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What Columbus and His Discovery of
America Means to Me Christopher Columbus’ discovery of America could be classified as one of the greatest historical events of all time. If he hadn’t “thought outside of the box” the world wouldn’t be as it is today. For example, the United States of America has produced several great historical figures, such as Neil Armstrong; poets, including Vachel Lindsay; inventors, like Thomas Edison; and many other great figures in our American heritage. Christopher Columbus was born in 1451 in Genoa, Italy. He was supposed to become a weaver like his father, but young Christopher had other ideas. He studied hard to become a sailor, and just forty-one years later, he was sailing on his first voyage, even though many laughed and called him foolish. He was determined to discover a new trade route to Asia. He took several other voyages, on which he landed in and explored the West Indies and the coasts of Central and South America. He died in 1506. Tough the Norse landed in North American in 1000 A.D. an settled there for a short amount of time, Europeans of the 1400s had no idea about this discovery. Besides, Columbus’ voyages led to permanent contact between the two hemispheres, something the Norse did not accomplish. Columbus’ voyages were a great achievement for someone of his time. Though the educated people of this time knew the world was round, Columbus was the first known European of his time to prove this statement. Without Columbus, we would be nowhere. In fact, most of us wouldn’t even be here! Columbus’ discovery led to immigration. If your ancestors, like mine, were from different countries, they probably wouldn’t have even met, had they not immigrated to America. Thus, there would be no you! This is yet another example of how important Columbus’ discovery really was. Christopher Columbus’ discovery of America also meant that people from all different countries could immigrate to North America, allowing us to blend our cultures and learn about different kinds of people. This expanded the immigrants’ knowledge, and allowed them to be successful at anything they set their minds to. This discovery also led to prosperous Western Hemisphere. This hemisphere owes all of it’s success to Christopher Columbus. Columbus was the rock on which all other discoveries in the Americas are based. Christopher Columbus was a great man who was capable of “thinking outside of the box.” Not many people, even today, are able to do this. I suppose we are just lucky that he had the capability, and that he could stand the ridicule that goes along with thinking differently. One thing is for sure: none of this could have happened without Christopher Columbus’ one , simple question: “Why?” |