Many people come to wonder: What motivated Columbus on his voyages to the New World?
Christopher Columbus was born in the shadows of medieval times as Europe was emerging from the Middle ages behind and had the open sea in front of him. This provided him with the perfect background to explore, as in this "Golden Age", countries sent ships around the world, for example, Africa.
Personally, Christopher Columbus was ashamed of his mundane background. His father was a weaver. Columbus was a curious boy and he loved the sea and thus he became a sailor at the age of 14 . After years of travel, he became a good sailor, and with maps to show the earth was round, he believed it possible to get to the east by travelling west. This journey was the perfect way to prove this.
Columbus was in search of a route to Asia and the Indies. This was called the Northwest Passage, which many people in the time thought would be a direct route to the Orient- the home of spices, silk, gold, treasure and wealth. This was not what you could find in Europe. Columbus believed that Japan was across the Atlantic Ocean, about 2,700 miles away. Of course, this was miscalculated, but this enhanced his desire to prove what he believed.
Christopher Columbus was not very wealthy, and thus he had to get support and aid from the royals. When he asked King Henry, he refused. King Ferdinand II and Queen Isabella of Spain accepted to fund his jounrney. Thus, he was sailing for the Spanish. Columbus promised to bring back luxuries ( searching for the City of Gold or other mineral wealth). He wanted to spread Christianity as the Spanish were devoted Christians in the time, with himself being a very religious person as well. They also wanted to find a route to India, in order to trade for spices which did not grow in Europe. Columbus also promised to explore China. Apart from this, like other countires, Columbus also wanted to claim new land and expand Spain
s empires. In addition, he would also want fame for himself by being the Admiral of the seas and governor of all the lands he found. Columbus also wanted money for himself.
These personal and social motivations allowed Christopher Columbus to reach high on his exploration and risk take to go to land which no European has ever seen. Ultimately, he actually tried to get to the east, a personal dream. However, by clinging onto the same valves that the earth was round, he discovered a new continent unknown to Europe.
Personally, Christopher Columbus was ashamed of his mundane background. His father was a weaver. Columbus was a curious boy and he loved the sea and thus he became a sailor at the age of 14 . After years of travel, he became a good sailor, and with maps to show the earth was round, he believed it possible to get to the east by travelling west. This journey was the perfect way to prove this.
Columbus was in search of a route to Asia and the Indies. This was called the Northwest Passage, which many people in the time thought would be a direct route to the Orient- the home of spices, silk, gold, treasure and wealth. This was not what you could find in Europe. Columbus believed that Japan was across the Atlantic Ocean, about 2,700 miles away. Of course, this was miscalculated, but this enhanced his desire to prove what he believed.
Christopher Columbus was not very wealthy, and thus he had to get support and aid from the royals. When he asked King Henry, he refused. King Ferdinand II and Queen Isabella of Spain accepted to fund his jounrney. Thus, he was sailing for the Spanish. Columbus promised to bring back luxuries ( searching for the City of Gold or other mineral wealth). He wanted to spread Christianity as the Spanish were devoted Christians in the time, with himself being a very religious person as well. They also wanted to find a route to India, in order to trade for spices which did not grow in Europe. Columbus also promised to explore China. Apart from this, like other countires, Columbus also wanted to claim new land and expand Spain
s empires. In addition, he would also want fame for himself by being the Admiral of the seas and governor of all the lands he found. Columbus also wanted money for himself.
These personal and social motivations allowed Christopher Columbus to reach high on his exploration and risk take to go to land which no European has ever seen. Ultimately, he actually tried to get to the east, a personal dream. However, by clinging onto the same valves that the earth was round, he discovered a new continent unknown to Europe.