Christopher Columbus, discoverer of America, once said: “By prevailing over all obstacles and distractions, once may unfailingly arrive at his chosen goal or destination.” This quote may seem ironic because Columbus never truly reached his intended destination, the Indies. Instead, what Columbus believed to be the Indies was actually America. On October 12, 1492, the day Columbus reached the New World, everything changed for Columbus, and he never even knew it. Columbus was born on October 31, 1451, in Genoa, Italy. He was the son of Domenico Colombo and Susanna Fontanarossa. Also, Columbus had a brother named Bartolomeo, a mapmaker. Columbus and his family were middle class people. Although little is known about Columbus’ …show more content…
“In August of 1492, Columbus left Spain in the Santa Maria, with the Pinta and the Niña along side”(First Voyage to the New World). After a long journey, in which many crew members died from hunger and diseases, Columbus and his crew reached land. Reaching the New World was probably the biggest turning point in Columbus’ life. This event changed the course of history, and without Columbus’ finding the New World, things might have been very different today. Although Columbus believed this land was the Indies, the land was actually the present-day Bahamas. Also, Columbus claimed the land for Spain and searched for gold, spices, and silk. Columbus and his crew went to many different islands searching for riches. Columbus once said: “Gold is a treasure, and he who possesses it does all he wishes to in this world, and succeeds in helping souls into paradise.” During their search for gold, Columbus and his crew realized there were people on the islands. According to Stephen Krensky, author of Christopher Columbus, “Columbus calls them Indians because he thinks he has reached the Indies.” After searching for gold and exploring the new land, Columbus and his crew left to sail back to Spain. According to Amanda Briney, “Because there was limited space on the lone Nina, Columbus had to leave about 40 men behind at a fort they named Navidad.” Also, Columbus and his crew brought back several Indians with them when they returned to