April 17, 1492, the kings expressed written consent with the draft treaty with Columbus. The most important article of this document was reading: "Their high quality, as the Lords of the Ocean Seasians, complain of Don Kristobal Colon in their admirals of all islands and the mainland, which he personally ... will open or acquire in these seas and the oceans, and after his death [complain] His heirs and descendants are forever this title with all the privileges and prerogatives belonging to him ... Their Highness appoint Columbus to their vice-king and the chief ruler on the ... Islands and continents, which he ... will open or acquire, and to manage Each of them will have to choose who is most suitable for this service ... "(from the candidates nominated by Columbus).

April 30, the king and queen officially confirmed the award of Columbus and his heirs of the title "Don" (this meant that he was erected into noble dignity) and. In case of good luck, the titles of the admiral, the vice-king and the governor, as well as the right to receive a salary for these posts, the tenth of pure income from new lands and the right to dismiss criminal and civil cases. The overseas expedition was considered by the crown primarily as a conjugate commercial enterprise. The Queen agreed to see that the project support major financiers. Louis Santanhel with a representative of Seville merchants was provided between the Castilian crown of 1400,000 marated. This is equivalent to almost 9.7 thousand gold dollars at 1934 prices at the end of the XV century. The sailor salary was 12 marated a day, Pusheat was worth 43.4 marated. Support for representatives of the bourgeoisie and influential clergymen predetermined the success of Columba's hassle.

The composition and purpose of the first expedition of Columbus

olluba provided two ships. The crew was recruited from Palos residents and a number of other port cities. Columbus Equipped third ship - Martin Pinson and his brothers helped him. The flotilla team consisted of 90 people. Columbus raised the admiral flag on Santa Maria, the most large ship Flotilla, which he may not be deserved, characterized as a "bad vessel, unsuitable for discoveries." Captain "Pinta" was appointed senior Pinson - Martin Alonso; The captain of the smallest ship "Ninya" ("Baby") - Jr. Pinson - Vicente Yanes.. The dimensions of these courts of documents were not preserved, and the views of historians differ greatly: the tonnage "Santa Maria" S. E. Morison determines in 100 tons, "Pints" - about 60 tons, "Nigni" - about 50 tons.

What a goal was to pursue the first expedition of Columbus, there is extensive literature. Among the historians, the "Annolcombians" skeptics group denies that Columbus put himself in 1492. The goal of achieving Asia is: in two main documents that came from the "Catholic kings" and agreed with Columbus, a contract and "title certificate" is not mentioned Neither Asia nor it is part of it. There are no geographical names there. And the purpose of the expedition is formulated in deliberately uncertain expressions, which is quite explained - in these documents it was impossible to mention the "India": Poped Awards, confirmed in 1479 Castile, the opening of new land south of the Canary O Great and " "It was provided by Portugal. Therefore, Columbus behind the Canary about you took the course right to the west of from about. Yerro, and not south. However, the mention of the mainland could only apply to Asia: another continent, according to the ancient and medieval ideas, could not be in the northern hemisphere to the west of Europe, behind the ocean. In addition, the contract is given a list of goods that the kings and the Columbus himself hoped to be found outside the ocean: "Pearls or precious stones, gold or silver, spices ..." All these products of the medieval geographical tradition were attributed to Indies.

It is unlikely that the main task was to open the legendary islands. The island of Brazil was then associated with a valuable Brazilian tree, and nothing about him says in the documents; about. Antiha - with a legend of "seven cities", based on bishops that fled there. If Antiha existed, he was controlled by Christian state orders; The kings legally could not provide anyone to "acquire" anti-herily for Castile and consolidate the heirs of Columbus "forever" management of it. According to the Catholic tradition, such awards could only relate to non-Christian countries.

It is also no doubt that the composition of the flotilla crew was selected only to establish trade relations with a non-Christian (possibly Muslim) country, and not to conquer a large country; It was not excluded, however, the possibility of "acquisition" of individual islands. For large conquering operations, flotilla, obviously, was not intended - weak weak weapons, a small crew, the absence of professional military. The expedition did not put the goal of the Propaganda of the Holy Faith, despite the later statements of Columbus. On the contrary, there was not a single priest or a monk on board, but there was a baptized Jew - a translator who knew a little Arabic language, i.e. the cult language of Muslims, which is not necessary on O-Wah brazil, antihalia, etc., but he could come in handy in "India" leading trade with muslim countries. The king and queen sought to establish a trading connection with India - this was exactly the main goal of the first expedition. When Columbus, returning to Spain, said that he opened in the West "India" and brought from the Indian (Indios) from there, he believed that he went where he was sent and where he wanted to get, did what he promised. So thought the initiators and participants of the first expedition. This explains the immediate organization of the other, this time big expedition. Skeptics in Spain almost never had: they appeared later.

On August 3, 1492, Columbus brought ships from Palos Harbor. The Canary O-Greats revealed that Pinta gave flow. Because of its repair, only in September 1492, the flotilla moved from Oh. Gomers. The first three days was almost full of calm. Then the passing wind leaked ships to the west, and so quickly that sailors soon lost from the type of about. Yerro. Columbus understood that the alarm of sailors would grow as they removed from their homeland, and decided to show in the ship's magazine and declare the crew of the short difference about the distances traveled, the faithful to their diary. His original is lost. The so-called "First Travel Diary" Columbus is a retelling composed by Bartolome Las Casas. According to S. Morison, "Fake" data on the path traveled turned out more accurate than "faithful". Already on September 10, in the diary, it was noted that 60 leagues were passed (about 360 km), and 48 was calculated, "In order not to bring fear for people." Quotes here and on the book "Travel of Christopher Columbus". Further diary pages are like such entries. On September 16, "began to notice many beams of green grass, and, as it was possible to judge her mind, the grass is only recently torn off from the ground." However, flotilla for three weeks moved to the West through this strange water space, where it was sometimes "so many grass, which seemed to be eating all the sea." The lot was thrown several times, but he did not reach the bottom. In the first days of trial, fascinated by passing winds, easily slid among algae, but then in the calm almost did not move forward. So it was open to Sargassovo Sea.

Paolo Novaresio, The Explorers, White Star, Italy, 2002

In early October, the sailors and officers all more persistently demanded to change the course: before that, Columbus steadily sought straight to the west. Finally, on October 7, he lost, probably fearing the rebellion, and turned to the West south-west. Three days passed, and "People now could no longer tolerate, complaining of long swimming." Admiral reassured the sailors a little, convincing them that they were close to the goal, and recalled how far from their homeland. He persuaded one and promised the award to others. On October 11, all testified to the proximity of the Earth. Strong excitement embraced sailors. At 2 h Popolunov October 12, 1492 Rodrigo Triana, Sailor "Pinta", away I saw the land. The Earth opened in the morning: "This island is very large and very smooth, and there are many green trees and water here, and in the middle there is very big Lake. There are no horns. " 33 days lasted the first transition through the Atlantic Ocean in the subtropical zone from Gomer to this island. With ships lowered boats. Columbus with both pinsons, notary and the royal controller landed on the shore - now already as Admiral and Vice-King, - the Castilian banner placed there, formally entered into possession of the island and amounted to a notary act.

On the island of the Spaniards saw nagih people. And Columbus describes his first meeting with Arawak people, 20-30 years completely exterminated by the colonialists, "They crossed by swimming to the boats where we were, and brought us parrots and cotton yarn in hanks, and darts, and many other things, And they exchanged all this ... But it seemed to me that these people were poor ... they all go to what mother gave birth. And all the people I saw were still young ... and they are stacked ... well, and their bodies and their faces are very beautiful, and the hair is coarse, quite like horse, and short ... (and they have such a skin Colors, like inhabitants of the Canary Islands, which are not black and not white ...). Some of them paint the face, while others - the whole body, and there are those who painted only the eyes and nose. They do not wear and do not know [iron] weapons: when I showed them the swords, they grabbed the blades and by ignorance cut their fingers. They have no iron. "

On the island of Columbus presented "Dry leaves, which were especially valued by the inhabitants": the first instruction on tobacco. The Indians called their Guanahani Island, Admiral gave him the Christian name - San Salvador ("Holy Savior"), which he was entrenched for one of the Bahamas, lying at 24 ° C. sh. and 74 ° 30 "z. d. - Now about. Watling. Columbus drew attention to the pieces of gold in the nose in some islanders. Gold allegedly got from somewhere from the south. From now on, he does not get tired of repeating in the diary, which" will find Gold where it will be born. "Spaniards on boats for two days examined the Western and north coast about. Guanakhani and discovered several villages. Another islands were visible in the distance, and Columbus was convinced that he opened the archipelago. Residents attended ships canoes-odnoderevkah different sizes rising from one to 40-45 people. "They advanced by boats with the help of an oars like a shovel ... and went with great speed." To find the way to the Southern Lands, where "Gold will be born," Columbus ordered to capture six Indians. Taking advantage of their instructions, he gradually moved south.

The islands and southwest of Guanakhani Columbus called Santa Maria de Concepcion (Frames) and Fernandine (Long Island). The local Indians appeared to him "more houses, causing and prudent" than residents of Guanakhani. "I even saw your clothes, woven from cotton yarn, like a raincoat, and they love to dress up." Sailors who visited the houses of the islanders saw the hanging braided beds tied to the columns. "Lodge and bedding, on which the Indians sleep, look like a network and woven from cotton yarn" (hammocks). But the Spaniards did not find on the island and signs of gold deposits. Two weeks of flotilla moved among the Bahamas O-Great. Columbus saw many plants with strange colors and fruits, but among them there were no familiar to him. In the record of October 15-16, he enthusiastically describes the nature of the archipelago. The last of the Bahamas O-Gossi, where the Spaniards landed on October 20, was named Isabella (Crooked Island).

tons of Indians sailors heard about the southern island of Cuba, which, according to them, is very large and leads great trading.

October 28, Columbus "entered the mouth ... very beautiful river"(Bayway Bay in Northeast Cuba, 76 ° C.). According to the gestures of the residents of Columbus, I realized that this land can not be bypass on the ship even in 20 days. Then he decided that one of East Asian Peninsulas was located.

But there were no rich cities, no kings, nor gold, nor spices. The next day, the Spaniards advanced to 60 km northwest along the coast of Cuba, waiting for a meeting with Chinese Junks. But no one, even Admiral himself, did not imagine that the way to China was extremely distant - more than 15 thousand km in a straight line. Occasionally on the coast came across small villages. Admiral sent two people, ordered to find the king and tie off with him. One of the envoes spoke in Arabic, but in this country no one understood the "even" Arabic. After removing a little bit from the sea, the Spaniards found surrounded by the embedded villages of the village with large, accommodated hundreds of people, houses built from branches and cane. Only one plant turned out to be familiar to the Europeans - cotton. In the houses there were cotton bales; Women fabrics from it rude fabrics or twisted from the yarn of the network. Men and women who encountered aliens, "walked with heads in their hands and with grass used for smoking." So the Europeans first saw how tobacco smoke, and unfamiliar cultural plants were maize (corn), potatoes and tobacco.

The ships needed repairs again, further swimming on the West seemed aimless: Columbus thought that he had reached the poorest part of China, but the richest Japan had to lie to the east, and he turned back. The Spaniards threw anchor in the neighboring Baria Hybara Bay, where they stood 12 days. During the parking, Admiral found out about. Babek, where people "gather gold right along the coast", and on November 13, moved to the East in search. On November 20, Pinta, Columbus, suspecting betrayal, assumed that Martin Pinson wanted to open this island personally for himself. Two weeks, the remaining two vessels went to the east and reached the eastern tip of Cuba (Cape Mansi). Columbus called this Cape Alpha and Omega, which means, according to commentators, the beginning of Asia, if you go from the east, and the end of Asia, if you go from the West. On December 5, the admiral after some oscillations moved to the south-southeast, crossed the brutal strait and ranked on 6 December, which had already collected information from Cubans as rich in big about. Bahioo. It was. Haiti; Columbus called him Espanyol: "Espanyola" literally means "Spanish", but in meaning it is more correct to translate the "Spanish Island". There, along the coast, "the most beautiful ... valleys are still similar to the land of Castile, but largely superior to them." Moved along the northern shore of Haiti, he opened on the way. Tortuga ("Turtle"). The inhabitants of Espanyola sailors saw thin gold plates and small bars. Among them were "Golden Fever": "... the Indians were so innocent, and the Spaniards are so greedy and insatiable, that they were not satisfied when the Indians for ... a shard glass, a shard of a broken cup or other than anyiclee, gave them everything that only They wished. But, even without giving anything, the Spaniards sought to take ... all "(record in the diary of December 22).

December 25, due to the negligence of the Watch Sailor "Santa Maria" sat on the reefs. With the help of the Indians managed to remove valuable carns, guns and supplies from the vessel. In a small "NNINI", the entire crew could not accommodate, and Columbus decided to leave a part of people on the island - the first attempt of Europeans to settle in Central America. 39 Spaniards have voluntarily remained on Espanyol: life there seemed to be attributed to them, and they hoped to find a lot of gold. Columbus ordered from the wreckage of the ship to build a fort, called Navidad (Christmas), armed with his cannons with Santa Mary and supplied suggestions for a year.

On January 4, 1493, the admiral went to the sea and two days later met the Pintu Espanyola from the North Shore. Martin Pinson assured that "left the flotilla against his will." Columbus pretended to believe: "There was no time to punish the guilty." Both ships were given to flow, everyone sought to return to their homeland as soon as possible, and on January 16, Ninya and Pinta came out in open Ocean. The first four weeks of swimming were safe, but on February 12, a storm rose, and on the night of February 14, Ninya lost sight of Pintu. With the sunrise, the wind intensified and excitement to the sea was even more terrible. Nobody thought it would be possible to avoid imminent death. At dawn on February 15, when the wind is a little verse, the sailors saw the land, and Columbus properly determined that the Azores are in-war. Three days later, "NNINI" managed to approach one of the islands - Santa Mary.

February 24, leaving the Azores, Ninya again fell into a storm, who navigated the ship to the Portuguese coast near Lisbon. On March 15, 1493, Admiral led Ninu in Palos, the "Pint" arrived on the same day. Columbus brought to Spain to the news about the lands open in the west, a little gold, somewhat unprecedented in Europe islanders who began to be called Indians, strange plants, fruits and feathers of fish birds. To save the discovery monopoly, he also brought incorrect data to the ship's ship. The first news of the great discovery, spreading in Europe in dozens of translations, is a letter dictated by Columbus from Azores about one of the persons financing the expedition - Louis Santanhel or Gabriel Sanchezu.

there is about opening the Columbus of Western India alarmed Portuguese. In their opinion, the rights provided by Portugal Roman dads were violated ( Nikolai V. and Kalikstom III) in 1452 - 1456, the rights recognized by Castile itself in 1479, confirmed by dad Sequust IV. In 1481, - to own the lands, open to the south and east of Cape Bohador, "right up to Indians." Now India seemed to slip away from them. Castilskaya Queen and the Portuguese king defended their rights to the land over the ocean. Castile relied on the right of the first discovery, Portugal - on papal awards. Only the head of the Catholic Church could solve the dispute in peaceful way. Pope was then Alexander VI Bordjia. It is unlikely that the Portuguese considered this Pope, the Spaniard by origin (Rodrigo Borch), an impartial judge. But they could not but reckon with his decision.

On May 3, 1493, Papa Bulla Jnter Cetera ("By the way") produced the first section of the world, providing the Castile the rights to the Earth, which she opened or will open in the future, "lands lying against the Western parts on the ocean" and not owned by either a Christian sovereign. In other words, Castile in the West received the same rights as Portugal had in the south and east. On May 4, 1493, the Dad tried to more accurately determine the rights of Castile. He gave to the eternal possession of the Castilian kings "All of the islands and continents ... Open and those who will be opened to the west and south of the line, held ... from the Arctic Pole ... to the Antarctic Pole ... [This] line should To defend at a distance of 100 leagues to the west and south of any of the islands commonly called Azores and Green Cape. " It is clear that the border set by the second Bullah, it is impossible to spend on the map. Already then firmly knew that the azors lie much west of the Great Big Cape. And the expression "south of the line, spent ... from ... pole ... to the pole", that is, south of the meridian, just ridiculous. Nevertheless, the papal decision was based on the Spanish-Portuguese negotiations ended Trendesiolese contract On June 7, 1494, the Portuguese already doubted that Columbus had reached asia, and did not insist that the Spaniards owls were refused to go from the overseas swimming pools, but only the transfer of the "Papal Meridian" further to the West. Sides skeptics were also in Spain. The Italian humanist Pietro Martyr (Peter Martyr), who lived in those years in Barcelona and was close to the royal court, led a greater correspondence with his countrymen. In his letter dated November 1, 1493, there are the following phrases: "Some column fell to Western antipodes, to the Indian shore, as he himself believes. He opened a lot of islands; It is believed that names but those ... about which the cosmographers have expressed the view that they are located in India, behind the Eastern Ocean. I can't challenging it, although it seems that the magnitude of the globe leads to another conclusion. "

After long disputes, the Spaniards went on a big concession: the line was held in the 370 leagues of the west of the Great Cape West. The contract does not specify, from which island 370 leagues should be considered and in which leagues it is to calculate; It can be assumed that we are talking about the marine league (about 6 km). In addition, for the cosmographs of that time, the translation of the 370 leagues in degrees of longitude was very difficult. However, discrepancies for these reasons (up to 5.5 °) are insignificant compared to errors due to inability at the time to determine the longitude; Even in the XVI century. Because of this, there were errors by more than 45 °. According to many historians, Portugal and Castilia set themselves a clear goal - to really divide the globe among themselves, despite the fact that only one, Atlantic, demarcation line was indicated in Papal Bull 1493 and in the contract of 1494. But already in 1495, the opposite opinion was expressed, probably more corresponding to the true intentions of the parties: the line is established only to ensure that Castilic Courts have the right to perform discoveries in the Western direction, and Portuguese - in the east of the Papal Meridian. In other words, the purpose of demarcation was not divided by the globe, but only to indicate the rival maritime powers various ways of discoveries of new lands.

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Christopher Columbus was born between August 26 and October 31, 1451 on the island of Corsica in the Genoese Republic. Education The future discoverer received at the University of Pavia.

A brief biography of Columbus did not save accurate evidence of his first swimming, however, it is known that in the 1470s he made maritime expeditions with trading goals. Already then, Columbus has an idea of \u200b\u200btraveling to India in the West. The navigator turned to the rulers of European countries many times with a request to help him organize an expedition - to the king of Juan II, the duke of Medina-Sili, King Henry VII and others. Only in 1492, Columbus's travel was approved by Spanish rulers, first of all, Queen Isabella. He was assigned the title "Don", promised remuneration in the event of a successful project.

Four expeditions. Discovery of America

In 1492, the first navigation of Columbus was committed. During the journey, the navigator was opened by the Bahamas, Haiti, Cuba, although he himself considered these lands "Western India".

During the second expedition, Columbus's assistants were such well-known personalities as the future conqueror of Cuba Diego Velasquez de Cuang, the notary Rodrigo de Bastidas, the pioneer of Juan de la Spit. Then the opening of the navigator included virgin, small Antille Islands, Jamaica, Puerto Rico.

The third expedition of Christopher Columbus was committed in 1498. The main discovery of the navigator was the island of Trinidad. However, at the same time, Vasco da Gama has found a real way to India, so Columbus was declared a deceiver and sent under the convoy from Espanyol to Spain. However, on his arrival, local financiers managed to persuade King Ferdinand II to remove the accusations.

Columbus did not leave hope to open a new brief path to South Asia. In 1502, the navigator was able to achieve the permission of the king for the fourth journey. Columbus reached the shore of Central America, proving that between Atlantic Ocean and Southern sea Lies mainland.

Last years

During the last trip, Columbus is seriously ill. Upon returning to Spain, he failed to restore the privileges and rights given to him. Christopher Columbus died on May 20, 1506 in Seville in Spain. The navigator was first buried in Seville, but in 1540, by order of Emperor Charles V, the remains of Columbus were transported to the Espanyol Island (Haiti), and in 1899 again in Seville.

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The Middle Ages is rich in the biographies of people with amazing destinies. In that severe time, everything was possible: the beggars became the dukes and kings, the apprentices were created by masterpieces of art, and the dreamers opened new worlds. Someone everything was given easily and played, and someone on the way to the top was forced to overcome all imaginable and inconceivable obstacles ...

Few people today know that the greatest of medieval seafarers, the legendary Christopher Columbus It can be quite deserved and reasonable to be called one of the largest losers of the Epoch of the Great discoveries and the Middle Ages as a whole.

Why is that? Quite at least a little thought in his biography to understand everything.

The most interesting thing for you!

Italian in the service of the Spanish Crown

It follows from the fact that Columbus is not a Spaniard and not even a portuguese, as many believe. He is an ardent son of Italy, from Genoa. It was there that he was born somewhere in the interval between August 26 and October 31, 1451 (and after 29 years he was born in Portugal another famous navigator Fernan Magellan). It is believed that Christphore Columbus grew in a poor family. But in general, about his childhood and youth knows not so much. In general, it is amazing that in the biography so well-known even in his era of a person, there is a lot of "white spots".

Since the future discovere room was growing near the sea, since childhood he was delirious by the profession of the sailor. By the way, since childhood, I dreamed of the sea and Admiral Nelson - one of the most famous personalities of England. This did not prevent Columbus to learn a little in the University of Pavia, after which he entered the service in the Genoese fleet in about 1465. It is known that after some time after that he got a hard wound and temporarily left the sea. By the way, then Columbus floated exclusively under the Spanish and Portuguese flag, and in his homeland turned out to be unclaimed.

In 1470, Christopher married the Donie Felipe Monis de Palesetrello, who was a daughter of a prominent navigator of those times. Quietly to live almost without the sea, he managed to 1472 in Genoa. From 1472, he appeared in Savon, a little lived there and moved in 1476 to Portugal, and again began to actively participate in maritime trading expeditions.

Until 1485, Columbus was floating in Portuguese courts, living, then in Lisbon, then on Madeira, then on Porto Santa. At this time, he mainly engaged in trade, an increase in its educational level and mapping. In 1483, he had already had a ready-made draft of the new maritime trading route to India and Japan, with whom the navigator and went to the Portuguese king.

But the time of Columbus has not yet come, or he could not properly argue the need for an expedition's equipment, or for some other reasons, but after two years of thought rejected this enterprise, and he also made a sudden sailor opal.

Columbus left him by going to the Spanish service, where a few years later, after a series of complex and subtle intrigues, he managed to persuade the king to finance the expedition.

Birth of a great project

Nobody cannot say exactly when the project of the Western sea route was drawn up to India. Scientists have proven that in their calculations, Columbus was based on the ancient knowledge about the shag-likeness of the Earth, and also studied the calculations and maps of the 19th century scientists. Presumably, at the very idea of \u200b\u200bthe balloon and the possibility of such a navigation in 1474, he came across Geographer Paolo Toskanlyli, which was confirmed by his letter Columbus. The navigator began to produce his own calculations and decided that if sailing through the Canary Islands, then from them to Japan should not be more than five thousand kilometers.

Improving the Columbus project contributed and visiting England, Ireland and Iceland in 1477, where he collected rumors and Iceland data that in the West there are extensive lands. He pulled out his salary skill in 1481, when he sailed in Guinea, being a captain of one of the courts in the expedition of Diogu de Azambuja, sent for the construction of the fortress of San Georges-da Min. Apparently, it was after this swimming that Columbus had no only a firm conviction about the possibility of success of his project, but also a good evidential base was collected in his favor. It remained only to learn how to persuade the power of people on financing ...

It should be noted that the first proposal for the organization of the expedition, he made the authorities and merchants of the native Genoa approximately after 1476, but then he was still too young and could provide very little evidence to his thoughts treat him seriously. But the modest at all times of Genoa, eclipsed by Venice and Rome, could have become the center of the world instead of Spain for several centuries, by the time of the expedition of Columbus formerly weak and rather poor country.

In 1485, the shipping project in India rejected the Portuguese king Zhuan II, yes it is so categorical that Columbus with his family was forced to urgently run to Spain. Oddly enough, it was this flight that was fateful for Columbus, because the first refuge he found in the monastery of Santa Maria da Rabida, the abbot of which, Juan Peres de Marchena was a close friend of Hernando de Talavera, Queen's confessor. It was through it that a letter with the ideas of Columbus was able to transfer the reign. The royal couple at this time lived in Cordoba, preparing the country and the army to the war with Greada, but the grain was sown.

Already in 1486, Columbus managed to light up his project a fantasy of a rich and influential Duke of Medina-Seli, who also introduced the most essence of the navigator into a circle of royal financial advisers, bankers and merchants. But the most useful was the acquaintance with his uncle - Spanish Cardinal Mendosa. This already took up the project with all seriousness, gathering his authority from the theologians, lawyers and courtiers. The Commission worked as four years old and did not give anything, since here Columbus led his character - secretious and incredulous.

In any case, from 1487 to 1492 Columbus not so much floats, how much travel in Spain after the royal couple. In 1488, he received an invitation to return to Portugal from the Portuguese king, but it was already late - Columbus felt that here, in Spain, he would definitely achieve something. However, he sent letters with their proposals to all influential Europe's yards, but the answer was only from the English king Henry VII, who in 1488 he expressed his support to the navigator, but did not offer anything concrete. Who knows, perhaps, be on the throne at that time Heinrich VIII, son Henry VII, Christopher Columbus would have left the expedition under the flag of England. Heinrich VIII loved the fleet very much, which only cost him the creation of huge ships for those standards Great Harry and Mary Rose!

The Spaniards also wanted to organize an expedition, but the country was in the protracted war and the means for swimming was not possible to allocate. In 1491, Columbus in Seville once again met with Ferdinand and Isabella, but no offefficient - money and help did not give. In January 1492 Granada Pala, Spain completed the war, and Columbus had the opportunity to almost immediately achieve the organization of the expedition, but he again failed in character! Sailors' requirements were exorbitant: appointment by the vice-king of all new lands, the title of "Chief Admiral Sea Ocean" and a lot of money. The king refused.

Saved the position of Queen Isabella, who dissuaded Columbus from emigration to France and threatened to lay her family jewels for organizing an expedition. As a result, an enterprise was drawn up, according to which one ship gave the state, one - the Columbus himself, and one - Martin Alonso Pinson, the furnished "Pintu". In addition, this magnate lent the money by Columbus, which under the contract was supposed to take on the eighth of the expeditions on the expedition.

On April 30, 1492, the king officially complained Christopher Columbus title "Don", making it a nobleman, and also confirmed all the requirements of the audacious seaman, up to the title of the vice-king of all newly open lands and transfer it to inheritance.

Expeditions of Christopher Columbus

Columba's first expedition took place on August 3, 1492 And there was a small one - about 90 people on three ships - "Santa Marie", "Pint" and "Nier", went to the path from Palos. Having reached the Canary Islands, she turned to the West, on a small diagonal crossed the Atlantic, on the way discovered Sargasso Sea. The first seen land was one of the islands of the Bahamas archipelago, named San Salvador. Columbus landed on it October 12, 1492 and this day became the official date of opening of America.

It is noteworthy that until 1986, geographers and historians did not know exactly what of the islands was opened by Columbus first while Geographic J. Jajj did not prove that it was the island of Saman. In the following days, Columbus opened another number Bahamas IslandsAnd on October 28, he was born to the coast of Cuba. On December 6, he saw Haiti and moved along the northern shore. There, December 25, Santa Maria sat on the reef, although the crew was able to save.

It was after the crash "Santa Mary", when the sailors had to be signed on the remaining courts, Columbus ordered instead of the beds to install a hammock for sailors, spilling this idea of \u200b\u200bthe natives. So managed to compact more people, and the way the way was so accustomed that he went into oblivion only the century ago.

In March 1493, the remaining vessels returned to Castile. They brought a little gold, several natives, wonderful plants and bird feathers. Columbus said he opened Western India. After reading the first expedition of Cook, curious can compare the success of Columbus and James Cook on the steps of their early quarry. The difference between these expeditions is 275 years old!

The second expedition went on the road in the same 1493. Columbus headed her already in the rank of Admiral and the vice-king of all open lands. It was a grand enterprise in which 17 large vessels and more than 2,000 people participated, among whom were priests, and officials, as well as lawyers, artisans and soldiers. In November 1493, Dominica was opened, Guadeloupe and Antilles. In 1494, the expedition examined the Islands of Haiti, Cuba, Hoispen and Jamaica, but there was very little gold there.

In the spring of 1496, Columbus went home, completing the journey on June 11th. This expedition opened the path of colonization, after it, settles, priests and criminals began to send to new lands, which were the cheapest way to settle new colonies.

The third expedition of Columbus began in 1498. It consisted of only six vessels and was exclusively research. On July 31, he opened Trinidad, found the bay of the Paria, discovered the mouth of the Orinoco and the Paria Peninsula, finally coming to the continent. Choking a little further Columbus, in the rich lands of South America invaded the conquerors of Ernan Cortez and Claudio Pizarro. On August 15, Margarita Island was opened, after which the navigator arrived at Haiti, where the colony of Spaniards had already acted.

In 1500, Columbus on denunciation arrested and sent to Castile. However, there he promised not very long, but retained his shacks for life. Having received freedom, Columbus was still deprived of most privileges and most of the wealth. So, he no longer became the vice-emperor, and it was the most important disappointment of the final part of the life of the navigator. From the third expedition, Columbus experienced disappointment, but it remained alive, but the third expedition of Cook became the last one for the traveler.

The fourth expedition began in 1502 and was carried out only on four ships. On June 15, he went to the Martinique traverse, and on July 30, he entered the Honduran Bay, where he came into contact with the representatives of the Mayan state. In 1502-1503, Columbus carefully examined the shores of Central America in search of a cherished passage to the West, because America's fabulous wealth has not yet been discovered and everyone has been craving to get to India. On June 25, 1503, Columbus was crashed near Jamaica, and was saved only a year later. In Castile, the navigator fell on November 7, 1504, seriously ill and upset failures. On this, his epic ended. Without finding a cherished passage to India, remaining without rights and money, Christopher Columbus died in Valladolid on May 20, 1506. His merits were assessed much later, after a century, and for his era, he was just one of the navigators traveling to distant countries.

Character of Christopher Columbus

Great people do not have a simple character. This can be said about Columbus, and this is exactly what has become the cause of his collapse at the end of the life path. Christopher Columbus was a passionate dreamer, the fan of his idea and the goals he served all his life. At the same time, historians and contemporaries characterize him as an amicant, uniformly powerful person who dreamed of others all his life. Unlimited desires did not allow him to stay on the top of wealth and knowledge, but he still lived an outstanding life, making outstanding acts!

Tragedy of Christopher Columbus

If you look deeper, you can understand that I died Columbus an unhappy person. He did not get to the fabulously rich in India, and this is exactly what it was, not the opening of the new continent, was his goal and a dream. He did not even understand what he opened, and for the first time they saw the continents received the name of a completely different person - Amerigo Vespucci, who simply extended the paths of the paths of the trails. In fact, America was opened by Normans many more centuries to him, so that the navigator did not become the first. He reached a lot, and at the same time did not reach anything. And this is his tragedy.

The name of Columbus is called ...

Columbus forever remained in the history and geography of all continents and most countries. In addition to the streets, numerous monuments, squares and even asteroid, his name is called a whole state in South America, highest mountain Colombia, the Federal District in the United States and the province in Canada, the city and province in Panama in the Zone of the Panama Canal Colon, the Department in Honduras and many other things, meaningful geographical objects.

What gave the world of the discovery of Columbus?

First of all, it should be noted that it was Columbus who showed the way to those people who for a century after him destroyed the original cultures of South and Central America, turning the history of the continents to the other side.

Europe discovery gave the influx of a huge mass of gold and silver, so that the center of civilization moved there from the east. Europe began to develop, its industry and science grew, the population and its quality of life increased, and not only due to the flow of gold, which has become significantly cheaper, but also due to the importation of new fertile plant cultures from America.