CHRISTOPHER COLUMBUS - (1451-1506) Sailed from Spain in 1492.

He was commissioned
by Spain to find a better trade route to India. He is now credited with discovering Los and San
Salvador, islands in the West Indies.

*3 November, 1493 – second voyage

Reference: https://www.ducksters.com/biography/explorers/christopher_columbus.php

Work Log

Date Work
07/05/2019 Basic timeline of his life:
- Years of important event occur in his life.
- Main idea in those years.
12/05/2019 Research more about his life and start to write the
diary since he planned to explore until he was
allowed to go explore.
- Write by using basic information
13/05/2019 Research in detail about his early life:
- Where he was born?
- When he was born?
- What is his family’s name?
- What did he do in he was a teenager?
- What did he study?
- What did he interesting in?
Research about his life before he found America:
- What start the idea of his exploration?
- Why he wanted to find the new route?
- What is the theory on his exploration?
14/05/2019 Research about his plan before going to explore:
- What is his plan to explore?
- What he will do to make his plan
successful?
- What did he do to prepare for his plan?
Research about asking for sponsored on their
journey:
- Who did they go to?
- Where did they went to?
- What did those people say about his idea?
15/05/2019 Research about his life when he found the first
island:
- What happen before he found that place?
- What is that place?
- What did he found on that place?
- What did he do on that place?
- What did he do next?

18/05/2019 Research about his crew and letter he sent to king

and queen:
- What are the name of his crew?
- Which ship are they in?
- What did he wrote on the letter?
- When did he wrote that letter?
- Where did he wrote that letter?
Write a diary of his life:
- Adding detail to August 3, 1942 (start
journey)
- September 9, 1942: found birds
- October 12, 1942: reach land
- November 11, 1942: found many other
islands
- December 6, 1942: found Hispaniola
- February 9, 1943: return to Spain
- February 11, 1943: distrustful by
Columbus
March 15, 1943: write letter to king and queen

21/05/2019 Research and write diary about Cuba island.

Writing description of islands:
- San Salvador
- Hispaniola
- Cuba
Edit the introduction of his early life before he
started the journey.

22/05/2019  Check grammar errors in the diary.

 Find pictures that need to draw in the
note.

23/05/2019 Research on Canary island or the first island he

visited in the first voyage
- When did he reach this island?
- What did he found?
- What did he do on that island?
- What does the island look like?
Timeline:

Date: May 20, 1481

 Columbus was born in Genoa, Italy in 1451. He later lived in Lisbon where he worked as a trader.
He learned how to make maps and navigate a ship.
 His parents’ names were Dominico Colombo and Susanna Fontanarossa. He had three brothers:
Bartholomew, Giovanni, and Giacomo; and a sister named Bianchinetta.
 Columbus' father was a weaver, and expected Columbus to become one too
 Born: 1451 in Genoa, Italy
 Occupation: Explorer
 Died: May 20, 1506
 Best known for: Discovering America
 More: https://exploration.marinersmuseum.org/subject/christopher-columbus/

Date: 30 July, 1482

 Columbus and his brother, Bartholomew, knew that there were great riches to be had in China
and East Asia. However, traveling overland by the Silk Road was dangerous and a sea route
around Africa seemed much too long. Columbus thought he could sail straight to China by
crossing the Atlantic Ocean. It would turn out that Columbus was wrong. The Earth was much
larger than he thought and there was another land, the Americas, between Europe and Asia.
 In the mid-15th century, Portugal was desperately trying to find a faster trade route to Asia.
Exotic goods such as spices, ivory, silk, and gems were popular items of trade. However,
Europeans often had to travel through the Middle East to reach Asia. At this time, Muslim
nations imposed high taxes on European travels crossing through. This made it both difficult and
expensive to reach Asia.
 Goal to sail west and reach the indies.

Date: 16 January, 1484

 Prepare to meet someone who can be sponsor.

Date: 17 January, 1484

 1484: Columbus spent years trying to convince someone to pay for his voyage. He first tried to
get King John II of Portugal to pay for his journey, but the King was not interested.
 He desired to ask King John II of Portugal for ships and money, but the king refused to help him
 Their geographers were better than Columbus and they had quickly calculated that Columbus
estimated the circumference of the Earth at 1/3rd of its real size and that he never would find
India and China where he thought it was.
 King John the II almost funded Columbus's voyage to the new world, his experts disagreed with
the distance Columbus would have to travel. The same thing happened in Spain, but Columbus
was still funded there, so it isn't to improbable that this could have happened in Portugal.

Date: 22 November 1491

  Columbus did approach – and was turned down by – the kings of Portugal, France, and England
for funding
 He went to Queen Isabella and king Ferdinand of Spain for help. At first, he was rejected, but at
the second time, Queen Isabella decided to help him and fund the expedition.
 1491: Finally, he was able to convince Queen Isabella and King Ferdinand of Spain to pay for the
trip.

WAIT

Date: August 3, 1492

 August 3, 1492: He set sail with three ships named the Nina, the Pinta, and the Santa Maria. The
voyage was long and difficult. At one point his men threatened to mutiny and wanted to turn
back. Columbus promised them he would turn back in two days if they didn't find land. In his
journal, however, he wrote that he had no intention of turning back.
 The ships for the first voyage—the Niña, Pinta, and Santa María—were fitted out at Palos, on
the Tinto River in Spain.
 Columbus commanded the Santa María, while the Niña was led by Vicente Yanez Pinzon and the
Pinta by Martin Pinzon. This was the first of his four trips. He headed west from Spain across the
Atlantic Ocean.
 They sailed southward to the Canary Islands
 but in the Canaries the three ships could pick up the northeast trade winds

Date: August 9, 1942

 They reached the island on August 9, and took the opportunity to finish preparing the ships and
to recruit some Canarian sailors, who were known for their skill and knowledge of the water.

Date: September 9, 1942

 Sailing in the middle of the Atlantic Ocean, more than 1,000 miles from the nearest land.
 On several occasions in September and early October, sailors spotted floating vegetation and
various types of birds—all taken as signs that land was nearby.
 Columbus observed “river weed” (sargassum seaweed), a live crab “not found more than 80
leagues (240 miles) from land,” a booby or gannet, birds that “do not depart more than 20
leagues from land,” and “a large cloud mass, which is a sign of being near land.”
 October 10 the crew had begun to lose patience, complaining that with their failure to make
landfall, contrary winds and a shortage of provisions would keep them from returning home.
 Along the Journey, the sailors began to get scared and told Columbus to get back, and Columbus
told them that within two days if they didn't sight land they would return.
 Two days later they saw birds and Columbus change his direction to follow the birds.

Date: October 12, 1942

 At 2:00 am, the morning of October 12,1492, a sailor named Rodrigo de Triana on the "Pinta"
sighted land.
  Columbus dressed in his finest clothes to go shore. He kissed the ground and claimed the land
for Spain.
 On October 12, 1492: land was spotted. It was a small island in the Bahamas that Columbus
would name San Salvador. He met natives there that he called Indians because he was
convinced that he had landed on islands off the coast of East Asia. He also visited other islands
in the Caribbean such as Cuba and Hispaniola.
 Friday October 12: arrived at a small island of the Lucayos, called, in the language of the Indians,
Guanahani and Columbus renamed San Salvador (“Holy Savior”). They saw naked people.
Having landed, they saw trees very green, and much water, and fruits of diverse kinds.
Columbus gave them gifts of red hats and beads. The natives reciprocated with gifts of
parrots, cotton and other goods. Columbus wrote: "They go as naked as when their mothers
bore them, and so do the women, although I did not see more than one girl. They are very
well made, with very handsome bodies, and very good countenances."

Date: November 11, 1942

 He continued sailing throughout the Caribbean and named many islands he encountered after
his ship, king, and queen: La Isla de Santa María de Concepción, Fernandina, and Isabella.
 I came into the Indian Sea, where I discovered many islands inhabited by numerous people. I
took possession of all of them for our most fortunate King by making public proclamation and
unfurling his standard, no one making any resistance.
 The island called Juana, as well as the others in its neighborhood, is exceedingly fertile. It has
numerous harbors on all sides, very safe and wide, above comparison with any I have ever seen.
Through it flow many very broad and health-giving rivers; and there are in it numerous very lofty
mountains. All these islands are very beautiful, and of quite different shapes; easy to be
traversed, and full of the greatest variety of trees reaching to the stars.
 The island of Cuba was discovered October 28 of 1492 after the disembarked of La Pinta, La Niña
and La Santa María.
 "The must beautiful earth than human eyes had ever seen".

Date: December 6, 1942

 Adverse winds carried the fleet to an island called Ayti.

 Columbus renamed it La Isla Española, or Hispaniola.
 In the island, which I have said before was called Hispana, there are very lofty and beautiful
mountains, great farms, groves and fields, most fertile both for cultivation and for pasturage,
and well adapted for constructing buildings.
 The convenience of the harbors in this island, and the excellence of the rivers, in volume and
salubrity, surpass human belief, unless on should see them. In it the trees, pasture-lands and
fruits different much from those of Juana. Besides, this Hispana abounds in various kinds of
species, gold and metals.
 they are not adapted; not on account of any bodily deformity, for they are well made, but
because they are timid and full of terror. . . . But when they see that they are safe, and all fear is
banished, they are very guileless and honest, and very liberal of all they have.
 exchanging valuable things for trifles, content with the very least thing or nothing at all. . . . I
gave them many beautiful and pleasing things, which I had brought with me, for no return
whatever, in order to win their affection, and that they might become Christians and inclined to
love our King and Queen and Princes and all the people of Spain;
  they might be eager to search for and gather and give to us what they abound in and we greatly
need.
 There Columbus found at least enough gold and prosperity to save him from ridicule on his
return to Spain.
 After making his discovery, Columbus was eager to return home to Spain and claim his riches.
Only the Pinta and the Nina were able to return to Spain, however, as the Santa Maria wrecked
off the coast of Hispaniola. Columbus left 43 men behind on the island to start up an outpost.

Date: February 9, 1493

 Columbus returned to Spain and force some Indians to join him.

 He brought natives of the island and gold back with him, welcomed like a hero.
 Columbus was determined to take back both material and human cargo to his sovereigns and
for himself, and this could be accomplished only if his sailors carried on looting, kidnapping, and
other violent acts, especially on Hispaniola.
 I sailed back to Europe to report what I found to Queen Isabella and King Ferdinand.
 An hour later, there are heavy rain and huge waves.
 Columbus left with his remaining two ships for Spain.
 The journey back was a nightmare.
 The westerlies did indeed direct them homeward
 In mid-February a terrible storm engulfed the fleet.
 I command all the men to be ready to stop the ship at Portugal.

Date: February 11, 1942

 Queen Isabella and King Ferdinand was suspected that I may give information of what I know to
Spain since Portugal and Spain are not really giving peace to one another at this period of time.

Date: March 15, 1943

 When Columbus arrived back in Spain on March 15, 1493, he immediately wrote a letter
announcing his discoveries to King Ferdinand and Queen Isabella, who had helped finance his
trip.
 The letter was written in Spanish and sent to Rome, where it was printed in Latin by Stephan
Plannck.
 The Latin printing of this letter announced the existence of the American continent throughout
Europe. "I discovered many islands inhabited by numerous people. I took possession of all of
them for our most fortunate King by making public proclamation and unfurling his standard, no
one making any resistance," Columbus wrote.
 Columbus’s letter also provides observations of the native people’s culture and lack of weapons,
noting that "they are destitute of arms, which are entirely unknown to them, and for which they
are not adapted; not on account of any bodily deformity, for they are well made, but because
they are timid and full of terror."
 Writing that the natives are "fearful and timid . . . guileless and honest," Columbus declares that
the land could easily be conquered by Spain, and the natives "might become Christians and
inclined to love our King and Queen and Princes and all the people of Spain."
  Upon returning home, Columbus was treated like a hero. He presented some of the things he
had found including turkeys, pineapples, and some natives he had captured. The King of Spain
was pleased enough to fund future expeditions.

CREW LISTS

 Christopher Columbus' crew on the first voyage were from small towns in from Andalucia, and
nearly all experienced seamen.
 On the first voyage, Masters and pilots were paid 2000 maravedis per month; able seamen,
1000 maravedis per month; ordinary seamen and ship's boys, 666 maravedis per month. Total
payroll was 250,180 per month.
 Crew of the Santa Maria:
* Cristobal Colon (Christopher Columbus), captain-general
* Juan de la Cosa, owner and master
* Diego de Arana, master-at-arms
* Pedro de Gutierrez, royal steward
* Rodrigo de Escobedo, secretary of the fleet
* Rodrigo Sanchez, comptroller
* Diego de Salcedo, servant of Columbus
* Luis de Torres, interpreter
* Rodrigo de Jerez
* Alonso Chocero
* Alonso Clavijo
* Andres de Yruenes
* Antonia de Cuellar, carpenter
* Bartolome Biues
* Bartolome de Torres
* Bartolome Garcia, boatswain
* Chachu, boatswain
* Cristobal Caro, goldsmith
* Diego Bermudez
* Diego Perez, painter
* Domingo de Lequeitio
* Domingo Vizcaino, cooper
* Gonzalo Franco
* Jacomel Rico
* Juan, servant
* Juan de Jerez
* Juan de la Placa
* Juan Martines de Acoque
* Juan de Medina
* Juan de Moguer
* Juan Ruiz de la Pena
* Juan Sanchez, physician
* Lope, joiner
 * Maestre Juan
* Marin de Urtubia
* Pedro de Terreros, cabin boy
* Pero Nino, pilot
* Pedro Yzquierdo
* Pedro de Lepe
* Rodrigo Gallego, servant
 Crew of the Pinta:
* Martin Alonso Pinzon, captain
* Francisco Martin Pinzon, master
* Cristobal Garcia Xalmiento, pilot
* Cristobal Quintero, ship's owner
* Francisco Garcia Vallejo
* Garcia Hernandez, steward
* Gomez Rascon
* Juan Bermudez
* Juan Quintero
* Juan Rodriquez Bermejo
* Pedro de Arcos
* Alonso de Palos
* Alvaro Perez
* Anton Calabres
* Bernal, servant
* Diego Martin Pinzon
* Fernando Mendes
* Francisco Mendes
* Gil Perez
* Juan Quadrado
* Juan Reynal
* Juan Verde de Triana
* Juan Vecano
* Maestre Diego, surgeon
* Pedro Tegero
* Sancho de Rama
 Crew of the Niña:
* Vincente Yanez Pinzon, captain
* Juan Nino, owner and master
* Francisco Nino
* Bartolome Roldan, apprentice pilot
* Alonso de Morales, carpenter
* Andres de Huelva
* Bartolome Garcia, boatswain
* Diego Lorenzo
* Fernando de Triana
* Garcia Alonso
* Juan Arias, cabin boy
* Juan Arraes
* Juan Romero
 * Maestre Alonso, phyiscian
* Miguel de Soria, servant
* Pedro de Soria
* Pero Arraes
* Pero Sanches
* Rodrigo Monge
* Sancho Ruiz, pilot

Reference:

www.christopher-columbus.eu/portugal-1476-1485.htm

https://www.history.com/topics/exploration/christopher-columbus

return journey: https://www.rmg.co.uk/discover/explore/christopher-columbus-0

October 1492: http://www.eyewitnesstohistory.com/columbus.htm

Start journey: https://www.loc.gov/item/today-in-history/august-03/

WAIT, Detailed start journey: https://www.britannica.com/biography/Christopher-Columbus/The-first-

voyage

Early life: https://exploration.marinersmuseum.org/subject/christopher-columbus/

King and queen: http://p3lupita.blogspot.com/2007/01/how-did-christopher-columbus-convinced.html

Questions:
https://www.answers.com/Q/What_is_one_reason_Spain_financed_Columbus%27s_voyage_in_1492

Report Queen: https://www.gilderlehrman.org/content/columbus-reports-his-first-voyage-1493

Canary island: https://www.hellocanaryislands.com/voyage-columbus/

Crew list: http://www.christopher-columbus.eu/ships-crew.htm

Date: May 20, 1481.

Hello, I am Christopher Columbus. I am writing this to keep it as a memory when I am older and for
the next generation. I was born in Genoa, Italy in 1451. I am now 31 years old. My parents’ names are
Dominico Colombo and Susanna Fontanarossa. I have three brothers who are Bartholomew, Giovanni, and
Giacomo and I have a little sister named Bianchinetta. My dad is a weaver, he also expected me to be like
him. I got a job on Merchant ship when I was a teenager until 1470 when my ship got attacked. I studied
astronomy, cartography, mathematics and navigation. I wanted to be a trader and explorer since I was a
child. I learned to make maps and navigate a ship. I am now an explorer.

Date: 30 July, 1482

Me and my brother, Bartholomew wanted to go to East Asia and China because we heard that they have
great riches. There are goods that popular for trading such as ivory, gems, silk and spices. It is almost
impossible for people to travel on land from Europe to Asia at the end of this century. This is because
the route is long, difficult and dangerous to travel. The Muslim nation also asked for high taxes when
European like us trading through the Middle East. This means the current route is also expensive.
Therefore, most of the navigators are exploring by ship in the sea from west African coast and around
the Cape of Good Hope but I am thinking differently. I am having a question in my mind since I heard
some sailors talk to one another that why don’t we change from sailing south to be west across the
Atlantic continent? I think the circumference is smaller than it actually was. We are having an idea of
finding a route that can help us to go faster. I believe that travel by boat from Europe to Asia should be
possible and we can go straight through Atlantic oceans.
Date: 16 January, 1484

We are preparing and making a plan to explore through Atlantic oceans. I have learnt about
wind system in the sea and more about ships. I and my brother have an idea of asking someone to be
sponsored. We are going to present this fantastic idea to John II who is King of Portuguese. I am so
excited to meet him. We are going to ask him for money and if we found something, it will be given to
him as well. I have to meet him tomorrow but I don’t know what he would like to hear and will he enjoy
our idea. I am both excited and nervous at the same time.

Date: 17 January, 1484

I am writing this in the evening already. I thought that today will probably be the best day but it
is actually not. I told King John II of Portuguese about what I think the earth looks like and route that we
are going to travel. King John II almost funded my voyage to the new world. But their geographers have
quickly calculated the circumference of Earth. They said that what I estimate is only one of the third of
earth’s real circumference size. They told me that I would never find India and China in the place that I
think it would be. I was really angry. They are just geographer. They did not explore the real world. They
just study and how can they know that what the calculate will be false. I am still believed in what I
calculated because I collect information for many years. I will not change my mind because of
geographers who came up with an idea in a few minutes. As a result, King John II actually looks at me
and told me that “I think it is impossible and it has a very high risk”. At that moment, I am not sad at all. I
am having the feeling of extremely angry. When I am back home. I talk about this with my brother. I will
find ways to show them that what I think is true. Finally, we came up with the idea of asking more
royalty in Europe to pay for this trip. I believe that one of them will give me a chance.

Date: 22 November, 1491

After we got rejected by King John II of Portuguese, France, and England, we prepared ourselves
and alter some of our plans. We decided to meet Queen Isabella and King Ferdinand once again. What
just happening today is that I just went to see Queen Isabella and King Ferdinand of Spain in the second
time. They told me that they will help me and pay for this journey. There were some reasons why they
agree with our idea. They believed that the shorter route to Asia has existed. Therefore, they really
interest with our idea. King and Queen finally decided to sponsor because they believe that they will get
benefit from this voyage. I was very happy to hear this. I am going to change believe of people and
geographers of King John II.

WAIT

Date: August 3, 1492 https://www.loc.gov/item/today-in-history/august-03/

I am going to set the three ships for our journey. I named it as Nina, Pinta, Santa Maria. Vicente
Yanez Pinzon led Nina and Pinta which is small pinnace and was led by Martin Pinzon. I am the one who
commanded Santa Maria which is the largest ship out of three. Nina and Pinta is weighing 50 to 75 tons
and perhaps around 15 to 18 meters long and deck length of 50 to 60 feet. In Pinta, there are 26 crews.
Cristobal Garcia Xalmiento is a pilot and Cristobal Quintero is ship's owner. In Nina, there are 20 crews.
Juan Nino is the owner and master and Bartolome Roldan, apprentice pilot. Santa Maria have 40 crews
and the owner is Juan de la Cosa. All of our ships are going out from Palos on the Tinto River in Spain.
We go directly to the west from Spain across the Atlantic Ocean. When we go more and more, our ships
sailed to the northeast due to winds.

Date: August 9, 1942

We travelled for six days now. Today I reached the Canary island. We have to prepare everything
ready because we have to be on the ships for almost one month. We took the opportunity to finish preparing
ships and bring some of the Canarian sailors with us because they lived on the island and travelled on a ship
in a long period of time from generation to generation. Therefore, they have great skills and knowledge of
water.

Date: September 9, 1942

We are sailing in the middle of the Atlantic Ocean. I think we are far from the nearest land for 1,000
miles. Even though, I still have no idea that we will find any land or not. Sailors and lots of men get scared and
told me to return the ship back to Spain. Crew lose patience and complaining about their failures. I am also
realized that it is probably good to return home. But on the other hand, I am expecting a lot for this trip. It is
a hard time that I have to pass through before my exploration plan got accepted. I cannot give up right now. I
probably need to wait for more. I am sure that one day we will find it. If it failed, I would probably don’t have
any chance to do the big journey again. We have to meet our purpose in half. I promise them that if we did
not find any land, we will return to Spain. Almost two days later, I saw vegetation and river weed floating,
crab which are not far from the land more than 80 leagues, various types of bird in the sky which are not far
from the land more than 20 leagues and large cloud mass. We are all having hope again, these are signs to
show us that land is not far from our ships. Therefore, I told all sailors to follow the direction of the birds.
Date: October 12, 1942

At 2:00 am in the morning, Pinta lead by a sailor named Rodrigo de Triana on land. I went to the back
of the ship to dressing with the finest cloth. I went down from the ship to kissed the ground to claimed that
Spain was the first one who discovered this island. This was a small island in the language of the Indians
called Guanahani. I named this island as San Salvador (“Holy Savior”). This island is India and I called people
as Indian. We are now landed on the coast of East Asia. To give peace to one another, I brought banner with
cross to stick on the ground. It is peaceful as we reach the coast of the island. The weather is also fine. I am
feeling fresh as I walk down the ship. We heard sounds of people talking in a loud noise but when we appear,
there is almost no sound. I think they are afraid of us. We saw some kids climbing on trees as they are
monkeys. Suddenly some of the people slowly come out of bushes. They are wearing something weird on
their head but it is not what we called hat. I saw naked people as when their mother bored them, I am not
sure that it is their tradition or not. They look at me and have questions on their face. Their skin is in dark
tone. Women also naked but I did not see them more than a girl. Men are all well made with a handsome
body. I think they are strong enough to be soldiers for Spain if there is any war. King and Queen would agree
with this idea. But I am not sure that they will go back with me or not. I am having an idea of kidnapped some
of them. They are having some land with lots of green trees in the forests. They have lots of water to support
their people and trees. They have diverse kinds of fruits that we do not have in Spain. I wanted to bring some
goods back to Spain. They will probably not welcome me. To give peace to one another, I have to give them
something. I gave them gifts such as red hats and beads. As I expected, they gave me what they have. They
gave me parrots, cotton and other goods. Now, I have something for the king and queen.

Date: November 11, 1942

After I found San Salvador, I continued to sail through the Caribbean and named all islands I pass
through after my ship, king and queen such as La Isla de Santa María de Concepción, Fernandina, and
Isabella. Not so long, I came to the Indian sea. There are so many islands with numerous people which
are La Pinta, La Niña and La Santa María. Another island name Juana. It is exceedingly fertile same as
other islands. This place is above my expectation from what I have seen in other islands. They are very
safe, have a wide area, elegant mountains, flow of a huge river and numerous harbours on all sides of
their coast. However, all of the islands are easy to investigate, full of the high length of trees. They are
all beautiful on their own. Even though, islands are having different shapes.

Date: December 6, 1942

There are strong winds which blow the direction of our ships to the island called Ayti. I was later
changed its name to La Isla Española, or Hispaniola. There are very majestic and beautiful mountains
with great farms, groves and fields but they have not many trees as San Salvador. They are very fertile to
do cultivation. They have convenient harbours on the coast the same as San Salvador. For trees and
fruits are different from Juana. I am proudly present valuable gifts from this island to the king and queen
which are various kinds of metal and gold. They are not adapted. Not adapted in my own word means
not having town or buildings. Most of the people did not dressed, one of them is Hispaniola island.
People here are fearful and full of fright. When they feel that we are friends. They are guileless, honest
and very tolerant. We are exchanging some valuable things the same as what I did on the other islands. I
gave them many beautiful things that I brought with me and I hope not to return them back. This might
win their affection. They might become Christian in one day and love king, queen, princes and all
Spanish people. They are eager to search and gather things or what we need and exchange with us.
Now, I have enough valuable staff to bring back to Spain for the king and queen. I am eager to return to
Spain and claimed for my riches. Only two ships can return back, Nina and Pinta because Santa Maria
wrecked off the coast. The problem is two ships cannot carry both things and people back. I try to find a
place for all of our men. I tried my best to bring them back with me because we passed all the storm
together. We should go back and show our success together. But no matter what, the rest need to
survive also. Therefore, I left 43 men here and promised them that I will find ways to go for the second
voyage and bring them back together. It is quite hard to say goodbye to all men that have to stuck at the
island, even though they did nothing wrong.

Date: February 9, 1493

Now, we have two ships with goods from many islands and native people. It is difficult to encourage
native people and Indians to go back to Spain with me. Therefore, the best solution is to force them and
threaten them a little bit. I sailed back to Europe to report what I found to Queen Isabella and King
Ferdinand. Unfortunately, the sea is not really good for us. Skies are darker and I think huge rain is coming.
An hour later, there were heavy rain and huge waves. The westerlies direct us homeward but the journey
back still be my nightmare. A terrible storm engulfed the fleet. To make everyone including me safe, I
command all the men to be ready to stop the ship at Portugal for ships and men to have a rest. Some native
people have never been on the ship before, this may be a good time for them. If I have a rest at Portugal,
King John II will probably hear about good on my ship and feel sad about what he rejected on my exploration
before.

Date: February 11, 1493

Some men who come with me this journey is also close to me, they told me that Queen Isabella and
King Ferdinand was suspected that I may give information of what I know to Spain since Portugal and Spain
are not really giving peace to one another at this period of time. Many people who are jealous of me
(probably because of my great ability, my reputation or my handsome face) trying to tell bad things about me
to king and queen. Some men who are here also go against me. I will not listen to what everyone says
because I can bring information and goods to the king and queen. I am going back to Spain as soon as
possible.

Date: March 15, 1943

When I arrived back in Spain, I immediately wrote a letter to announce my discovery to King Ferdinand
and Queen Isabella, who helped me to finance this trip. Without them, I would not be able to succeed in
my exploration and people would not treat me as a hero. I wrote a letter in Spanish. I sent the letter to
Rome to let Stephan Plannck printed them in Latin. This Latin printed letter was announced to all over
Europe. What I told king and queen on the letter are all the islands I went to. I talked about the people
there. They are all well-made but they are fearful and timid. Good thing is that they are honest. They
might become Christian and love our king, queen, princes and all of the people of Spain. Their cultures
are different from us and they have no weapons because they are not adapted at all. This means islands
can be easily conquered by Spain. People treat me as I am a hero after I presented things I found such as
turkeys, pineapples, tobacco and native people.

The King of Spain was pleased enough to fund future expeditions.

“This is the end of my first voyage”