Viajes de Cristóbal Colón: Background and Causes

The trips of Christopher Columbus they were the ones attacked by the Genoese admiral on his way to the American continent. There were four in total, the first of which was the discovery of the new continent for Europeans. Columbus wanted to find a new route to reach Asia to facilitate trade and expand the Catholic faith.

The rivalry with Portugal, plus the growing complications in following the old land routes to trade with Asian countries, made the Spanish Crown agree to finance the project. The first trip concluded on October 12, 1492 with the arrival of the Spanish expedition to the Caribbean.

Columbus baptized the first island in which they anchored as San Salvador. After a while exploring the area and founding a fort, they returned to the peninsula. The second trip started on the wrong foot, since the fort had been destroyed by the Indians.

Weight to everything, the expedition went down in history for having founded the first Spanish city in the Americas. It was during the third voyage when Columbus's men arrived in South America. However, there were rebellions and the figure of the admiral was seriously damaged. He was returned to Spain accused of several crimes.

The last trip was quite different. The Crown had withdrawn the privileges to Columbus and in American lands every time he met with more contestation. He returned to Spain after exploring Central America. Never again could he return to the American continent.

Causes and history

On the commercial side, Europe had been trading with Asia for a long time. Spices, fabrics and other products were highly coveted and, since the time of Marco Polo, the Silk Road was one of the most important.

However, Turks and Arabs increasingly controlled the Middle East, making it difficult for Europeans to move to other Asian territories. Therefore, the need to look for alternatives caused several countries to undertake different projects.

Meanwhile, the Spanish kingdoms continued their struggle to end the last Muslim strongholds in the peninsula. The war effort had left the accounts very weakened and, in addition, had prevented them from participating in the maritime explorations for a long time. In 1492 the taking of Granada meant the end of the so-called reconquest.

Rivalry with Portugal

The maritime tradition of Portugal made him achieve great achievements in his explorations. He had arrived in the Azores and Madeira, in addition to crossing the African coasts.

The rivalry in this aspect with Spain was due to the search for new riches, emphasizing Asia.

New trade routes with Asia

As mentioned earlier, the growing strength of Turks and Arabs in the Middle East made it necessary to find a new way to continue trade with the Asian continent. The land routes were unsafe and a lot of time was needed to cover them. Because of this, some explorers -like Columbus- began to look at the sea to get there.

Expand the Catholic Christian faith

Although there is usually little mention of this aspect when analyzing the causes of Columbus' travels, in some writings of the time it is clearly reflected. At Journal of the First Navigation , written by Bartolomé de las Casas, the friar mentioned evangelization as one of the main reasons for the explorations.

Other documents, such as an administrative one dated in the same 1492, affirmed that Columbus was sent" per maria oçeana ad parts Indie" ("For the oceans seas to the parts of India") for the purpose of, among other purposes," fidei ortodoxe aumentum" ("The increase of the orthodox faith").

Background of the first voyage of Christopher Columbus

The figure of Christopher Columbus is essential to know this time of history. Most historians agree that he was born in the then Republic of Genoa. The sailor was convinced that the Indians could be crossed across the Atlantic to the west.

Although there is no conclusive information about when he discovered this possibility, it is thought that some information that Toscanelli wrote on behalf of the Portuguese King Alfonso V. could reach his hands.

Looking for financing

Once convinced of the viability of the project, Columbus began to look for the necessary financing to carry it out. First he went to Juan II, king of Portugal, in 1485. East, occupied with other explorations, denied the aid.

After that first attempt the sailor moved to Castile. There he proposed his idea to Queen Elizabeth and her husband Fernando de Aragón. In full fight against the Muslims, his first response was negative. In addition, the experts did not believe it was possible.

Undaunted, Columbus went to Andalusia. After several attempts, he found someone who listened to him: Luis de la Cerda, Duke of Medinaceli. It was still two years before they were able to convince Queen Isabel to talk to Colon, although she ordered him to wait until they took Granada.

Thus, when the city in the hands of the Muslims surrendered on November 25, 1491, the Genoese left for Santa Fe, where the Christian headquarters was.

Capitulations of Santa Fe

It was in Santa Fe itself that negotiations between Colon and the representatives of the Crown began to finance the trip. The demands of Columbus, who asked to be named admiral and viceroy of the lands he discovered, caused the first meetings to be resolved with a failure.

The intercession of an official, Luis de Santángel, was what convinced the queen about the need to participate in the project; He was even willing to advance the necessary money. The queen agreed to the plan and accepted the conditions of the sailor.

The Capitulations of Santa Fe is the name by which these agreements were known, which were signed on April 17, 1492.

In addition to the aforementioned titles, Colón acquired the right 10% of the wealth that it found, apart from other benefits.

Preparations

The budget that was calculated to carry out the expedition was two million maravedis. The part of the Crown advanced it, as announced by Luis de Santángel, and consisted of 1 140,000 maravedíes. Columbus himself contributed 500,000, while the remaining amount was not delivered in cash, but in the form of two caravels.

To form the crew, Catholic kings offered forgiveness to prisoners who wanted to enroll. Still, it was not easy to get the 100 men that were needed. Martín Alonso Pinzón, a shipowner, took charge of the task in exchange for a part of what was found.

As for the ships, they had the two that were already in the town of Palos de la Frontera and that was part of the total budget. It was La Niña and La Pinta. Santa María, a nao, was the third boat that joined the voyage.

First trip

With everything ready, on August 3, 1492 the expedition departed from the port of Palos de la Frontera. Colón reserved the command of the Santa María, while Martín Alonso Pinzón was in charge of the Pinta and his brother Vicente, of the Niña.

According to Christopher Columbus himself, the route would be between 3,000 and 5,000 kilometers to reach Japan. Actually, the distance is 19,000.

The ships covered a first stage that took them to the Canary Islands. There they loaded provisions and threw themselves back into the sea. As of that moment, they were 33 days of uninterrupted navigation.

Arrival in America

The trip was not easy for the crew of the three ships. Columbus had to face two riots. The first, on October 1, when they had been traveling for 2 months. The lack of food (and the poor state of which was left) caused the sailors to ask the admiral to vary the course. A few days after that request, he had to accept.

As the situation did not improve, the crew continued with their complaints. On October 10, before what was almost an ultimatum, Columbus promised them that if they did not find anything in 2 days, they would turn around.

Just when that date was fulfilled, on October 12, 1492, Rodrigo de Triana -who was in La Pinta- sighted land. The expedition had reached the Caribbean, although they thought it was the Indies. That first island was baptized San Salvador, and Columbus took possession of it in the name of the Spanish Crown.

Exploration

Columbus was convinced that the islands that were traveling during the following month were facing the Asian coasts. In fact, upon arriving at what is now Cuba, he thought he had arrived on the continent. However, when he discovered only small towns of indigenous people, he became disillusioned and decided to continue exploring.

The next destination was another island, which they called La Española (Haiti and the Dominican Republic). In these lands the explorers made contact with some natives, who told them about an area where there was gold.

The name of that place known by the natives was Cibao, but Columbus confused it with Cipango, name given to Japan.

On December 25, the expedition lost the Santa María, who ran aground on a sandbank. Since the crew members did not fit in the two ships that remained, they decided to build a fort, baptized as Christmas. A group of men remained there, while the rest set off back to Spain.

Second trip

The news of his discovery and the riches that Columbus said he found, without being true, made it easier for the second trip to be organized very quickly.

In this case, the plans were more conquest and colonization than exploration. Pope Alexander VI gave to Bulls Bulls that assured him the control of what was conquered, ordering that the inhabitants of those lands be evangelized.

Development

The proof of the importance of this new expedition was that it had 17 ships and 1,500 people.

On September 25, 1493, they anchors from Cádiz, stopping in the Canary Islands days later. Unlike the first time, the trip was quiet and on November 2 they arrived in Dominica.

Touring several islands along the way, they headed towards Fort Navidad, where, in theory, the men that Columbus left were waiting for them. On November 27 they reached the fort. However, this had been destroyed by the Indians and the men had been killed.

First Spanish city in America

After the commotion that supposed to discover that circumstance, they decided to leave before the natives could attack. They headed east, looking for some area to establish a colony.

The chosen place was a bay, in which the first Spanish settlement in America was established: the Isabela.

Search for Asia and return to Spain

Diego de Colón, brother of the admiral, was in command of that first colony with part of the men, while the rest continued their journey. In those moments they still thought that they were in Asia and they left in search of the continent.

They were four months of navigation in which they passed through many other islands, but without finding anything more relevant. Finally, they returned to the Isabela. Upon arriving, they discovered that it was half empty. Apparently the area was almost uninhabitable and many had decided to return to Spain.

Among those who returned was Pedro Margarit, a captain who began to speak ill of Columbus in front of the court. Before the doubts created, the kings sent a representative to investigate what was true in what Margarit had.

After investigating, he returned to the peninsula to report. Columbus accompanied him along with more than 200 men who did not want to stay in the new continent.

Third travel

Although the atmosphere in the court was changing, the Catholic kings confirmed to Columbus all their privileges and positions. The main difference in organizing the third trip was that the Crown participated much more in the preparation. Also, forced the sailor to accept religious and other professionals among its components.

On January 23, 1498, the third of Columbus's voyages began. They left Sanlúcar de Barrameda and divided to reach several places.

Discovery of South America

It was on this expedition that Columbus reached the continent. Thus, he arrived in present-day Venezuela, where he found a large indigenous population and was impressed by its beauty.

But, apart from the findings, this trip marked the beginning of the end of the figure of Christopher Columbus. It all began when he arrived in Santo Domingo, which had just been founded.

He found the natives raised in arms, but also the Spaniards very irritated. They reproached the admiral who had lied to them about the gold wealth of these lands and how easy it was to get it.

This supposed that there were several rebellions and Columbus began to negotiate with the displeasures. Meanwhile, this news had reached the Spanish court and the monarchs sent a judge to investigate.

It was in the year 1500 when that official reached Santo Domingo. Immediately he occupied the government, he ordered the Columbus brothers captured and sent them to Spain.

Fourth trip

The result of all these events was very negative for Columbus. He lost all previously granted privileges and was expressly prohibited from ruling any colony. In addition, the kings allowed other expeditions.

Without surrendering, Columbus again organized a new expedition; again, his goal was to reach Asia.

Development

On May 9, 1502 Columbus set course for the fourth time to America. He left Cádiz on May 9 and arrived in a month to Santo Domingo. The new governor prevented him from disembarking, so he had to continue his journey. Thus, he arrived in Honduras, finding the Mayans for the first time.

Exploration of Central America

Despite the inconveniences, this fourth trip saw how the first Spanish city on continental lands was created. It was Santa María de Belén, in Panama. However, that settlement lasted very little due to the climate and the belligerence of the Indians.

The rest of the trip was very eventful, as they lost many caravels and men for various reasons. In the end, they settled for a year in Jamaica.

The disagreements of Columbus with his men caused that these rebelled several times. The situation deteriorated so much that they ended up asking Santo Domingo for help. That was the end of the fourth trip.

I return to spain

Sick and without support, Christopher Columbus returned to Spain on September 7, 1504. After a time of convalescence, he met with King Ferdinand and then settled in Valladolid.

On May 20, 1506, he died in that city without Spanish society giving him any importance.

References

1. Córdoba Toro, Julián. The trips of Christopher Columbus to America. Retrieved from iberoamericasocial.com
2. Ministry of Education and Science. The Trips of Columbus. Retrieved from olmo.pntic.mec.es
3. Cervantes Virtual. Christopher Columbus. Retrieved from cervantesvirtual.com
4. Minster, Christopher. The First New World Voyage of Christopher Columbus (1492). Retrieved from thoughtco.com
5. History.com Staff. Christopher Columbus. Retrieved from history.com
6. Flint, Valerie I.J. Christopher Columbus. Retrieved from britannica.com
7. Minster, Christopher. The Third Voyage of Christopher Columbus. Retrieved from thoughtco.com
8. Ruiz, Bruce. Fourth Voyage 1502 - 1504. Retrieved from bruceruiz.net