How did Christopher Columbus show interest in Renaissance millennial prophecy?

Christopher Columbus demonstrated his interest in Renaissance millennial prophecy primarily through his deep religious convictions and his compilation of the Book of Prophecies. Compiled between 1501 and 1505 with the assistance of the Carthusian friar Gaspar Gorricio, this work collected various biblical pronouncements that Columbus believed directly related to his own role in the western voyages.1

His interest was rooted in the belief that the expansion of Christianity was intrinsically linked to biblical prophecy. Like some Franciscans of his era, Columbus held the conviction that the wealth generated by his explorations could eventually be used to finance a campaign to reclaim Jerusalem for Christian rule. This perspective reflects a broader religious fervor of the time, where personal ambition and maritime discovery were intertwined with the hope of fulfilling divine mandates and preparing for the ultimate triumph of the Christian faith.2