Columbus Day: 7 interesting facts about the famed explorer
5. He oversaw three other voyages
While most remember him for that famed journey across the ocean blue in 1492, Columbus oversaw three other voyages, each varying in their levels of success.
The second came in 1493 with the goal of colonizing the Caribbean islands. Columbus had 17 ships and over 1,000 men, as well as domesticated European animals like horses and pigs.
“Columbus’ second voyage marked the start of colonialism in the New World, the social importance of which cannot be overstated,” wrote Professor Christopher Minster of the Universidad San Francisco de Quito in Ecuador in May.
“By establishing a permanent foothold, Spain took the first steps toward its mighty empire of the centuries that followed, an empire that was built with New World gold and silver.”
Columbus’ third voyage involved further exploration of the islands in the Caribbean, according to The Mariners’ Museum and Park’s Ages of Exploration website, while his fourth and final voyage to try and find a better route to India was a disaster.
“But a hurricane, then being denied entrance to Hispaniola, and then another storm made this an unfortunate trip,” explained the Museum and Park.
“His ship was so badly damaged that he and his crew were stranded on Jamaica for two years until help from Hispaniola finally arrived. In 1504, Columbus and his men were taken back to Spain.”
