Christopher Columbus was a famous explorer born in 1451 in Genoa, Italy. His father was a weaver, and Columbus started sailing when he was a teenager. He traveled to many places like Greece, England, Ireland, Iceland, Portugal, West Africa, and Spain. In 1476, Columbus’s ship sank near Portugal, but he swam to safety and settled in Lisbon. There, he got married and had a son named Diego. After his wife passed away in 1485, Columbus moved to Spain and had another son, Fernando.
Columbus was fascinated by the idea of sailing west from Europe to reach Asia. At that time, people wanted to trade for spices and silk from India and China, but the usual routes were long and dangerous. Columbus thought he could find a shorter way by sailing west. Although many people knew the Earth was round, experts doubted Columbus’s plan because they thought the journey was too long and risky. Columbus struggled to get money for his trip and was turned down by Portugal, Genoa, and Venice.
In 1486, Columbus asked King Ferdinand and Queen Isabella of Spain for help. They were busy with wars and couldn’t support him at first. Finally, in 1492, after the wars ended, they agreed to fund his journey. On August 3, 1492, Columbus set sail from Spain with three ships: the Niña, the Pinta, and the Santa Maria. After two months, on October 12, he landed in the Bahamas on an island he called San Salvador. Columbus thought he had reached Asia and called the local people “Indians.”
Columbus didn’t find much gold at first, so he explored other islands. On Christmas Day, the Santa Maria got stuck on a reef and had to be left behind. Columbus left 39 crew members in what is now Haiti to start a settlement and search for gold. He returned to Spain in March 1493 with native people, gold, and exotic items like pineapples and tobacco. His return made him famous, and he was given the title of Admiral of the Ocean Sea. He led a second, bigger expedition in 1493 with 17 ships and over 1,000 men.
When Columbus returned to the New World, he found that the first settlement was destroyed, and the crew had been killed by the local people. He started a new settlement but struggled to find gold. In desperation, Columbus forced the native people to help search for riches. On his third voyage, he reached South America, landing in Venezuela. However, the settlement faced problems, and Columbus was arrested in 1500 and sent back to Spain, losing his titles and wealth.
Columbus made a fourth and final voyage in 1502, still hoping to find a way to Asia. He returned to Spain in 1504 and died on May 20, 1506, likely still believing he had reached Asia.
Although Columbus wasn’t the first to discover the Americas—the indigenous peoples’ ancestors were—his voyages changed history. He brought news of the New World to Europe, starting a new era of trade and colonization. The exchange of plants, animals, people, and diseases between continents affected cultures worldwide. Today, Columbus’s first landing is remembered every October on Columbus Day, highlighting his lasting impact on history.
Map Your Own Voyage: Imagine you are an explorer like Christopher Columbus. Create a simple map of your neighborhood or a nearby park. Use symbols to mark important places, like your home, a favorite playground, or a friend’s house. Think about what you might discover if you were exploring this area for the first time. Share your map with your family or friends and explain why you chose each location.
Build a Mini Ship: Using materials like paper, cardboard, or recycled items, build a small model of one of Columbus’s ships, such as the Niña, the Pinta, or the Santa Maria. Think about the parts of the ship and what they were used for. Once your ship is complete, try floating it in a bathtub or a small pool. Discuss with your family how ships have changed over time and what makes them float.
Imagine a New World: Columbus thought he had reached Asia when he landed in the Bahamas. Imagine you are discovering a new place for the first time. What would you see, hear, and feel? Write a short story or draw a picture of your adventure. Consider what you might name this new place and what treasures or challenges you might find there.
