The only time Christopher Columbus saw either of the American continents was in 1498, when he landed in what is now Venezuela.
This was his third trip to the New World, and was accompanied by the father of Bartolomé de Las Casas.
He explored the mainland of South America, and reached the islands of Chacachacare and Margarita Island.
An entry in his journal from September 1498 reads, “From here one might send, in the name of the Holy Trinity, as many slaves as could be sold.”
Columbus refused to baptize the Hispaniola natives that were used as slaves, as Catholic law forbade the enslavement of Christians.
He had some of his crew hanged for disobeying him, even though Columbus supported the enslavement for economic reasons.
