Columbus Day： Christopher Columbus Sets Sail ｜ History

August 1492. Italian mariner Christopher Columbus prepares to sail west from southern Spain. He's convinced he'll discover a new and lucrative sea route to the Orient, home to abundant silk, tea, and spices. Born in 1451 in Italy, Columbus first learned to sail when he was 14. At that time, Europeans traditionally traded with the Orient by going over land. Columbus wanted to try something different. Sailing west to reach the Orient was a dream of 15th century navigators, a dream that could bring fame and fortune. To take on this new adventure, Columbus knew he needed funding. It took him six long years to convince Spanish King Ferdinand and Queen Isabella to bankroll his venture. On August 3rd, 1492, Columbus left Spain with 87 men aboard three vessels, the Nina, Pinta, and Santa Maria. 29 days later, on October 12th, Columbus made landfall in the Caribbean on an island that is part of the Bahamas today. He called the island San Salvador. He began exploring the surrounding islands, including Cuba and Hispaniola. Columbus returned to Spain in March 1493 with a ship filled with kidnapped natives, exotic plants, and a small amount of gold. He was hailed a hero, and a delighted Ferdinand and Isabella continued to bankroll Columbus's voyages. Between 1493 and 1504, he made three more transatlantic trips to the Caribbean, coming back each time with fewer treasures. Columbus took his last trip to the Caribbean in 1504. When he returned at age 53, he was in poor health and nearly blind. Columbus died in Spain on May 20th, 1506, at the age of 55. Though he never found a sea route to the Orient, his pioneering voyages opened a new world to European exploration and expansion.