Christopher Columbus

Columbus was the most important explorer of the 15th century. His origin is still a mistery, but most historians think that he was born in the Italian city of Genoa in the year 1451.

His father was a wool trader who knew people in the busy habor of Genoa, that is why Columbus gain experience as a sailor since he was a kid. According to his own words he said that his first trip in a ship happened when he was ten years old.

Columbus wanted to have a trade route that connected Europe with Asia. After the fall of the city of Constantinople in 1453 to the Ottoman Empire it was no longer possible to have trade with Asia. Columbus read many books written by the ancient Greeks which described the earth as round and having an ocean that surrounded all land. Columbus brought his idea of going around the world to John II, king of Portugal, when he visited his brother in Lisbon.