How The Battle Between Christianity and Islam Led To The Discovery of the New World

Taxation, conquest, and desperate measures

(By DimiTalen — Own work, CC0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=140075738)

In 1492, Christopher Columbus set sail from Palos de la Frontera, Spain, in three ships. The tale is a well trodden one and has evolved over the centuries. At first, Columbus was portrayed as a daring and dashing explorer. Numerous things still bear Columbus’s name, including the US capitol district (The District of Columbia). Later, he was painted as an agent of genocide and greed. Today, his legacy remains complex. Sailing westward from Spain was no doubt bold, but the actions taken by Columbus on behalf of his Spanish benefactors in the Caribbean were nightmarish.

While much and more can be said about Columbus’s actions and his legacy, few people dig into the reasons why Columbus made his fateful voyage in the first place. Many people like to say that Columbus sailed for the thrill of discovery. Others rightly point out that Spain was trying to secure vital economic interests in the East at a time when powerful geopolitical forces were working against them. But still, the exact reasons are often glossed over in a rush to get to Columbus’s landings and his subsequent actions.

The truth is that Spain sponsored Columbus’s journey across the Atlantic Ocean as a part of their…