timelines

The Early Years!
1451- Born in Genoa, the son of a wool merchant and weaver.
1476- Swims ashore when his ship is sunk in a battle off Portugal.
1476- Joins his brother Bartholomew, a cartographer in Lisbon.
1477-1482- Makes merchant voyages as far as Iceland and Guinea.
1484- Conceives of "The Enterprise of the Indies". Fails to convince King John of Portugal to back the plan.
1485- Moves to Spain.
1492- Ferdinand and Isabela capture Granada, the last Moorish city in Spain.

The First Voyage!
1492- Departs from Palos, Spain (near Huelva)
1492- Departs Gomera (Canary Islands) after repair and refit.
1492- New world sighted at 2:00 a.m. by Rodrigo de Triana, somewhere in the Bahamas
1492- Arrives in Cuba.
1492- Martin Alonso Pinzon, captain of the Pinta, deserts the expedition off Cuba.
1492- Columbus arrives at Hispaniola.
1492- Flagship Santa Maria sinks off Hispaniola. Columbus founds La Navidad.
1493- Pinzon rejoins Columbus.
1493- Columbus departs Hispaniola for Spain in the Nina.
1493- Nina and Pinta are separated again in a fierce storm.
1493- Sights Santa Maria Island in the Azores.
1493- Arrives at Lisbon, Portugal.
1493- Nina and Pinta return separately to Palos, Spain.

The Second Voyage!
1493- The grand fleet of 17 ships departs Cadiz.
1493- Departs Hierro (Canary Islands), sailing WSW.
1493- The island of Dominica sighted at dawn; Guadeloupe shortly after.
1493- Arrives at Hispaniola.
1493- Returns to Navidad, finds fort destroyed.
1493- Founds new colony of La Isabela.
1494- Sails from Isabela in search of mainland.
1494- Arrives at Cuba.
1494- Arrives at Jamaica.
1494- Returns to Cuba.
1494- Starts the return to La Isabela.
1494- Reaches Hispaniola.
1496- Departs from La Isabela for Spain.
1496- Reaches the coast of Portugal.

The Thrid Voyage!
1498- Departs from Sanlucar, Spain with six ships.
1498- Arrives at Gomera (Canary Islands); splits fleet into two squadrons.
1498- Departs from the Cape Verde Islands.
1498- Arrives at Trinidad.
1498- Leaves the Gulf of Paria, arrives at Margarita.
1498- Arrives at Hispaniola
1500- Columbus is arrested and sent home in chains.

The Fourth Voyage!
1502- Departs from Cadiz, Spain, with four ships.
1502- Arrives at Santa Domingo, Hispaniola
1502- Arrives at the Mosquito Coast, modern Nicaragua.
1503- Establishes garrison at Rio Belen.
1503- Garrison attacked by Indians and abandoned.
1503- Leaves Rio Belen for home.
1503- Ships beached and abandoned at Jamaica, marooning crew.
1504- Crew rescued from Jamaica.
1504- Columbus returns to Spain.
1506- Columbus dies at Valladoild.