Christopher Columbus
While the Portuguese were attempting to reach the East by sailing around the tip of Africa, the Spanish turned to another route suggested by Christopher Columbus. Columbus was an Italian from Genoa who had studied the ancient maps of Ptolemy, a second-century geographer whose works were still highly regarded. Ptolemy's map of the ancient Mediterranean area were very accurate, and scholars had always assumed, without proof that his other geographical works were equally accurate. Ptolemy, however, had overestimated the landmass from Europe to Asia and extended Asia much farther to the east that it actually was; he also underestimated the amount of water on the Earth. All of these factors led Columbus to conclude that he could easily reach the East by sailing west across the seemingly limited expanse of ocean that separated Asia from the western coast of Europe than the Portuguese could reach it by sailing around the enormous continent of Africa. Of course, Columbus had no idea that the Americas separated Europe from Asia
In 1485, Christopher Columbus approached King Ferdinand and Queen Isabella of Spain with his plan of sailing west to reach the East. Although the Spanish were at first disinterested in Columbus's ideas, Spain was newly unified and eager to counter the rising power of the Portuguese that resulted from their voyages around Africa. It was Queen Isabella who was converted first to Columbus's plan; in 1492, she promised Columbus everything head asked for and he set off on his for his first voyage. In October of that year he reached the Caribbean, believing that he had attained his goal of sailing west to reach the East. In all, Columbus made four journeys to the islands of the Caribbean. Although he was convinced he had reached the East Indies and and called the natives he encountered Indians, he failed as governor of Hispaniola, which was the Spanish name given to the Caribbean Island.
In 1485, Christopher Columbus approached King Ferdinand and Queen Isabella of Spain with his plan of sailing west to reach the East. Although the Spanish were at first disinterested in Columbus's ideas, Spain was newly unified and eager to counter the rising power of the Portuguese that resulted from their voyages around Africa. It was Queen Isabella who was converted first to Columbus's plan; in 1492, she promised Columbus everything head asked for and he set off on his for his first voyage. In October of that year he reached the Caribbean, believing that he had attained his goal of sailing west to reach the East. In all, Columbus made four journeys to the islands of the Caribbean. Although he was convinced he had reached the East Indies and and called the natives he encountered Indians, he failed as governor of Hispaniola, which was the Spanish name given to the Caribbean Island.
Hernando Cortes
The Aztecs of Central America and the Incas of Peru had well-established empires by the end of the 15th century. Nevertheless, in less than two years, Hernando Cortes destroyed the monarchy, took possession of Tenochtitlan, and defeated most of the Aztecs.
In 1518, Cortes was put in charge of an expedition to establish a colony on the mainland of central America. He sailed for the Yucatan Coast in present-day Mexico with 11 ships, 508 soldiers, and 16 horses. Cortes captured a native slave, Malinche, who spoke both Mayan and the Aztec languages. She was known as the "tongue" of Cortes and was eventually baptized Dona Marina. Dona Marina was likely one of the reasons Cortes was initially able to charm the Aztec Emperor Montezuma. Through his interpreter Dona Marina, Cortes learned of unrest among subjects of the Aztecs. He swayed more than 20,000 of the Aztec subjects to his side and marched Tenochtitlan. At first, Montezuma welcomed Cortes, as he identified him with Quetzalcoatl, the legendary god of the Aztecs who had, by coincidence, promised to return that very year. Cortes laid siege to the city, which finally surrendered.
In 1518, Cortes was put in charge of an expedition to establish a colony on the mainland of central America. He sailed for the Yucatan Coast in present-day Mexico with 11 ships, 508 soldiers, and 16 horses. Cortes captured a native slave, Malinche, who spoke both Mayan and the Aztec languages. She was known as the "tongue" of Cortes and was eventually baptized Dona Marina. Dona Marina was likely one of the reasons Cortes was initially able to charm the Aztec Emperor Montezuma. Through his interpreter Dona Marina, Cortes learned of unrest among subjects of the Aztecs. He swayed more than 20,000 of the Aztec subjects to his side and marched Tenochtitlan. At first, Montezuma welcomed Cortes, as he identified him with Quetzalcoatl, the legendary god of the Aztecs who had, by coincidence, promised to return that very year. Cortes laid siege to the city, which finally surrendered.
Francisco Pizarro
The Incas met a similar fate in 1532 at the hands of 175 Spanish troops led by Francisco Pizarro. He first traveled to the New World in 1510 on an expedition to what is modern-day Columbia. In 1523, Pizarro left on the expedition that would discover the empire of the Incas.
In 1530 he and his crew of about 180 men set sail for Peru, where they made their first contact with the Inca Emperor Atahualpa. Pizarro attempted to covert the Inca king to Christianity, but Atahualpa refused. Pizarro attacked and quickly defeated the Incas. Pizarro ordered Atahualpa to be put to death and then took Cuzco, the Inca capital., without a struggle. Pizarro founded Lima, Peru, in 1935.
In 1530 he and his crew of about 180 men set sail for Peru, where they made their first contact with the Inca Emperor Atahualpa. Pizarro attempted to covert the Inca king to Christianity, but Atahualpa refused. Pizarro attacked and quickly defeated the Incas. Pizarro ordered Atahualpa to be put to death and then took Cuzco, the Inca capital., without a struggle. Pizarro founded Lima, Peru, in 1935.
Ferdinand Magellan
Ferdinand Magellan believed that a shorter route to India was possible; if, instead of sailing around the tip of Africa, ships sailed west and rounded the tip of South America. The Portuguese king would not support his requests for ships, men, and money, so Magellan turned to Spanish King, Charles I. Magellan's route took him from Europe, around the tip of South America, through the Pacific Ocean, the Philippines, the Indian Ocean, and around the Cape of Good Hope (which Bartholomew Diaz had first sighted in 1488) of southeastern Africa, and back to Spain. He set out with a fleet of five ships and returned home three years later with one ship and only seventeen of the original crew.