Journals are commenced for a number of reasons. Sometimes they are begun as diaries which offer a psychological trail into self-reflection and a more intuitive level of self-awareness. Other journals offer the opportunity to write down immediate artistic inspiration for use later when the creative moment has arrived. Understanding the purpose of a journal should be considered essential for the purpose of interpretation: authorial intent fuels proper interpretation. A proper interpretation of the journal of Christopher Columbus is therefore dependent upon recognizing that primary, overriding purpose of the journal was to convince King Ferdinand and Queen Isabella to continue funding subsequent exploratory voyages to the New World.
The historical context within which these journals were written included a two-year period of waiting merely to gain an audience with Ferdinand and Isabella to pitch his idea for the first voyage. That first voyage would not set sail for another six years after he finally got his audience with the monarchs. In consideration of the time and effort required to get that first voyage underway, the content of journals created and maintained specifically for the purpose of keeping the enterprise going can take on a completely different perspective than when looked at merely as objective observation of an exploratory nature.
The nature of the content of writings of Columbus take on a sharper clarity when read with the understanding of its purpose. The precision of scientific observance is routinely absent. The journals are not accounts of discovery of foreign landscapes and even a mapmaker would be at a loss to create anything particularly detailed. The journal kept by the arguably the most famous and influential explorer in history actually reads far less like any other account by famous explorers and far more like something quite modern.
The journals and many of the other writings which act as commentary upon the journal often read more like an investment prospectus. The overarching concern is the documentation of what is to be found in the New World that offer something exciting, new, fresh and worthy of the kind of curiosity that provokes continued interest in further exploration in order to discover even newer things worthy of even greater curiosity. The journals are thus an account what exists in unconquered lands that would be value for further study.
Christopher Columbus is one of the most famous explorers of all time. He was born in Genoa, Italy, in 1451 and died in 1506. He was the first European to reach the Americas in 1492, following a voyage of over three months across the Atlantic Ocean.
Columbus' voyage was a major event in world history, as it marked the beginning of the European exploration and colonization of the Americas. It also provided a wealth of knowledge about the New World. Columbus kept two journals throughout his voyages, which provide a detailed account of his travels. These journals have been published in various editions over the years, and they provide insight into Columbus' thoughts and feelings during his voyages.
The "Journal and Selected Writings" is an authoritative edition of Columbus' journals and writings. It includes an introduction by historian Samuel Eliot Morrison, as well as illustrations, maps, and navigational information. It is a valuable source for anyone interested in learning about Christopher Columbus and his legacy.
