Second+Voyage

=__ Second Voyage 1493-1496 __= Columbus' second voyage was a lot more publicized than his first voyage which was low key. Columbus lead his second expedition out of Spain from Cadiz in 1493 in charge of 17 ships which had a combined crew of about 1300 men and a large number of livestock. The aim of this voyage was clear, colonise the new continent and find silver and gold.

Their first landfall was made at the Lesser Antilles in November. The convoy eventually worked its way back to the setttlement of Navidad on Hispaniola where Columbus discovered the reminants of the fort and some bodies. No survivers were found. It was assumed that there had been a war with the natives and that the few settlers had been wiped out. A new community was formed at a nearby location. Columbus spent most of 1494 exploring other islands such as Jamaica and southern Cuba.

While Columbus was away exploring, things started to go wrong on Hispaniola. A lot of the colonists refused to work and spent their time digging for gold. Little effort was spent trying to improve living conditions and crops. Columbus attempted to restore discipline when he returned, but his attempt alienated many settlers. Columbus was a far better sailor than administrator. He dealt with the issue of people not working by caving in to their demands to enslave the natives to work. Conditions remained disastrous and many colonists returned to Spain where they reported to the King and Queen their displeaure of their leader.

In 1496 Columbus left the struggling colony and returned to Spain so he could defend his administartion before royal officials. Two of his brothers Bartholomew and Diego were left in charge of the colony. Columbus' second voyage resulted in the establishment of a tenuous colony on Hispaniola and the discovery of virtually nothing in the way of mineral wealth.



Second Voyage