A Historical Geography of Christopher Columbus’s First Voyage and his Interactions with Indigenous Peoples of the Caribbean

Al M. Rocca is a Professor Emeritus at Simpson University and is currently serving as Adjunct Research Professor at California State University, Monterey Bay.

Foreword

Part I: Planning the Transatlantic Voyage and Setting the Physical Geography of the Caribbean

Chapter 1: The Transatlantic Proposal and Preparation for the Voyage



The Santa Fe Capitulations
Palos de la Frontera and the Acquisition of Men and Ships
The Plan
Political Goals
Notes

Chapter 2: Preparing for the Voyage



The Columbus Map
Columbus’s Methodology for Calculating Global Distances
Sequence of Conception: Enterprise to the Indies
The First Voyage Maps of Columbus
The Art of Navigation in the 15th Century
Directional Methodology
Nautical Mileage Methodology
Notes

Chapter 3: The Adventure Begins



The Journal of Christopher Columbus
Sabotage as the Voyage Begins, August 3 to September 5
The Lady Doña Beatriz Ines Peraza
Notes

Part II: The Mid-Transatlantic Crossing

Chapter 4: Into the Ocean Sea: Canary Islands and Beyond, September 6-19



The Voyage West Begins and the Deception of Recorded Mileage
The Difficulty Measuring Latitude at Sea and Magnetic Variation
Entering Unknown Waters (Sea of Darkness)
Notes

Chapter 5: Searching for the Indies: September 20 to October 11



Looking for an Island, any Island
A Nervous Crew Puts Pressure on Columbus
October Arrives but Still No Land
Notes

Part III: The Columbus Landfall and Search for the Mainland

Chapter 6: The First Encounter: October 12-14



The Day the World Changed
The Lucayan Islanders Barter with the Europeans
Exploring Guanahani
Did Columbus Kidnap Several Lucayans?
Notes

Chapter 7: A Sea of Islands: October 15-27



Rum Cay, A Lucayan "Escapes"
The Search for Gold Begins
A Lucayan Village and Cemetery
Isabella (Crooked Island) and the Search for Samoet
Where is Cibao (Cuba)?
Notes

Part IV: Cuba and Hispaniola

Chapter 8: Cibao (Cuba): October 28 to December 5



Columbus Believes Cibao is Cipangu (Japan)
Searching for a Taino King (Cacique)
A Lucayan Initiates Friendly Relations with Cuban Taínos
Is This Cipangu (Japan) or Cathay (China)?
The Ambassadors Describe a Large Taíno Village and Tobacco
The Geography of Linking Religious and Commercial Goals
Martín Pinzón Abandons Columbus
Notes

Chapter 9: Hispaniola: December 7-25



Exploring Bohio
The Taíno of Hispaniola
I am No God
Columbus and a Cacique Break Bread on the Santa Maria
Shipwreck, the Santa Maria Is Destroyed
Notes

Chapter 10: A Time for Decisions: December 26 to January 15, 1493



Columbus and Guacanagarí
Return to Spain or Continue Exploring?
The Voyage Home Begins
Along the Coast of Northeastern Hispaniola
Notes

Part V: Return Voyage, Accolades, and a Promise of Colonization

Chapter 11: The Voyage Home: January 16 to March 15



Columbus Knows the Route Home
A Change of Course for the Azores
The Ocean Fury Unleashed
The Azores Sighted and His Men Imprisoned
A Run for the Mainland
Portugal Sighted and Contact with King João
Palos and Home
Notes

Chapter 12: Spanish Accolades and Future Plans



Triumphant Return at the Palace of Ferdinand and Isabella
Plans for Voyage Two
Notes

Afterword

Appendices



Appendix I: History and Methodology of Columbus’s Landfall
Appendix II: Anchorage and Beach Landing Site
Appendix III: Las Casas and Columbus on the Future of the Indigenous Peoples: A Comparison to the Portuguese Experience in São da la Mina
Appendix IV: Columbus Vision for Spanish-Indio Relations on La Española (Hispaniola) in Comparison to the Existing Slave Conditions on the Canary Islands, circa 1492
Appendix V: Slavery in the Pre-Columbian Americas
Appendix VI: Latitude and Longitude Estimates for Daily Sailing Locations

Bibliography