Columbus Departs For The New World
Christopher Columbus's departure for the New World on August 3, 1492, marked a significant moment in exploration history. Columbus, along with approximately 90 sailors, embarked on this journey aboard three ships: the Niña, the Pinta, and the Santa María. Driven by a desire to find a westward route to the East Indies, Columbus's ambition was fueled by the European understanding of a round Earth and advancements in navigation inspired by earlier Portuguese explorations. Despite being initially rejected by several monarchs for funding, he finally secured the support of King Ferdinand and Queen Isabella of Spain, shortly after their victory over the Moors.
The expedition aimed to claim new territories for Spain and establish trade routes, with Columbus appointed as the admiral and governor of any lands he might discover. His journey, however, would lead to the unexpected revelation of the New World, drastically altering the course of history. Columbus's voyage reflects the complex interplay of exploration, ambition, and the broader cultural implications of European expansion during this era. Understanding this event requires acknowledging both the achievements of exploration and the profound consequences for the indigenous populations encountered.
On this Page
Columbus Departs For The New World
Columbus Departs For The New World
Christopher Columbus and the approximately 90 sailors who set forth on August 3, 1492, in three small ships to sail the Atlantic rank among the world's greatest pioneers and adventurers. Lured by the rich East Indies trade, mariners had sought an ocean route to the Orient for many years before Columbus's voyage. With the encouragement of Prince Henry the Navigator, the Portuguese made significant advances in navigation during the first half of the 15th century and conducted extensive explorations along the western coast of Africa. In 1488 Bartolomeu Dias of Portugal rounded the Cape of Good Hope at the southern tip of Africa, but a mutiny prevented him from continuing on to the Orient. His fellow mariner Vasco da Gama was the first to sail to India via the African route in 1497.
While the Portuguese concentrated on finding an eastern ocean passage to the Orient, Christopher Columbus, a Genoese sailor, made plans for a western voyage. By this time many educated people in Europe had come to realize that the world was round, not flat. Columbus reasoned that by sailing west along a northern latitude he could eventually reach Japan. In theory he was correct, but Columbus underestimated the distance between Europe and Japan by roughly 8,000 miles. Of course, he also never suspected the existence of the New World continents.
It was not easy for Columbus to find financial backing. He was turned down by the Portuguese king, John II; the city of Genoa; and King Henry VII of England, before King Ferdinand and Queen Isabella of Spain agreed to underwrite his expedition in 1486. It was not until January 1492, however, when the Spanish war against the Moors had ended with the fall of Granada that the monarchs were finally able to finance Columbus's voyage. In April 1492 arrangements for the expedition were concluded, and under the terms of the agreement Spain was to acquire “certain islands and mainland in the Western Ocean” and Columbus as “admiral of all the ocean seas” was appointed governor general with control over the trade of any territory he might discover. The Spanish monarchs provided Columbus with three small sailing ships, namely the flagship Santa Mar(a; the Ni9a, captained by Vincente Y‗9ez Pinz4n; and the Pinta, under Martin Alonso Pinz4n. On August 3, 1492, they set sail from Palos in southern Spain .