Columbus and “The New World”

It’s been sometime since I wrote something here. I guess I was too much preoccupied. Anyway, I am breaking my long fast from writing with an interesting and motivating historical fact.

Christopher Columbus made a flawed calculation in estimating the circumference of earth. Historical records show Columbus embarked on his famous voyage across the Atlantic Ocean on August 3, 1492. How come he gravely underestimated the earth’s circumference in 1492 while Eratosthenes (c. 276–c. 194 BCE) from ancient Greece had remarkably accurate calculation for Earth’s circumference? (Some Background: From Europe Columbus reached America, while sailing towards the west, his goal was to reach east cost of India. He knew earth was round and wanted to find the new route to India from East of Europe.)

This is because During Columbus’ time, the works of the ancient Greek geographer Claudius Ptolemy were more widely known and influential than those of Eratosthenes. This is only now when we know, apparently, Eratosthenes was far more accurate on earth’s circumference then Ptolemy.

Anyway, Columbus not with right calculation, made his Voyage. Did he have the best ship in the world to make such a daunting task? Not even close. The ship of that time Chinese admiral Zheng He, said to be almost 7 times larger than that of Columbus’ ship.

Yet, Columbus made his historic voyage and discovered America. Which till his death he (might) thought it was India. His sheer courage and risk-taking appetite opened the door of a “New World” to Europe. If we think of all the potential risks he took — it very much could have been his last voyage.

The world is full of such examples, and we see them around a lot of time. Yet we procrastinate our actions waiting on right resources and most of time give up thinking that others are in better position. Next time if you are in to-be-not-to-be predicament, do remember actions taken with calculated risk are almost always rewarded