Christopher Columbus: The Voyage That Changed the World (Sterling Biographies Series)

by Emma Carlson Berne

Overview

Christopher Columbus made the voyage that, for better and worse, changed history. Born in the bustling port city of Genoa, Italy, Columbus fell in love with the sea, and spent his youth learning all he could about steering and navigating a ship. Dreaming of wealth and fame, he believed he could find a new route to the Indies by sailing westward. Expert biographer Emma Carlson Berne paints this compelling portrait of his life and times in a language that will help children follow his journeys to the “New World.” With careful attention to context, she explains how Columbus won support for his expedition, what happened when he finally reached land, what effect his arrival had on the native people, and how he ultimately clashed with the Spanish crown.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781402744075
Publisher:	Sterling
Publication date:	08/05/2008
Series:	Sterling Biographies Series
Pages:	128
Product dimensions:	5.52(w) x 7.40(h) x 0.40(d)
Age Range:	10 - 12 Years

Table of Contents

Introduction: A Historic Voyage     1
The Boy Cristoforo     2
The Seeds of an Idea     12
Hatching a Plan     19
Columbus at the Court     29
Planning the Journey     42
Life on the Ocean Sea     48
Tierra, Tierra!     56
Searching for the Khan     67
The Triumphant Return     76
The Second Voyage     85
The Third Voyage     100
The Last Voyage     110
Glossary     118
Bibliography     119
Source Notes     120
About the Author     122
Image Credits     122
Index     123

Editorial Reviews

Visionary or madman? Readers of this addition to the "Sterling Biographies" series will decide for themselves as they follow the famous man from his humble beginnings to his ignoble end. Born in Italy to a family of weavers, Christopher left the family trade at fourteen to pursue a life at sea. After surviving a shipwreck in his twenties, he lived in Portugal and owned a mapmaking and bookselling business. During this time, Columbus developed his plan to find the East by sailing west. After the king of Portugal refused to sponsor the ambitious voyage, Columbus spent eight years petitioning King Ferdinand and Queen Isabella of Spain. In total, they financed four voyages for the exploration of the "New World." By the time a sizeable vein of gold was discovered, Columbus had not only failed to discover the Indies, he had poorly managed the island colonies he had discovered. Widespread disease and violence decimated the native populations, and the riches he had promised his sponsors were too late in coming. He returned to Spain in chains and lived the remainder of his days writing about his mistreatment. This book differs from most studies of the man who "discovered" South America, the islands of the Caribbean, Jamaica, and Cuba in that it does not gloss over his extermination of native peoples, animals, and plant species as he brought exotic European flora and fauna with him, not to mention diseases. Emma Carlson Berne's use of primary source materials created by Columbus, his son, and other biographers of the time period brings to light the thoughts and emotions of a man whose grand schemes changed the world. Her balanced treatment of the subject, plus a variety of illustrations,one-page, special-focus articles, a time line, glossary, extensive bibliography, and an index make this a valuable addition to school and public libraries. Reviewer: Keri Collins Lewis

Children's Literature - Keri Collins Lewis