Unfortunately, the knowledge that Columbus didn’t really discover America has led some historians to overreact, and argue that history should throw him overboard. Similar indictments of Columbus have been built around the “accidental” nature of his Carribean landfall (in lieu of the intended passage to India) and, somewhat more seriously, his expedition’s atrocious treatment of Native Americans. This is all fair game, and deserves to be taken into account when we consider Columbus and his legacy.

When taking the measure of a man, though, it’s unfair to consider his failings while ignoring his achievements. From our modern vantage, it’s obvious that Columbus’s expeditions led to global revolutions in commerce, culture, and cartography. His voyages led to today’s globalized economy; ironically, Columbus was the flat world’s first global entrepreneur.

Taking the good with the bad, then, we can acknowledge that he was an imperfect man; one with strengths and weaknesses, virtues and vices—like everybody else. Unlike most men to walk the Earth—or sail the ocean blue—the deeds and the daring of Cristóbal Colón are still being discussed today. Even if most of us still have to go to work!