English: The routes of the four voyages of Columbus. Español: Rutas seguidas por Colón en sus cuatro viajes. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)
The History Lesson You didn't know- How Muslims caused the need to discover America!
“The sign which convinces me that our Lord is hastening the end of the world is the preaching of the Gospel recently in so many lands.”
Though his predictions were off, Columbus revealed his motivation for setting sail Aug. 3, 1492, with the Nina, Pinta and the Santa Maria on his first voyage to find a sea route to India and China, as an alternative to traveling by land through Muslim territories.
Muslims, called “Moors,” had invaded Spain in 711 A.D. With a cavalry of 80,000, wielding curved scimitar swords, they “went through all places like a desolating storm.”
The “Mozarabic Chronicle,” 754 A.D., recorded that thousands of churches were burned and: “God alone knows the number of the slain.”
- In 846 A.D., 11,000 Muslims sacked Rome, Italy, and looted the Basilica of St. Peter, desecrating his grave. They then did the same to remains of St. Paul which were in San Paolo fuori le Mura (St Paul’s outside the Walls). Following this raid, Pope Leo IV decided to build a wall around the Vatican City.
- In 1011, Muslims killed 2,000 in Cordoba, Spain.
- In 1066, Muslims massacred every one of the 5,000 Jews in Granada, Spain.
- In 1189, Muslims raided Libson, Portugal, and enslaved 3,000 women and children.
- In 1191, Muslims attacked Silves, Portugal, enslaving another 3,000.
The Catholic Orders of Montjoie, and Calatrava, were organized to ransom back Christian slaves. It took over 700 years to drive Muslims out of Spain in what was called the “reconquista” or re-conquest.