Historical Context

In what reads more like a 16th century version of Homer's "The Odyssey," our next story is so vast and intriguing that it will take several weeks to tell.  Alvar Nunez Cabeza de Vaca was a member of the ill-fated Narvaez Expedition.  The expedition was tasked with colonizing Florida.  To put it mildly, the start of the expedition lays out several omens for future episodes.   Ca...

Verrazzano was an Italian explorer, who in 1524, set sail on behalf of France to try and find a seaway to the Far East.  He was set to look in between Florida and Newfoundland for a route.  While Verrazzano was the first documented European to set eyes on Manhattan, his interactions with the natives of the coastline are quite fascinating.  Nearly a full century before the first Than...

Juan Ponce de Leon was a member of the Second Columbus Voyage.  As the star of Columbus faded, Ponce de Leon grew in the favor of the Spanish crown and those in Hispaniola.  He was the first Governor of Puerto Rico, but was disposed after a lengthy court battle.  With nothing else to do, Ponce de Leon was encouraged to the explore land north and west of Puerto Rico.  Would Juan...

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: http...

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 interes...

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....

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.wikiped...

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/...

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...

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 be...

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 Barto...