1492 Christopher Columbus Sailed the Ocean Blue... Christopher Columbus was a man of his time; like all settlers, he was looking to make money, and slavery was one way... In 1485 the inquisition was at its pinnacle; Spain was ruled by the Catholic King Ferdinand and Queen Isabella. Columbus was already a middle age man when he approached Spain's queen and king. He dreamed of a fantastic voyage over the sea and bringing back gold, spices, and slaves like Marco Polo and others have done over land and, like them, received great wealth, honor, and titles in return. Quick Facts Christopher Columbus was a brilliant navigator. Christopher Columbus never set foot on mainland North America. The closest he got was one of the present-day Bahamas islands. Columbus did not have any women on his first two voyages. In 1498, Columbus recruited one woman for every ten men on his third voyage. Neither Columbus nor the Vikings discovered the "New World," as people settled it centurie...
"Nothing in the world is more dangerous than sincere ignorance and conscientious stupidity." Martin Luther King Jr.