Born in 1451 in the seafaring nation of Genoa in northern Italy,
Christopher Columbus grew up watching ships sail into the harbor loaded
with riches from Egypt, Spain, England, and Belgium. Columbus was
convinced that he could gain gold, silk, ivory, and much personal wealth
for himself if he were to sail west from Europe to the East and trade
with China and India. When Queen Isabella of Castile and King Ferdinand
of Aragon finally provided him with three ships, a crew, and supplies
for his journey, Columbus embarked on the first of four voyages to the
East in 1492. Although he never reached Asia, he did land in Central and
South America, establishing a firm foothold in America and opening up
wider European exploration to the new continent and other foreign lands.
Demi portrays Columbus as a great navigator and explorer, but she also
provides a balanced view of his accomplishments, describing his
enslavement of the native Taino Indians of Central America and his
mismanagement of the colonies that he established in the Indies. Using
Chinese paintbrushes and inks, gold overlays, and Italian marbled paper
from Florence, Italy, she paints Columbus's vast world with
characteristic skill and beauty.