The Exploration, Encounter, and Exchange:
Christopher Columbus
Christopher Columbus
Early Years
Domenico Colombo and Susanna Fontanaross gave birth to their first child in Genoa, Italy, in the year of 1451 and named him Cristoforo Colombo. In English, his name is referred to Christopher Columbus. Columbus's birthdate is unknown. Domenico and Susanna later had four other children. Columbus had three younger brothers named Bartholomew, Giovanni Pellegrino, and Giacomo; and a sister named Bianchinetta.
For a while growing up, Columbus would spend his early years working at his father's weaving trade. Columbus also didn't learn to read or write until he reached up to adulthood. Columbus didn't tend to the books but he had tended to the sea. Columbus then became a sailor of the Mediterranean. Columbus became a chart maker for a brief time along with his younger brother, Bartholomew.
Speaking of which, Columbus swam ashore when his ship was sunk in a battle off; the Portuguese coast. Columbus made his way to Lisbon where Bartholomew lived.
In 1484, Columbus was determined to exchange his plans/ideas with others to be an insight into his idea of going west from Europe to find out if there would be a quicker route to Asia instead of going east as Europeans normally did to travel there. Columbus called this idea, "Enterprise of the Indies."
Of course like anyone who has an idea or empowering plan, Columbus needed someone to help invest some time in and to get the word out so others would be able to know about the plan so they could help and contribute their efforts in the plan too. Unfortunately, Columbus failed to convince King John II of Portugal and Ferdinand and Isabella of Spain to support this plan. After eight years, of supplication by Columbus, the Spanish monarchs, decided to take the enterprise.
Finally, a new chapter in Columbus's life is revealed. And his journey begins...
Family
After Columbus had returned from his early voyages to Genoa, Italy, he went to Portugal and married. The beautiful woman that Columbus had married was named, Filipa Moniz Perestrelo. She was a Portugal noblewoman. She had belonged to a noble class in European standards. They married in 1479.
After some time, Filipa became pregnant. Unfortunately, she died giving birth to their child the following year. The child's name was Diego. Diego grew and became a Portuguese navigator and explorer under the Kings of Castile and Aragón.
Columbus and Beatriz never married, they had a strong companionship with each other.
Beatriz gave birth to Ferdinand Columbus on August 15, 1488. Ferdinand became a Spanish bibliographer and cosmographer once her grew up.
Last Years
So when Columbus finished his fourth expedition, he decided to give up his hopes and dreams and move back to Spain.In Columbus's few last years of life, Columbus tended to struggle to recover his lost titles but by the year 1505, he did regain some of his riches. Unfortunately, his titles never were regained/recovered.Of course, Columbus was an extraordinary man and started an inspirational era in exploration. But people don't look at him that way.Columbus died May 20th, 1506 in Valladolid, Spain. Columbus died from congestive heart failure. Congestive heart failure is a weakness of the heart that leads to a buildup of fluid in the lungs and surrounding body tissues. In the picture above, Columbus is lying in bed with people surrounding him and trying to take care of him. Columbus wasn't able to perform proper functions without his insides being painful.Diego, his first son died on February 23, 1526 and Ferdinand, his second son, July 12, 1539. His companion, Beatriz EnrÃquez de Arana, died on May 20, 1521.
