| DATE | BRIEF DESCRIPTION |
| 1451 | Born Cristoforo Colombo in Genoa, between August and October, the son of a weaver. |
| 1470 | Embarks on his first trading voyage, to the Aegean. |
| 1476 | His ship catches fire off Portugal, he swims to shore and settles in Lisbon. |
| 1479 | Marries the daughter of the governor of Porto Santo. |
| 1480 | A son, Diego, is born. |
| 1484 | Unsuccessfully seeks finance to explore a westward crossing of the Atlantic. |
| 1486 | Introduced to Isabella I of Castile. |
| 1489 | Now a widower, his mistress bears him a second son, Fernando. |
| 1492 | Ferdinand V, King of Castile, agrees to sponsor the voyage, and the Santa Maria, with two smaller ships the Pinta and the Niña, set sail from Palos, Spain. Landings made in the Bahamas, Juana (Cuba), and Espanola (now Haiti and the Dominican Republic). Santa Maria wrecked off Espanola. |
| 1493 | Arrives back in Palos in March. Second voyage departs in September and landings made in Dominica, Guadeloupe, and Antigua. Settlement established at Isabella in Espanola. |
| 1494 | Surveys Cuba and advances the theory that it is part of the Asian mainland. |
| 1495 | After conflicts at Isabella, large numbers of the defeated indigents are shipped to Spain as slaves. Queen Isabella objects and they return to Isabella. |
| 1498 | Third voyage lands in Trinidad and Venezuela. |
| 1499 | Settlers in Española become discontent and Columbus is deprived of governorship. |
| 1500 | Columbus and his brother are arrested, shackled, and returned to Spain. Both receive a pardon. |
| 1502 | Fourth voyage departs from Cádiz. |
| 1503 | Landing in Panama. Ships founder off Jamaica and the expedition is forced to remain there until help arrives. |
| 1504 | Relief arrives and the expedition returns to Spain. |
| 1506 | Dies in Valladolid, on May 20. |
