Christopher Columbus is often remembered for his voyages across the Atlantic Ocean, but what treasures did he actually discover? While Columbus didn’t find gold and silver artifacts like many might assume, he did uncover a wealth of resources that would later be deemed valuable.
During his travels to the Bahamas, Cuba, and Hispaniola, Columbus encountered a variety of indigenous peoples, such as the Taíno. These encounters revealed to him the potential for riches in the New World. One significant treasure he did come across was the reports of gold. The Taíno were known to have gold ornaments, and word spread about the mines of gold that existed in the mainland, particularly in areas that would later become part of Central and South America.
In his first voyage, Columbus returned to Spain in 1493 with items such as parrots, spices, and some gold jewelry he had obtained from the indigenous people. However, his major findings related to treasure came from the promise of gold that existed, rather than specific riches. His discoveries opened the door for future expeditions focused on conquest and mining for gold, which eventually transformed the economies of Europe and the Americas.
In conclusion, while Columbus did not find large caches of treasure during his initial journeys, he did uncover valuable information and sparked interest in the wealth of the New World, igniting the age of exploration and conquest.