Christopher Columbus and His Rejected Proposal in …

Years: 1484 - 1484

Christopher Columbus and His Rejected Proposal in Portugal (1484)

By 1484, Christopher Columbus had already developed his vision of a westward route to Asia, based on a combination of legendary voyages, geographical misconceptions, and new cosmographical ideas. However, when he sought funding from King John II of Portugal, he was rejected.


Columbus’s Early Influences and Miscalculations

  • Having settled in Portugal, Columbus was exposed to the navigational expertise of the Portuguese, including their exploration of the Atlantic islands (Madeira and the Azores) and West Africa.
  • He studied maps, charts, and books, acquiring:
    • Marco Polo’s exaggerated account of Japan’s location (Cipangu), placing it only 1,500 miles (2,400 km) east of China.
    • Ptolemy’s miscalculations, which underestimated the Earth's circumference while overestimating the size of Eurasia.
    • Paolo dal Pozzo Toscanelli’s theories, which encouraged westward voyages as a shortcut to Asia's riches.
  • Columbus believed Japan lay only 3,000 miles (4,800 km) west of Portugal, a vast underestimation—in reality, the distance to Asia was much greater, and the Americas lay in between.

Seeking Support from King John II of Portugal (1484)

  • In 1484, Columbus presented his plan to King John II of Portugal, hoping to secure:
    • Financial backing.
    • A fleet to test his theory.
    • Royal patronage for exclusive trade rights with Asia.
  • However, John II rejected Columbus’s proposal, for several reasons:
    1. Portugal already had a proven eastward route around Africa to reach the Indian Ocean trade network.
    2. The king’s advisors also underestimated the distance, believing the voyage to be impossible with existing ships.
    3. Portuguese priorities were focused on Africa, with Bartolomeu Dias soon rounding the Cape of Good Hope (1488), proving the viability of an eastern route to India.
    4. Portugal had its own experts working on a westward route, secretly sending a test expedition (which was unsuccessful).

Columbus’s Next Moves: Seeking Spanish Support

  • After his rejection in Portugal, Columbus turned to Spain, presenting his proposal to Queen Isabella and King Ferdinand.
  • The Spanish initially dismissed his plan, but after the fall of Granada in 1492, they reconsidered and agreed to sponsor his voyage.
  • This led to Columbus’s first transatlantic expedition in 1492, ultimately resulting in the European discovery of the Americas.

Legacy of Portugal’s Decision

  • Portugal’s rejection of Columbus allowed Spain to claim the New World, giving them vast colonial wealth.
  • However, Portugal’s focus on Africa and the Indian Ocean ensured they became Europe’s first true global maritime power, with Vasco da Gama reaching India in 1498.
  • The Treaty of Tordesillas (1494) later divided the newly discovered lands between Spain and Portugal, securing Portuguese control over Brazil and the East Indies trade routes.

Portugal’s decision not to fund Columbus’s voyage was strategic rather than short-sighted, as their eastward exploration yielded immense wealth, rivaling Spain’s New World empire.

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