1492, Part 2--Christopher Columbus

[Music] if Florence was the birthplace of the Modern Age then it was Spain which gave modern man A Whole New World one could not have found the land more unlikely to play so key a role of all the nations in Europe of 1492 Spain was among the most backward for more than a th000 years it had known neither peace nor a time when its lands were free of foreign domination on the eve of 1492 the Muslim Moors still held a part of Spain and warfare was still the way of life it was a bleak land a harsh land beautiful and hospitable to Native and settler alike in the Spain of this time a lonely man Upon A M endlessly crossed the Plains and the mountain ranges by his dress he was a foreigner there was little else remarkable about him certainly nothing to indicate that he would be the one to give Spain its greatest [Music] Glory I Christopher Columbus a native of Gena a seaman have come to Spain to lay a plan for Discovery before their Catholic m [Music] majesties I Ferdinand king of aragan by Temper and need a soldier have dedicated my whole life and strength to the service of God and Spain I is a Bella queen of Castile and Leon in my own right together we will unite Spain into one nation and drive the Infidel Mo from this land it was a royal partnership by 149 two Ferdinand and Isabella had broken the power of the Spanish funeral [Applause] Lords for 11 years they had steadily pushed back the Moors at the end only the kingdom of ganado was still in moish hands it was a lovely city one of the loveliest in Spain it's alhamra was a jewel the Moore's greatest Palace their largest Fortress for Infidel though they might have been by Christian lights the Moors were not Barbarians at a time when scholarship was at a low E in the west and when skills had been forgotten they built palaces such as this they gave us numbers in the modern science of mathematics laid the foundation for modern medicine but their hour was done neither courage nor love of art nor compassion would be enough to withstand the march of History Granada not only fell but fell to the Modern Age it was the first city reduced by an artillery battle the fortresses are thine O King since Allah so decrees it use thy success with clemency and moderation I Ferdinand do promise to be Clement moderate and merciful but within the limits of the needs of the state for we have now United the lands of Spain but must yet mold a [Music] nation nations are the creations of men and generally of strong men Spain is one of the first modern nation states in Western Europe and would soon be the most powerful the first concern of the crown would be the interest of the nation it must create and the power of the Monarch who would [Music] rule in 1492 individual man was not yet a political force even if he was no longer a [Music] surf on January the 2nd 1492 a joyous procession brought the loyal Banners To The conquered Fortress I Christopher Columbus myself carried one of the banners of their majesties into the alhamra I have been summoned to Granada by her majesty the queen to hear the decision on my plan for Discovery I had been waiting 7 [Music] years 7 years before I had come to Spain from Portugal by sea and landed below the Franciscan Monastery of La rabida which is near the port of Palos my son Diego was thirsty and we climbed to the monastery door to beg a cup of water the pious monks gave to us not only refreshment but a refuge it was a home to me these seven years I was widowed almost penniless tired and they gave me Comfort and help for more than a year I walked the cloistered [Music] Gardens each day I climb to the balcony and look to the Sea for no sailor is Happy away from the sea and I unhappier than most much did I pray for the good of my soul and also for God's intercession to have the opportunity to test upon the ocean sea that which I knew was true that the world was not as we were told that it would be possible to reach the Indies by sailing west a shorter rout a sea rout which would avoid the Turk who barred the way of Caravans much time I spent in my cells thinking studying for what I thought was fruit of my own experience on the sea and a ma as [Music] well there were others who believed as I did pasinelli in Florence drew a clear CH the dark sea was not so broad as tmy had said not far from the Canary Islands was the island of Japan beyond that more Island still until you reach the mainland of India and China I wrote of this to many kings the king and queen of Spain the Kings of England and France I studied every [Laughter] book one year after my arrival and through the help of the monks in the monastery I received the summons Her Majesty Queen Isabella would see me in [Music] Corda this was my first voyage through the lands of Spain it would not be my last I who care nothing for horses and little more for mules [Music] I came to cordiva called upon the court and at last was told that her majesty would receive me in her Tower room again I was made to wait [Music] after all these years at last I was to see a queen how should I [Music] begin we have heard you have a plan which might be of some interest to us your gracious Majesty my plan is for a voyage of Discovery such as man has never walked upon before whose results would be great riches and a chance to spread the truth faith in Heathen lands for as a seaman I have seen many wondrous things in sea and sky and from much study I have determined that it is shorter to reach the Indies by sailing west than traveling East over the ground as has been the custom we are interested in what you say but we are much preoccupied we can do nothing until the Infidel is driven from Spain we will ask a commission of learned men from the University of Salamanca to study your plan your majesty their results will be referred to us you have our lead your gracious [Music] Majesty I was a seaman not a man of gown and books I knew the sea and those things that are of the sea but not rhetoric my mathematics were the numbers of a sailor useful but simple tools [Music] I traveled a many miles to salaman and Stevens College to expose my plan to the men of gown and books and title learning Theologian mathematician cosmographer philosopher astronomer ident men sure in their rightness and [Music] [Music] learning State your arguments learned Lords my proposition states that the shortest route to the Indies is a sea route obtained by sailing Westward from Spain St Augustine doubts that he had no friends in this court his arguments were straightforward but largely based on his own original thinking nothing in man's body of knowledge corroborated Columbus's words much denied it it was almost tical the Western Ocean is infinite unnavigable you would reach the antipathes and never be able to return St Augustine St and toomy confirms so long after creation there are no unknown lands the commission lasted 6 days and then it was [Music] ended you shall hear we will consider it will be some time if it has waited so long it can wait longer my lords [Music] [Music] it would be almost 6 years before there was a commission report so long that for Columbus and perhaps the world the sand seem no longer to drop [Music] [Music] by mid January 1492 Ferdinand and Isabella ruled from the recently Mish Fortress of the alhamra it was their Catholic Majesty's latest Royal Palace by far the most beautiful they had ever owned the couron Royal councils gathered the business of rule began and at last Columbus was summoned to their presence he would hear the Royal decision for the six years since salaman I had worked at those things I could do on land and waited for word from their majesties I had made some friends at court I had been given hope for if in all men there was disbelief to the queen my lady God had given the spirit of understanding and great courage for 6 years I had waited for this hour we have little time we have heard from the Learned doctors of salaman and your plan is vain impracticable and rests on ground so weak as not to Merit the support of the government we accept this decision and have no further words on this matter we are much preoccupied by grave matters of State I have waited 6 years your gracious majesties I was held out hope that you had consent to my plan all this time I awaited your pleasure now I am 6 years older we have no further words on this matter we will not reconsider I offer you the wealth of the Indies your majesty and the glory of bringing the Holy Cross to Heathen lands you have our Le the verdict came from the king and queen themselves there was no [Music] appeal so Columbus left nor did he delay in leaking he rolled his few belongings into a bundle some clothes books as precious charts he hired an old mule which came cheaply once again he set across the mountains towards the South the monastery of larabida and his son he was 42 an advanced agage in an era when life expectancy was 40 he was disappointed but he was not embittered there was the King of England and the King of France he would take the first ship headed for either country he would not desist not he not Christopher [Music] Columbus norford and Isabella busied themselves with other problems their newly United Spain held three different people the Spanish Christians the Spanish Jews and those Spanish Moors who had been granted Le to stay three potentially separate factions in a nation yet to be formed their Catholic majesties chose to well their state by expelling everyone who did not agree with them in all things it was a patent to be repeated unto our own day and always in the name of the state in 1492 Toledo was the greatest Center of Jewish wealth and culture in all Europe I heard decree that the Jews will be under our Royal protection until the end of July 1492 so that they may put their Affairs in order we permit them to take out of our kingdoms all their property they may not take Gold Silver and jewels they forced strange clothing Upon Us instead of silk and apparel we were obliged to wear wretched clothes which Drew contempt upon us our temples were barred those temples where in the days of our happiness we had written in Joy God has delivered us from the power of our enemies since the days of our Egyptian captivity we have never possessed such a refuge the for when we reached the sea the women called upon the almighty to perform a miracle they stared at the waves for hours then several abandoned their religion fearing their blood would be shed like water almost at the same time their majesties revived the Inquisition it is one of the marvels of history that those who could count in such Horrors would also give man a new [Music] [Music] world but amid all these events Christopher Columbus was not forgotten Sanel one of Isabella's closest advisers went to the queen I have marveled your majesty that youve accepted such an Enterprise as Columbus so little will be lost in case of failure so much good accomplished in case of success you counsel it I do your majesty send our speedia Courier to summon him thus a courrier was sent across the Spanish plane to overtake a man on a mule history uses small means to its great ends so much already had happened Florence in man's Newfound discovery of his own worth the death of Lorenzo deeni Leonardo D Vinci and his scientific genius the expulsion of the Jews the Inquisition much good much evil but much Advan now the hour was at hand the Modern Age was born and modern man with it and both required a new world in which to breathe [Music] now it is the morning of Friday August 3rd at dawn Columbus and the crews went to mass in the Parish Church of Palos for most of them Palos was home and surely this day they prayed a little more fervently than usual the cruise numbered 90 they were all seamen but who had ever sailed into that Uncharted ocean for Columbus it was the realization of his life's dream but for the 90 seamen it would mean only a long Voyage on small ships the longest was 90 [Music] ft who remembers their names Hil Pere Pedro so AO Juan deer bom de Tes the convicted criminal Christos who remembers [Music] [Music] just beyond the square is the ritina which leads down to the Sea Columbus fairly ran for the ships August 3rd we raised our anchors and sat down the riotto to make the Morning Tide Over The Sandbar there was a poor Breeze upon the river and I ordered out the sweeps to help the current taking us to Sea some Look Backwards at the house es Apollos dropping a Stern but I advise them to look forward for there lie our hopes then at 8:00 we were over The Sandbar and in a full Breeze I set the course for the Canary Islands which are in the ocean sea for I am commissioned to Voyage to the Indies not by traveling Eastward as was the custom to go but by way of the west by which down to this day we do not know certainly that anyone has passed [Music] the ships are well suited for this undertaking the N sails smartly so does the printer my Santa Maria rolls and pitches and tends to lag behind but it is all in finding her best points to the win we have many fine Provisions already we have sailed more than 15 leagues which is 60 M we are on the ocean sea August 5th course Southwest by South the breeze holds well today we sail more than 40 Leakes a fair wind a fair wind The NeverEnding labors of shipboard the Endless routine which is always different and yet always the same first wash the decks buckets of seawater and rope mops and much elbow [Music] grease and even as you clean the life stuck UND does whatever you have accomplished in their area of deck space but one does not begrudge them they're the only fresh food a few eggs and one day a bite of chicken a little milk for the quarter deck and someday strong [Music] goat a grommet little more than a child calls for the midday meal the big meal there are no Cooks but there is the stove no great skill is needed to make garlic soup until it is finished one eats land's bread perhaps a fish will bite upon a line but there is a measure measure of wine for each man and a measure of water the wind is always shifting and the Admiral constantly calls for changes of sail You Haul on the braces you raise the booms you lower the boom you knuckle the sail you splice the ropes and dress the Rope ends and when you're off the watch you pill up on the [Music] deck come Nightfall Christopher Columbus now admiral of the ocean sea sits over a candle on the left are the arms of the Catholic Kings Aragon and Castile on the right the banner of the voyage f for Ferdinand and wife rabella joined by a [Music] cross an astrolabe to sight the Sun the toscanelli chart which he believes is [Music] true the dividers and the sands of time which each night Columbus records into words the wind holds fair but we cannot take full advantage of it the rudder on the Pinter has jumped out of gear Pinson its master has made some repairs of Fortune but it is none too solid it seems sound at the beginning of the voyage I can do little to help them at sea without endangering another ship the nas sails poorly into the wind her latine rigging is unsuited for such a trip I must stop at the canaries and repair the fent's rudder for good I must reig the N so she sails better it will take time September 6 at long last today we left the port of gomea in the canaries and our full of on the ocean sea I have ordered a full watch but we have heard that Portuguese caraval are in search of us and we must escape September 10 today we sail 60 leaks but I reckoned only 48 in order that the crew might not be dismayed if the voyage were long September 16th 39 leagues today but I told the crew only 36 we are in very temperate breezes so that it is a delight to enjoy the mornings and nothing is lacking except to hear The Nightingales the weather is like April in Andalucia September 17 once again today the compass was off and the men were afraid but I told him that it was not the compass which ER but the North Star which moved I do not know that it is so but they seem hardened September 22nd today only 30 leagues we had a headwind and this was very necessary to me since my people were much excited they had thought that in these Seas no winds ever blew to carry them back to Spain September 25th a fair day with changeable winds according to my charts there should be Islands about us Martin alop pan agrees but cannot understand why we have not found them I have told him that it must be current which pulls us away or perhaps the pilots have not closely reckoned our daily sailings and yet we cannot be far I have again made my Reckoning and marked my chart we cannot be far we cannot at nightfall a lookout called land [Music] we sail in this Direction all night 21 Leakes but a day there was no land I set course to the West October 10th course [Music] Southwest the wind stands fair at 7 knots but it is 68 days since we left Palos and the men can stand it no more there is no end to this ocean SE if we sail further there is no hope to return we must turn back there is no wind for Spain little food less water turn back turn back turn [Music] back today I spoke to the men heartening them as best I could reminding them of the Bright Hopes of gain which will be theirs I told them that we are for the Indies and will pursue our course until with the Lord's help we will find them but last night I agreed with the captains of the other ships that if we do not sight land within 3 days I shall turn back the men are tired even the ships God grant me a landf [Music] October 11th through all this day we had no sight of [Music] land there were signs which made me sure that land was near we saw many birds in the sky but elsewhere upon this ocean sea have we seen birds we picked up a frond still green and of an unknown construction but where it came from we could not see 2 days more and then I must turn back as I have promised God grant us the sight of lamp we have sailed so long upon this voice Bri without [Music] [Music] [Music] exit in the name of the Father the Son and the Holy Ghost Hail Mary full of grace the Lord is with thee blessed art thou among women and blessed is the fruit of thy womb Jesus holy Mary Mother of God pray for us sinners now and in the hour of our death amen amen in the name of the Father the Son and the Holy Ghost amen i b the Lookouts be alert I changed the course to West we would sail all night this night it is against our custom but some of us thought we had seen a far off light like a flickering candle which then had disappeared [Music] and on oh [Music] [Music] [Applause] [Music] it was already 2 hours past midnight the moon emerged from behind a [Music] cloud land yes land fire the Cannons that The Others May [Music] know let us thank the Lord for this great grace he has granted us for our safety and this Fair passage for his generous goodness in granting our efforts success for we have reached that which we sought October 12th on this day at dawn we landed in the Indies we have found the new route we have found new hope [Music] the so Columbus came to the new world and mistook it for part of the old he would never fully know that he had not reached the Indies that he failed in his assigned task but that in that failure he had given Western man A Whole New [Music] [Music] World upon this vast and virgin land he and those who followed would leave their imprint but he was the first no more would man call the Western Ocean the dark sea no longer would the barriers of nature be anything more than a challenge for one man had dared and in daring succeeded Beyond his own imagination it is always thus Humanity itself is like an ocean wave uncertain of its beginning unforeseeable in its end and almost Limitless in its potential this was the meaning of 1492 [Music] [Music] w [Music] [Music] the SAG of of Western man 1492 was a special project presentation of ABC News