How or why did Columbus become an explorer?

Answer 1

The Europeans wanted a faster and safer route to Asia so they could trade and get the products of Asia. They wanted the silks, spices ( the food was bad, mushy, and rotten), and gunpowder but the silk road was long and dangerous. It took about 2 years to get there and back plus there were bandits, weather conditions, and it was very dangerous. So, to find a water route there was something everyone wanted. Columbus had gone to Prince Henry's school and there is historical evidence pointing to the idea that he was from a wealthy merchant family in Spain, but his family were rivals of the crown so he took the Columbus persona. He wrote only in Spanish ( most people couldn't read or write in this time), he spoke only Spanish and was married to a Spanish noble woman. Had he be an Italian these things wouldn't be possible. It is quite possible he took on the voyage to find the water route so his family could profit. He also made a deal with the Spanish crown that he would be given part of what he found ( he expected to find gold as well as a route), and that he could pass his accomplishments on to his sons. It didn't work out as we know.