Engineer gizachew shiferaw biography of christopher columbus

His landfall in the Bahamas not only opened the door to further exploration but also signaled the start of European colonization in the New World. Columbus' voyages prompted significant exchanges of culture and goods, now referred to as the Columbian Exchange, fundamentally altering global trade and interaction. However, Columbus faced numerous challenges during and after his expeditions.

Despite his initial acclaim, his governance of the settlements he established was marred by poor leadership and harsh treatment of Indigenous peoples, resulting in conflict and resistance. Subsequent voyages revealed the stark realities of colonial exploitation and the devastating impact of introduced diseases on native populations. Compounded by mismanagement, complaints from settlers led to his arrest and loss of authority, showcasing the difficulties of sustaining exploration efforts in the face of political and social obstacles.

Ultimately, Columbus' legacy is a complex tapestry—a journey of exploration intertwined with the consequences of colonization and the suffering of Indigenous cultures. Legacy of Columbus and the Columbian Exchange Christopher Columbus's voyages in the late 15th century opened the Americas to European exploration and colonization, fundamentally altering the course of both European and Indigenous civilizations.

His expeditions marked the beginning of extensive transatlantic exchange, known as the Columbian Exchange. This exchange involved not only the transfer of goods but also the sharing of cultures, ideas, and, unfortunately, diseases. The arrival of Europeans led to the introduction of horses, wheat, and coffee to the Americas while crops like potatoes and corn became integral to European diets, significantly impacting agricultural practices on both sides of the Atlantic.

However, the legacy of Columbus is complex and controversial. While his discoveries contributed to the rapid expansion of European power, they also resulted in significant suffering and destruction for Indigenous populations. The introduction of Old World diseases like smallpox devastated native communities, effectively decimating their populations.

As a result, the once vibrant cultures of Indigenous peoples were irrevocably altered, leading to loss of identity and heritage. Such natives were often forced into slavery; their valuables and food were taken away and rampant incidents of rape and killings were the order by his people. This was unfortunately the usual practice amongst explorers and their teams during that period.

To gain physical and political control and to establish supremacy over such lands on behalf of another country at a distance of thousands of miles away, it was a normal practice during those days to enslave the local inhabitants as also to convert them. This practice was prevalent during the time of Columbus and continued for quite some time after him.

But it is well known that the discovery by Columbus of the Caribbean islands was more like an unintentional discovery and by accident than by design since he was seeking to find the Indies with East Asia mainland in his mind in pursuance of his prime objective of finding avenues for lucrative trading in spices and other items from there, for the benefit of the Spanish rulers.

He had equally mistaken the Caribbean islands for the East Indies and started to call the inhabitants Indians. In that context, this was the start of a phase that signaled the Spanish colonization in the region since these small settlements would later form the basis in marking the initial phase of the Spanish Empire. Because of such achievements, Columbus can claim credit for making important landmarks for the Spanish Empire.

Having sailed past Cuba during his trip, Columbus had a very difficult time in the open seas till the time he reached the Central Americas. Extreme adversities in the form of violent storms alongside the coasts took their toll on his men and him. He was extremely sick and down with rheumatism fever, had reduced eyesight, and was forced to be in bed for most of the time.

Having failed to find a route to mainland Asia, Columbus was in the thought process of taking his next steps. While in Panama, Columbus called off the trip and started to sail back for Spain in December For example, he established La Navidad on the island of Hispaniola present-day Haiti and the Dominican Republic during his first voyage.

Although La Navidad did not survive, it marked the beginning of European presence in the Americas. Prior to his explorations, there was a prevailing belief that the Earth was flat, and many feared that sailing too far west would result in falling off the edge of the world. His voyages contributed to the production of new maps and charts, improved navigational techniques, and a greater understanding of global geography.

This expansion of geographical knowledge had far-reaching effects, paving the way for future explorers and navigators. His successful return to Europe and the reports of his discoveries captured the imagination of many individuals, including other explorers and monarchs seeking to expand their empires. His expeditions opened up direct trade routes between Europe and the Americas, bypassing the previously dominant overland routes through the Middle East.

The discovery of new lands and resources in the Americas sparked a surge in trade between the two continents. European merchants eagerly sought valuable commodities from the New World, such as gold, silver, tobacco, sugar, and exotic goods. A council led by Isabella's confessor, Hernando de Talavera , found Columbus's proposal to reach the Indies implausible.

Columbus had left for France when Ferdinand intervened, [e] first sending Talavera and Bishop Diego Deza to appeal to the queen. He would be entitled to one-tenth diezmo of all the revenues from the new lands in perpetuity. He also would have the option of buying one-eighth interest in any commercial venture in the new lands, and receive one-eighth ochavo of the profits.

Engineer gizachew shiferaw biography of christopher columbus

He and his sons, Diego and Fernando, then conducted a lengthy series of court cases against the Castilian crown, known as the pleitos colombinos , alleging that the Crown had illegally reneged on its contractual obligations to Columbus and his heirs. Diego resumed litigation in , which lasted until , and further disputes initiated by heirs continued until On his first voyage he reached the Americas, initiating the European exploration and colonization of the continent , as well as the Columbian exchange.

His role in history is thus important to the Age of Discovery , Western history , and human history writ large. Over his subsequent voyages, Columbus refused to acknowledge that the lands he visited and claimed for Spain were not part of Asia, in the face of mounting evidence to the contrary. On 7 October, the crew spotted "[i]mmense flocks of birds".

At around the following morning, a lookout on the Pinta, Rodrigo de Triana , spotted land. They should be good and intelligent servants, for I see that they say very quickly everything that is said to them; and I believe they would become Christians very easily, for it seemed to me that they had no religion. Our Lord pleasing, at the time of my departure I will take six of them from here to Your Highnesses in order that they may learn to speak.

I could conquer the whole of them with fifty men, and govern them as I pleased. The wreck was used as a target for cannon fire to impress the native peoples. Columbus left 39 men, including the interpreter Luis de Torres , [] [i] and founded the settlement of La Navidad , in present-day Haiti.