ABSTRACT
On or about September 10,1451, Cristoforo Colombo was born to a family of wool merchants near Genoa, Italy. Although probably skilled in piloting and navigation, Columbus might also have been a master chartmaker, an important skill at the time. In 1478 or 1479, Columbus married well, receiving as a dowry an impressive collection of charts from his seafaring in-laws. Queen Isabella ordered the coastal town of Palos to provide Columbus with ships and men for a voyage of exploration. Columbus departed Palos in early August 1492 and reached Wadings, or San Salvador Island, on either October 11 or 12, a voyage of at least 40 days. Columbus landed and took possession of the island and its people, the Guanahani. Christopher Columbus unleashed a period of conquest and colonialism by the European nations that lasted almost 500 years and produced some of the greatest triumphs and most terrible moments in human history.
