![]() ![]() ![]() As much new information and exploration as Columbus may have gathered on behalf of Europe in general and the Spanish government specifically, his motives for exploration do not seem to have been based on the intrinsic desire to pursue new knowledge. He made a deal with the Spanish monarchy of King Ferdinand and his Queen, Isabella that he would get to keep ten percent of any merchandise that he "acquired" within any new territory that he discovered, of which he would also be automatically made governor. Not only had the Ancient Greeks already established that the world was round in the fifth century Before Current Era (BCE), Columbus never set out to prove that the earth was round. Read More Who Discovered the Americas? 4. He also successfully reached the coasts of Central America and South America, and explored Cuba, Haiti and The Dominican Republic in his search for Asia. Columbus Day celebrates the day that Columbus touched down in the Bahamas. This is untrue, as the United States was populated by millions of Indigenous Peoples at the time of Columbus' voyage, but a lesser known fact is that Columbus never actually stood on United States soil. One popular myth is that Christopher Columbus discovered the Americas. Christopher Columbus landing in the New World, 1492 Columbus made his first voyage in 1492, and made three other living journies to the Americas later in his life. There are other Europeans (particularly Celts) who may have crossed the Atlantic prior to Eriksson's voyage as well. Eriksson is believed to have discovered what is now known as Newfoundland nearly five centuries before Columbus' first journey. Though he made four voyages to the Americas during his life (and his remains made many trips also, as we'll learn later on), the first European to have crossed the Atlantic Ocean is actually credited to have been Leif Eriksson, who was a Norse Viking. Map with the voyages of famous explorer Leif Erikson He wasn't the first European to cross the Atlantic. The name "Columbo" might even have been a name he chose to use after hearing of a pirate with the same name. But those aren't the only alternative names he was thought to have gone by! In fact, he also used the names "Christoual", "Christovam", "Christofferus de Columbo" and "Xpoual de Colòn" during the course of his life. In Spain, he is referred to as Cristòbal Colòn. This was thought to be the name given to him at birth. In Italy, he is known as Cristoforo Colombo. The man we know in English-speaking countries as Christopher Columbus is known by different names in his country of origin and in the country in which he died. The Landing of Columbus, October 11, 1492, painting by Currier & Ives, 1846 ![]()
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