Columbus and the New World Have you ever wanted to give up and something good happened?

The Idea When the silk road was closed during the Crusades of the 1100’s Europe panicked and began to look for other ways to get spices and riches from Asia Portugal had sailed to India under Vasco de Gama, but few ships could make the trip and survive the Pirates of Madagascar Christopher Columbus a Italian captain from Genoa, approached Isabella and Ferdinand with new idea, Sail west to the Indies and Spice Islands, by passing India and the Pirates, turned down by Spanish court, funded privately by Isabella, legend says she sold some of the crown jewels to pay for trip

Discovery? Columbus set sail in August 1492, with three ships Nina smallest ship in Spanish navy, Pinta a reconditioned logging ship and Santa Maria formally the Maria Galante or naughty Mary the oldest command ship in Spanish fleet, not very good ships Sailed to Azores took on Fresh water and food, sailed West for two and a half months Oct saw a bird with a stick in mouth, 12 th landed in Bahamas, encountered natives called Indians thinking from Indies, 3day refilled water and food Sailed on to Cuba where lost men in a fight on the beach, then to Hispanola(Haiti/Dominican Republic) greeted by native coming out in canoes brought baskets of gold, built a fort welcomed by natives, spread disease Returned to Spain with gold and coconut and a few spices, ships separated in storm, jailed in Azores, released by Isabella, returned to Spain at same time

Other Voyages Columbus a hero, given title Admiral of the Seas, Gold equal to five yrs taxes Makes bro Gov. of Hispanola and friend, Juan Ponce De Leon Gov. of near by Puerto Rico, returned to find fort abandoned Explored more islands and even S. America in following three voyages, Shipwrecks in Panama or Nicaragua and taken back in chains, dies broke, lonely and not famous Died thinking he had found the Indies, not a “New World”