Christopher Columbus, A Critical Character in the Discovery of New Lands

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He was a significant character in the further development of discovery. He had many important discoveries that changed the way we view the world today. Christopher Columbus was a critical character in the discovery of new lands in his time. Columbus’ accidental discovery of the Americas was a very meaningful event in history. Columbus’ many voyages had a lasting impact on the world, inspired many others, and marked the outset of centuries of overseas conquest and colonization.
Christopher Columbus’ early life was very interesting and involved a good education and an introduction into exploration. Christopher Columbus was born in the Republic of Genoa, Italy in about 1451, though “the exact date of Columbus's birth is not known” (López-Portillo, José-Juan). Christopher’s dad was a wool merchant; he worked in Genoa and Savona. Columbus studied mathematics, astronomy, cartography, and navigation in Lisbon, Portugal. As the fifteenth century came to a close it was “nearly impossible to reach Asia from Europe by land” (History.com). Explorers were forced to travel by sea. Christopher had many different ideas, he was thinker. One of his early ideas was to sail west across the Atlantic instead of sailing around the massive African continent like Portuguese explorers did. Christopher’s early life was very interesting and it also set the tone for his ambitious attitude for exploration.
One of Columbus’ first voyages was accidentally very important and affected the world today. “On August 3, 1492, Columbus and his crew set sail from Spain in three ships: the Nina, the Pinta and the Santa Maria” (History.com). On October 12, the ships made it to land. Only they were not in Asia, like Columbus thought, they were on a Bahamian island. Later...

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...onization. Though some mysteries are still being uncovered of his life, what we know already is enough to say that Christopher was one of the most significant explorers of his time. Columbus’ legacy lives on and is one that will never be forgotten. From his first voyage to his last, Christopher Columbus affected the world in many different ways through his ambitious days of exploration.

Works Cited

Boubion, Gina. “Christopher Columbus”. Student Research Center. 23.5 (Jan. 2007) Web. 18
Feb. 2014
Briney, Amanda. "Christopher Columbus." About.com Geography. N.p., n.d. Web. 26 Feb. 2014.
“Christopher Columbus”. History.com. A & E Television Networks, n.d. Web. 09 Feb. 2014.
López-Portillo, José-Juan. "Columbus, Christopher." World Book Student. World Book, 2014.
Web. 27 Feb. 2014.
Meltzer, Milton. “Columbus and the World around Him”. 1990. Book. 18 Feb. 2014.

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