Christopher Columbus' father, Domenico Columbus, was a wool weaver. Columbus was born into a middle-class family that worked as weavers in Genoa, Italy. Columbus was ashamed of his banal family background and did not often speak of his parents.
Columbus initially joined the family business of wool processing and selling. However, soon after joining the family business, he left at the age of 14 to begin a career in seafaring.
Columbus had three brothers and one sister. Two of his brothers, Bartholomew and Diego, joined him on his sea travels and explorations, while his remaining brother and sister stayed behind in Italy.
