Christopher Columbus was an Italian explorer who sailed across the Atlantic Ocean in 1492 hoping to find a route to Asia but instead discovered what became known as the Americas. Over the course of four voyages, Columbus explored the Caribbean islands and parts of Central and South America, establishing a colony on Hispaniola. Though he failed to find a direct trade route to Asia, Columbus played a major role in the European colonization of the Americas.

1. Christopher Columbus
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3. Christopher Columbus
Biographical Data
• Born: 1451 in Genoa,
Italy
• Sent by Queen Isabella
and King Ferdinand of
Spain
• Died: May 20, 1506 in
Valladolid, Spain
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4. Christopher Columbus
Reasons for Exploring
• Thought that Japan and the Indies
were much closer than they are.
• Explore a new route to the East
Indies (Spice Islands).
• Would become Governor of any
lands discovered.
• Keep 10% of wealth discovered.
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5. Columbus’ First Voyage
– August 3, 1492 Columbus left Spain to
start his first voyage
– He took 3 ships: Santa Maria, Nina, Pinta
– On October 12, 1492 he discovered land-
the island of San Salvador
– This is the date it is said that he
discovered the Americas
– Columbus claimed the islands
– The Santa Maria was destroyed on
December 24, 1942
– Columbus returned to Spain on the Nina
– Spain had a huge reception for Columbus
upon his return
– They named him “Admiral of the Sea”
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6. Columbus’ Second Voyage
• October 1493, Columbus left Cadiz
with a fleet of 17 ships carrying a
total of 1,500 colonists.
• He discovered the Leeward
Islands, Jamaica and Puerto Rico.
• The colonists he had brought to
Hispaniola just wanted gold and
were completely disorderly. Some
seized a ship and returned to
Spain.
• Columbus left his brother
Bartholomew in charge of
Hispaniola while he returned to
Spain in 1496.
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7. Columbus’ Third Voyage
• In 1498, Columbus left for his 3rd
expedition.
• He was forced to transport convicts to
be new colonists, because Hispaniola’s
conditions were not good and the
novelty of the new world was wearing
off.
• In 1500, the King and Queen of Spain
sent an independent governor to
Hispaniola because of the terrible
conditions there under Columbus’ rule.
• Columbus was taken back to Spain in
chains.
• He was released later, but his public
support was growing wary.
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8. Columbus’ Fourth Voyage
• In 1502, Columbus gathered
four more ships to make
another voyage in attempt to
reestablish his reputation.
• He was hoping that if he sailed
far enough west he would find
Asian land.
• He struck the coast of Central
America.
• After suffering many hardships,
he returned to Spain with no
other choice, but to give up his
dream.
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9. COLUMBUS DAY
• First celebration of the
discovery of the “New
World” was in 1792, in New
York.
• In 1937, President Roosevelt
proclaimed every October
12th
as Columbus day.
• In 1971, USA declared it a
federal public holiday on the
second Monday in October.
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