Christopher Columbus Educational Posters, Art Prints, Books, Video, Links for Learning
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social studies > CHRISTOPHER COLUMBUS < famous men

Christopher Columbus
b. between 8-26 & 10-31-1451; Genoa, Italy
d. 5-20-1506; Valladolid, Spain

Christopher Columbus, an Italian trader and explorer, was the first European to make the “New World” widely known to Europeans.

In seeking to establish a shorter, safer, and more economical, trade route with India by “circumnavigation” of what he believed was a small sphere, Columbus has been both honored and vilified as the “Discoverer of America”, though the continents are named for Amerigo Vespucci.

Since the land was occupied by peoples that archaeological, linguistic, and DNA evidence show have Siberian influence, possibly by Ice Age migrations 9,000 to 12,000 years ago in the Bering Straits area, one could argue that “America” was already discovered.

Additional theories and evidence suggest the possibility of ‘discovery’ and settlement by Chinese, Japanese, Romans, and Polynesians, with the L'Anse aux Meadows archealogical site from around the year 1000 showing that Viking Leif Ericson visited, and settled briefly, in what is today called Newfoundland.

Seafarers and other educated people of the 15th Century thought the world to be round; with this knowledge Columbus sought patronage from Portugal, and then from Isabella and Ferdinand of Spain, to finance the exploration.

Columbus made four voyages in search of Asia - the first in 1492, consisted of three ships- the Nina, the Pinta and the Santa Maria, and the land sighting date of October 12, is celebrated as a holiday in the United States. Columbus' last voyage occured between 1502 and 1504, when he landed on the coast of what he called “Honduras” in reference to the deep water.

Since no authentic portraits of Christopher Columbus exist all images of Columbus are based on later artist's imaginations.

Selection of Christopher Columbus educational posters and prints, books, video, biography.

• CHRISTOPHER COLUMBUS BOOKS, VIDEO

The Four Voyages of Christopher Columbus: Being His Own Log-Book, Letters and Dispatches With Connecting Narrative Drawn from the Life of the Admiral, trans. by J. M. Cohen
- Columbus's discovery of America counts as perhaps the greatest gamble of all time. His own account, however self-serving, brings us as close as we will ever get to the sheer excitement of unfolding events. The fundamental primary source for anyone interested in Columbus and his mission.

The Conquest of Paradise: Christopher Columbus and the Columbian Legacy by Kirkpatrick Sale - demythologizing biographical adventure credits Columbus with the birth of American slavery and Euro-colonialism, and examines how peaceful Native Americans saw their societies and environments plundered by the whites' encroachments.

Admiral of the Ocean Sea : A Life of Christopher Columbus by Samuel Eliot Morison - a vivid and definitive biography of Columbus that details all of his voyages that, for better or worse, changed the world. 50 drawings, maps & charts; 4 fold-outs.

The Nina, the Pinta and the Santa Maria -
A biography of Christopher Columbus, focusing on his voyage to America aboard the three famous ships. Ages 9-12

Biography - Christopher Columbus (VHS, 2000) -
He was determined to find a western route to Asia, but wound up discovering the New World. But despite his accomplishments, he died a broken, largely forgotten man. Christopher Columbus wanted to find a new route to Asia, but became the first European to set foot on the New World. Evidence now proves that the Vikings were there long before him, but even in his own time later explorers usurped his glory! BIOGRAPHY uses period accounts, rare art and artifacts and interviews with world- renowned historians to tell Columbus's often-reinterpreted story. See how he convinced Ferdinand and Isabella to fund his journey and how he never gave up believing that he had reached Asia. Discover how his fortunes and reputation sank so quickly that by the time of his fourth voyage Spanish officials would not let him anchor in their waters. From the dream that led him across the horizon to the fortunes that deserted him and the ongoing controversy over his true place in history, this is the dramatic story of Christopher Columbus.

LINKS FOR LEARNING : CHRISTOPHER COLUMBUS

• Christopher Columbus Resource File
• 1492: An Ongoing Voyage- Library of Congress
• America's Story- Christopher Columbus

Joaquin Miller's poem Columbus was once one of the most memorized and recited poems by school children.

Behind him lay the gray Azores,
Behind the Gates of Hercules;
Before him not the ghost of shores,
Before him only shoreless seas.
The good mate said: “Now we must pray,
For lo! the very stars are gone.
Brave Admiral, speak, what shall I say?”
“Why, say, ‘Sail on! sail on! and on!’”