Christopher Columbus - Biography.

Christopher Columbus - Biography. Italian-born Spanish navigator and explorer Birth 1451 Death May 20, 1506 Place of Genoa, Italy Birth Known as The first European to enter and explore the Caribbean Sea Milestones August 3, 1492 Embarked with three ships from Spain in search of a westward route to Asia October 12, 1492 Landed at Guanahaní, an island in the Bahamas, and renamed it San Salvador March 1493 Returned to Spain September 1493 Embarked with 17 vessels on a second expedition to the New World, during which he traveled to Dominica, Guadeloupe, Antigua, Puerto Rico, and Jamaica 1493 Founded the town of Isabela near what is now Cabo Isabela, Dominican Republic 1496 Returned to Spain after a royal commission was sent to Isabela to investigate his governing policies 1498 Embarked on a third voyage to the New World, during which he traveled to Trinidad, the mouth of the Orinoco River, and Venezuela 1500 Was arrested and sent back to Spain following criticism of his policies in the Spanish territories 1502 Embarked with four ships on a fourth voyage to the New World, during which he traveled to Honduras and Panama 1504 Returned to Spain, where he died two years later Did You Spanish patrons King Ferdinand V and Queen Isabella funded Columbus's voyages, and allowed him to govern all territories he Know established. Columbus called the inhabitants of the Caribbean Islands Indians because he thought he had reached the East Indies. Columbus brought back several previously unknown crops to Europe, including tobacco. Microsoft ® Encarta ® 2009. © 1993-2008 Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved.