Historical Context

John Cabot was the first European to land on the North American continent and quite possibly explore the east coast of the United States.  Little is known about Cabot because unlike Columbus, he did not seem to be a writer.  Yet, documentation does exist from the era that verifies Cabot's voyages and likely leaves us with more questions than answers.   

More on John Cabot: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Cabot 

Read “Documents Describing the Voyage of John Cabot”: https://amzn.to/3keYuYg 

Read the English Royal Patent to John Cabot: https://www.heritage.nf.ca/articles/exploration/1496-cabot-patent.php#:~:text=On%205%20March%201496%2C%20King,on%20Spanish%20or%20Portuguese%20territories. 

John Cabot Bust by: Istituto Veneto di Scienze, Lettere ed Arti, CC BY 4.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=38573481 

More on Henry VII: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Henry_VII_of_England 

Henry VII Painting by: NPG: Unknown artist Netherlandish artist / (by Michel Sittow) - NPG, Public Domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=77050820 

Read the John Day Letter: https://www.heritage.nf.ca/articles/exploration/john-day.php 

Second Voyage Map courtesy of: By Evan T Jones - Own work, CC BY-SA 4.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=54725020 

Read the Second Cabot Patent: https://avalon.law.yale.edu/15th_century/cabot01.asp 

Read the Dispatch to Ferdinand and Isabella: http://www.bris.ac.uk/Depts/History/Maritime/Sources/1498ayala.htm 

Sebastien Cabot Voyage Map courtesy of: Evan Jones  

Fife and Drum by Kevin MacLeod Link: https://incompetech.filmmusic.io/song/3748-fife-and-drum License: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

After the death of Christopher Columbus, a friar named Bartolome de Las Casas chronicled the events which occurred during the first forty years of colonization.  Las Casas also translated the diaries of Columbus, which we used throughout our study.  Las Casas insights and eye witness accounts demonstrate the true brutality of life in colonial Hispaniola.  They also create an interesting question regarding the legacy of Christopher Columbus.  We hope you have enjoyed this unit and join us in two weeks when we discuss a new unit, "The Age of Exploration."  

Read de las Casas’ A Short Account of the Destruction of the Indies: https://amzn.to/35mfnMu 

More on Bartolome de las Casas: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bartolom%C3%A9_de_las_Casas 

More on Joanna: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Joanna_of_Castile 

More on Charles I (Holy Roman Emperor Charles V): https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Charles_V,_Holy_Roman_Emperor 

More on Caonabo: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Caonabo 

More on Anacaona: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anacaona 

More on Pedro Arias Davila: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pedro_Arias_D%C3%A1vila 

More on the Valladolid Debate: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Valladolid_debate 

Holy Roman Empire Map, courtesy of: https://www.reddit.com/r/MapPorn/comments/bprgii/the_habsburg_empire_of_charles_v_the_first_empire/

With his reputation in tatters, Columbus sets out on what would be his final voyage.  His ambitions are met by a serious of challenging weather events and new native tribes of rough disposition.  With the ships barely able to stay afloat, will Columbus ever make it back to Europe?  

Read the Letter Regarding the Fourth Voyage of Columbus: https://www.americanjourneys.org/pdf/AJ-068.pdf 

Fourth Voyage Map: Keith Pickering / CC BY-SA (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0)

Christopher Columbus is imprisoned at the end of his third voyage.  On his way back to Spain "in irons," Columbus writes a letter to the nurse of the late Prince of Spain, who was also a sister of a former Columbus shipmate.  In the letter, Columbus justifies his actions and has less than cordial things to say about his opponents.  

Info on Francisco de Bobadilla: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Francisco_de_Bobadilla 

Read the Columbus Letter to the Nurse of Prince John: https://www.americanjourneys.org/pdf/AJ-067.pdf

Columbus is losing favor in both Spain and the colony of Hispaniola.  Can he restore order when a rebellion breaks out?  What happens when the Spanish crown sends an investigator to look into the leadership of Christopher Columbus on the island?  

Info on King Ferdinand II: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ferdinand_II_of_Aragon 

Info on Queen Isabella I: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Isabella_I_of_Castile 

Info on Alonso de Ojeda: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alonso_de_Ojeda 

Info on Francisco de Bobadilla: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Francisco_de_Bobadilla 

Read the Narrative of the Third Voyage: https://www.americanjourneys.org/pdf/AJ-066.pdf 

Third Voyage Map: Keith Pickering / CC BY-SA (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0)

Christopher Columbus stirs drama between Portugal and Spain upon his return from the New World.  Can Spain and Portugal settle their differences?  Does the geopolitical volatility affect the Second Voyage?  Will Columbus find new lands and islands on his return to the New World?  

Info on King John II of Portgual: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_II_of_Portugal 

Info on King Ferdinand II: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ferdinand_II_of_Aragon 

Info on Queen Isabella I: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Isabella_I_of_Castile 

Info on the Treaty of Alcacovas: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Treaty_of_Alc%C3%A1%C3%A7ovas 

Read the Christopher Columbus letter to Ferdinand and Isabella: https://www.americanjourneys.org/pdf/AJ-064.pdf 

Papal Bull and Treaty of Tordesillas Lines: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Karte_Portugiesisch-Spanischer_Vertr%C3%A4ge.png 

Read the Papal Bull of 1493: https://www.papalencyclicals.net/alex06/alex06inter.htm 

Read Dr. Chanca’s letter on the Second Voyage of Columbus: https://www.americanjourneys.org/pdf/AJ-065.pdf 

More Info on Diego Chanca: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Diego_%C3%81lvarez_Chanca 

More on the Treaty of Tordesillas: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Treaty_of_Tordesillas 

Columbus Travel Map: By Keith Pickering - Own work based on content from http://www.gebco.net/, CC BY-SA 3.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=17513848

With one ship missing, Columbus faces further trials in the continuation of his First Voyage to the New World.  Disaster would lead him to no other conclusion but to found the first colony in the New World.  On top of these challenges, Columbus meets natives who are not as welcoming or timid as his prior encounters.    While the diaries of Christopher Columbus have long been lost, 16th century friar and writer Bartolome de Las Casas copied the diary into the third person.  This copy is readily accessible today and takes a deep dive into the first voyage of Christopher Columbus.  

Read the Journal of the First Voyage of Columbus: https://amzn.to/2RkDDql 

Info on King John II of Portgual: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_II_of_Portugal 

Info on King Ferdinand II: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ferdinand_II_of_Aragon 

Info on Queen Isabella I: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Isabella_I_of_Castile 

Columbus Travel Map: By Keith Pickering - Own work based on content from http://www.gebco.net/, CC BY-SA 3.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=17513847

While many interpretations exist about the First Voyage of Christopher Columbus, what was it really like? What happened when land was expected but still not found? How did the natives react to Columbus's presence on their homeland? What struggles did Columbus face with the natives and his crew?  While the diaries of Christopher Columbus have long been lost, 16th century friar and writer Bartolome de Las Casas copied the diary into the third person.  This copy is readily accessible today and takes a deep dive into the first voyage of Christopher Columbus.  

For More Information: 

Info on Zuane Pizzigano: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zuane_Pizzigano 

Info on King John II of Portgual: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_II_of_Portugal 

Info on King Ferdinand II: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ferdinand_II_of_Aragon Ferdinand II 

Painting by: Michael Sittow 

Info on Queen Isabella I: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Isabella_I_of_Castile 

Read the Articles of Agreement between Christopher Columbus and Spain: https://www.americanjourneys.org/pdf/AJ-061.pdf 

Read the Journal of the First Voyage of Columbus: https://amzn.to/2RkDDql 

Columbus Travel Map: By Keith Pickering - Own work based on content from http://www.gebco.net/, CC BY-SA 3.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=17513847