por A little over five hundred years ago, there was a passionate navigator in Italy who had a huge dream: to discover new lands. This man was called Christopher Columbus and he came from the city of Genoa. Only a small problem prevented her from fulfilling his wish: he did not have enough money to carry out his plans.
Despite this setback, Columbus was not discouraged. No, he did not let himself be overcome by the obstacles that appeared on the road. He knew that if he thought well for a long time, he would find a solution. So he went to the seashore to reflect until nightfall.
The next morning the news reached his ears that King John II of Portugal was supporting the voyages of exploration.
«I have it! I will go to the king to ask him the favor of being the one who puts up the money for my voyage!” Columbus said to himself.
So it was. Christopher Columbus went to where the king was to ask for his help. However, the ruler Juan II, despite the fact that he had the money that Columbus needed, refused to help him, considering that his idea of going beyond the known seas was too risky. The sailor was saddened by that decision of the monarch. It was 1480.
Time passed and the dreaming navigator continued with that burning desire in his chest to discover new lands. Twelve years later, there were differences between the kingdom of Castile and the Arab Caliphate to the south.
As a result, the Muslims left the Iberian Peninsula, yes, but not before telling the Catholic Monarchs of Spain that their ships would not be able to cross the Mediterranean Sea and go to India in search of spices.
Nor could they go by sea to other nations, such as Italy or Greece. That made King Fernando and Queen Isabel interested in finding new routes to go to the Indies.
In those days, the tireless Columbus continued offering his idea to the rulers, until he reached the kingdom of Castile. Upon being received by Queen Elizabeth, she told him:
—So you are Columbus, the dreaming navigator who offers to discover new lands in exchange for being helped on his voyages. Well, Mr. Marine, I need a big favor, and if you are willing to help me, I will help you.
“Your Majesty, yes, I am that dreamy sailor. I am the navigator Christopher Columbus. Let’s see, tell me, what favor will that be? If he is in my hands, I will help him, and in return I will only ask him to help me with my trip.
«Well, dear navigator, it’s about this: the Mediterranean Sea has been blockaded by the Moors, and for that reason we can’t go to India in search of spices, cloth and other delicacies. Do you think you can find another way to get to that place and bring us their delicacies?
—Your Majesty, what you ask of me is entirely possible. In fact, just so you know, I defend the roundness of the earth, and I know, my queen, that if I continue long in the Atlantic Ocean, at some point I will find the other side of India and I will be able to bring whatever you ask for. It’ll take a little longer than usual, but I’ll get it done.
—Well, Christopher Columbus, you have my monetary support. May your trip come true.
And that is how Columbus received the support of the Catholic Monarchs of Spain to carry out his trip. Within days, the Genoese sailor received three ships, also called caravels. The names of the ships were the following: the Pinta, the Niña and the Santa María. In addition to his means of transportation, much gold was given to him, and a large crew of men was given to assist him.
On August 3, 1492, the adventure of the dreaming navigator began. She left the Port of Palos and made a brief stop in the Canary Islands, where she made some repairs, and on September 6, 1492, she set out again for the Atlantic. His goal was to reach the Indies and fulfill the deal with her majesties.
The journey was not easy, the sailors starved and weeks passed without knowing if they would get anywhere. Two months after sailing and sailing and only seeing the sea, the first piece of land finally appeared. It was October 12, 1492. The voice of Rodrigo de Triana, one of the sailors, made everyone on the ship tremble when he said “Land in sight!”.
It was the island of Guanahani, a place totally unknown to Europeans at that time. However, in the mind of Columbus, who was hell-bent on his goal, it was not a new place. No, but they had reached India.
Such was the confusion of the Italian navigator, who called the inhabitants of that beautiful place «Indians». The good thing was that that voyage turned out to be very profitable for Columbus and his crew. Not only did they get to know that island, but they discovered an entire continent that they would later call America.
With the inhabitants they traded gold, pearls, precious stones, spices and many other riches never before seen in Spain.
Christopher Columbus’s expedition later arrived on the Island of Cuba, which they named Hispaniola. Finally, on January 15, 1493, Columbus decided to return to Spain to report his discoveries to the Catholic Monarchs.
The kings, after the return of Columbus, were very pleased with everything and continued to support him. Within a few years, Spanish settlements took place throughout the new lands. There was a never-before-seen cultural exchange and the Catholic monarchy expanded its domains.
This is how the so-called new world became known, thanks to the dreams of a man who did not give up in the face of problems and waited twelve years for someone to support him to carry out his wishes.
The only strange thing about all this is that, even after he was old, Columbus still believed that he had reached India and had not discovered a new continent.