October 12th - Christopher Columbus Lands in the Carribean

On this day, in 1492, Columbus sailed the ocean blue. Even more than that, he made landfall in the Carribean. Columbus's fleet landed in what is now known as the Bahamas on an island Columbus called San Salvador. The natives of San Salvador also had some stupid name for it.

Columbus, and some crew presumably, sailed from Spain in three ships; the Nina, the Pinta, and the Santa Maria. Five weeks later, the Bahamas were spotted at 2AM by someone who wasn't Columbus.

Today, the island where Columbus landed is not known for sure, but there is an island called San Salvador, so that's probably it.

Columbus met with the native people. He had great repect for their peaceful ways and their ability to learn quickly. He noted this in his journal by writing the natives would make good slaves. This was confirmed to be true because the natives told Columbus that people from the mainland came and took them for slaves as well. Columbus was sold. He immediately put down a 10% deposit on a dozen strong workers and half a dozen virgins.

After a quick meeting Columbus concluded that the natives had no religion. He noted this in his journal by writing "I think they can very easily be made Christians." He also had an interesting business opportunity for them that wasn't pyramid selling.

The natives had no metal and Columbus recorded this by writing that they could be easily conquered. He asked God if it was OK to take six natives back to Spain. God didn't say no.

Columbus also explored Cuba and Hispaniola, which is a Spanish stringed instrument.

The voyage was highly successful and Columbus returned to Spain with many treasures and syphilis.