Christopher Columbus was born into a wool-weaving family and, like many young men growing up in the port city of Genoa, Italy, went to sea at an early age.

As with Every Explorer, This One Started with a Birth

This most famous of maritime explorers, known perhaps as the textbook definitive explorer, was born in Genoa, Italy, between August and October, 1451. He was named "Cristoforo Colombo," though in his infantile years, his parents would probably have just said "getchie-getchie-goo" when they wanted to get his attention.

Little is known of his education, but it can safely be assumed that Columbus received a good education-- probably in schools of Italian craft guilds--since he was born into a respectable, go-getting, craft-guild-card-carrying family, though one that had seen more prosperous days. What is known is that he was well acquainted with classical literature, including the works of St Augustine, Marco Polo, Seneca, Ptolemy and Marinus. In other words, it would appear that he at least had a good grounding in some areas that would serve him during his nautical-related career.

There is likely to have been no shortage of little gold stars -- the kind that are highly prized by both goof-balls and nerds alike-- on little Christopher's essays and quizzes. Unfortunately, there is no surviving, telling copy of his "What I want to be when I grow up is.... " essay.

A Language for Every Occasion

At the time of Columbus' birth, the people of Genoa spoke Ligurian. In addition to this language, the young Columbus also learned to speak Portuguese, Spanish and perhaps Catalan-- languages that would come in handy during his time in Portugal and Spain and, later, when he commanded ships to the New World bearing seamen who spoke those languages..

A Wool-Weaving Family Moves from one Port to Live in Another Quite Similar Port Nearby

Columbus’s father was Domenico Colombo, who was in the wool-weaving business and who also dabbled in the mystic art of local politics. Columbus' mother was Suzanna Fontanarossa, who, as the daughter of a wool weaver, also had wool in her blood.

In the year 1470 the Colombo family -- which included younger brothers Bartholomew, Giovanni Pellegrino and Giacomo as well as younger sister Bianchinetta-- moved to the nearby city of Savona, which, like Genoa, was a port city. Living in port cities would be a relevant factor in the nautical ambitions of Christopher Columbus, as it was quite common for young male citizens living in these cities to go to sea.

Before coming of seafaring age, the young Christopher Columbus worked with his father in the family wool-weaving business. He may also have had a stint as a book-shop clerk while still in Genoa.

Time to Go to Sea. Time and the Sea Wait for No One

Columbus' first taste of the salty sea came at the age of 14. He worked as a messenger, sailor and, according to his son Ferdinand as stated in his book History of the Life and Deeds of Christopher Columbus, a privateer at the age of 21. The privateering skills he would hone might have come in handy in later years when he would oversee the start of the New World genocide.

Columbus' next voyage was in 1474, when he sailed aboard a ship into the Aegean Sea as a sailor. The destination was the island of Khios, where Columbus ended up spending a year of his life. He must have done well for himself from a monetary standpoint, because he was thereafter able to have financial independence from his family.

Interestingly, this voyage to Khios marked the closest point he would ever get to Asia.

Columbus' first voyage into the Atlantic Ocean and beyond was in August, 1476, aboard a Genoese ship that was one of five on a commercial expedition bound for Britain. The fleet, however, ran into trouble of the privateering kind when French privateers attacked off Cape Saint Vincent south-west of Portugal.

Several ships on both sides were lost, including Columbus' ship. Alertly observing that his ship was on fire, the 25-year-old Columbus swam for it and reached the Portuguese shore 10 km (or 6 miles) away, arriving with the wreckage as he clung to some of it-- probably after having employed the less-than-dignified doggy paddle.

This article continues with Columbus Before His 1492 Voyage.

Also related to Christopher Columbus:

Columbus Discovers America -- for the Third Time

Columbus in the Garden of Eden: the Third Voyage

Columbus As an Old Man

Hispanic Day

Conditions on Early Ocean Voyages

Genocide in the New World