There are few historical figures whose reputation has swung in as many extreme directions as Christopher Columbus. The Genoese mariner once credited with "discovering America" has in recent years been called out as genocidal conqueror and slave trader. In 2020 many statues of Columbus across the United States were toppled by protestors, quite literally takin ... Show More
Feb 2024
Christopher Columbus: life of the week
In the list of famous explorers, the name of Christopher Columbus stands out. Seen for many years as the man who supposedly 'discovered' the Americas, his heroic legacy is now being challenged and critiqued. Speaking to Paul Bloomfield, historian Julia McClure considers the explo ... Show More
43m 25s
Feb 2023
306: Columbus: The Adventure Begins (Part 1)
A controversial figure both now and in his time, Tom and Dominic discuss Columbus and his drive for discovery, power and status. They look at Columbus’ early life in Genoa, his journey to becoming an accomplished sailor, his obsession with crossing the Atlantic to reach what he t ... Show More
56m 9s
Oct 2019
Christopher Columbus Was Such A Jerk That Even Spain Turned Against Him
For decades in the West, Christopher Columbus was often inaccurately portrayed as a pioneering explorer, his life, times and crimes sanitized in the public record. Schoolchildren learned rhymes about this individual, and in the US he was given an official holiday. However, the ac ... Show More
38m 31s
Feb 2023
307: Columbus: A New World? (Part 2)
Having convinced the Catholic Monarchs to fund his journey across the Atlantic, Columbus sets sail with three ships, a crew with dubious loyalties, and a mission to find China or Japan by heading west.
A voyage spanning the Canary Islands, Cuba and Hispaniola, he will encounter ... Show More
49m 46s