Christopher Columbus lands in the Bahamas on October 12, 1492: The First Voyage

Per Scriptum E. Wesley - Mackinac Center Intern

Recently, Christopher Columbus's reputation as discoverer of America has been undermined by the fact that Europeans such as the Vikings had discovered America centuries before Columbus was even born. However, most sociologically significant discoveries are not solitary ventures, and they usually spark a mass movement for settlement. Such a mass movement of settlement only began once Columbus had landed in the Bahamas on his first voyage to America. Instead of lauding the accomplishments of indigenous raiders such as the Vikings that only held significance for themselves and those they came in contact with, modern historians ought to see Columbus as the significant discoverer of America, whose discovery inspired the hearts of millions.

Background: Christopher Columbus's Life and Quest for Patronage
Christopher Columbus was born in 1451, the son of a wool weaver named Domenico Colombo. Bartolomeo was Columbus's closest brother, and even later accompanied Columbus on his last voyage to America. Enthralled by the sea at an early age, Columbus started his seafaring career in his early teens, serving as a ship's boy, messenger, and common sailor. He survived all the adventures that sailors experienced during the time; being attacked by privateers, having his ship burned, and swimming to shore (six miles no less)! By 1477, Columbus's life had slowed down a little, as he and his brother Bartolomeo settled in Lisbon, drafting maps and collecting books. However, the vibrant port city of Lisbon soon became an opportunity for greater adventure, and here Columbus received his first commission. He sailed to Northern Atlantic ports (such as ports in Iceland) that same year working for Italian merchants, and met and married Felipa Perestrello e Moniz by 1479. They had a son named Diego in 1480 or 81, but soon after it is believed that Felipa died. Columbus's voyage to El Mina (a Portuguese fortress) on the Guinea coast in late 1481 or early 82 may have inspired him to use the Canary Current to America in his later voyage. Whatever the exact inspirations, Columbus began developing what he called an “Enterprise of the Indies," where he would find a western route to the East. Columbus's ideas weren't original, as he borrowed from works like Ptolemy's Geography, Pope Pius II's Historia Rerum ubique Gestarum, Pierre d'Ailly’s Imago Mundi, Pliny’s Natural History, Plutarch’s Lives, The Travels of Marco Polo, and the Bible. In 1484, Columbus presented his ideas to the Portuguese king John II.

Columbus's search for royal patronage was long, disappointing, and eventually rewarding. After king John submitted Columbus's request to the king's Council of Geographical Affairs, the Council rejected the petition because of the venture's supposed heavy expense, the lack of valuable lands in the West, and that Columbus's calculations of distance were wrong. Columbus then moved to Spain in 1485, but was forced to wait until 1487 in order to submit his plan to a committee. He was promptly rejected once again. In the following years, Columbus kept up his petitions. In 1491 Columbus made one more presentation to the Spanish monarchs only to be rejected for the last time. As he left the court, Ferdinand’s treasurer, Luis de Santángel began arguing that the initial cost to fund the expedition was insignificant when compared with the prospect of return. The King and Queen were persuaded, and Columbus was finally commissioned for the job.

Columbus's First Voyage
The Pinta, Niña, and Santa María were outfitted with all sorts of provisions for the journey; including "tools, ropes, planks, nails, whale oil, sulfur, tar, leather, yarn, wax, tackle, anchors, buoys, flags, muskets, powder, crossbows, arrows, helmets, shields, swords, biscuits, beans, peas, wine, olive oil, syrup, water, dried fish, salt meat, pigs and hens (to be killed on ship), salt, flour, rice, cheese, figs, almonds, medicines, cooking pots, knives, ladles, bowls, candles, lamps, steel, lanterns, firewood, sweeps, buckets, baskets, fishhooks, lines, sinkers, nets, harpoons, notebooks, journals, nautical almanacs, quills, ink, sealing wax, charts, paper, compasses, compass needles, magnets, half-hour glasses, dividers, rulers, drums, tambourines, glass beads, brass rings, knitted caps, gold, silver, pearls, and spices" (ibid). All three ships left the Spanish port city of Palos on August 3, 1492. Now, Columbus at 41 years old was "king of his castle," living the dreams of the past 10 anguishing years. The Niña's sails were replaced and the Pinta's rudder was fixed at the Canary Islands, where on September 6, 1492, our heroic explorers left the known world. Columbus relied on nature more than instruments for his direction, including the stars, sun, and moon. His unbelievable ability with nature must have impressed his men, as he even correctly predicted hurricanes. In the moonlight of October 11th, Columbus thought he observed lights on the night horizon, but nothing was sure. However at about 2:00 am on the 12th, the lookout aboard the Pinta spotted land. Columbus rather rudely claimed credit for the sighting as he had spotted "lights" the night before (and pocketed the reward pension of ten thousand maravedis a year, I must add).

On the 12th, the first known Europeans stepped foot on one of the islands of the Bahamas (the island was named by Columbus San Salvador). Both the Europeans and natives were kind to each other, and trade opened freely between them. In fact, the Europeans even allowed the natives to inspect their swords, and the natives actually cut themselves before discovering the value of such weapons. On the third day, Columbus took with him a few volunteer natives to guide him around some of the islands. Upon spotting Cuba, Columbus became convinced that Cuba was Cipango (Japan). Columbus also sailed around Hispaniola, where the Santa María ran aground. Using the shards of the ship, Columbus built a fort there, and left some of his men. This was the first Spanish colony in the New World. In early January, the Pinta and Niña being laden with gold, natives, parrots, spears, and spun cotton, the expedition finally began its trek home. During the return journey, the Pinta and Niña were separated in what is now considered one of the biggest recorded storms in Europe. The Pinta arrived in northwest Spain (at the port of Bayona), but Columbus aboard the Niña was detained at Lisbon in Portugal. Finally, the Niña returned to the Palos port on March 15, 1493 after its 32 week voyage.

Columbus was now famous, and every feeling of anxiety on the journey would be repaid in gold. He writes on March 15th:

We sailed back across the Ocean Sea. Despite terrible storms, my navigation skills have brought us back to Spain. I have received a letter from the king and queen. They have named me Admiral of the Ocean Sea and the governor of all of the islands that I discovered. News of my discoveries has traveled across Europe. My voyage is known by all, and I am a hero! I would like to see the look on King John of Portugal’s face! I bet he regrets not paying for my voyage now.

The moment of greatest exaltation for Columbus was his presentation for Ferdinand and Isabella at the palace of Barcelona. The scene was almost an exotic parade; including natives, parrots, and gold. Columbus was even invited to dine at the same table as the King and Queen. He chronicled his journey from beginning to end, telling of gold, spices, cannibals, and what he considered to be mermaids. Columbus exhibited gold crowns and masks, gold nuggets, and gold dust. This was a fairy tale come true, not only for Columbus at the King and Queen's table, but also for the King and Queen themselves who were flabbergasted at such findings.

Columbus's Significance to the Western World.
The West had been set on fire. Man's innate desire for dominion and exploration found a resting place in Columbus's discovery. Columbus's first voyage marks a beginning: beginning in 1492, Europe was destined to fling itself across the globe. Not all of this was necessarily a good thing, as exploitation of the natives became a common atrocity, but it was a global phenomenon all the same. As Dr. Tirado, Professor of History at Millersville University, exclaims:

The ultimate expression of the Columbian Legacy has been nothing less than global in its impact... During the Age of Discovery (15th and 16th centuries), Western Europeans acquired the ability to exchange information with nearly all parts of the world. As one of the great thinkers of the age and one who led the way, Columbus deserves recognition for the intellectual transformation that took place. As a result, a new age was ushered in, the Modern Age, and after 1500 the world would never be the same, nor would the human race.

Its pretty clear who should be given the sociological credit for discovering America. Christopher Columbus was the discoverer of a new, modern world.


Sources:
http://www.millersville.edu/~columbus/columbus.html
http://library.thinkquest.org/J002678F/columbus.htm
Image of Emanuel Gottlieb Leutze - Columbus Before the Queen.JPG from Wikipedia