Christopher Columbus |
Heading West to Reach the EastChristopher Columbus was born in Genoa, Italy, in 1451. His career in exploration started when he was very young. As a teenager he traveled the seas and eventually made Portugal his base. Columbus came to believe that the East Indies (present-day Indonesia and surrounding islands) could be reached by sailing west through the Atlantic Ocean. He appealed to the kings of Portugal, France, and England to finance a westward trip to the Indies, but all denied his request. After ten years of monumental efforts but fruitless results, King Ferdinand and Queen Isabella of Spain agreed to finance Columbus in the hopes of acquiring great wealth. On August 3, 1492, Columbus, crew, and three ships, the Nina, Pinta, and Santa Maria, left Palos, Spain, and headed westward. Land Sighted!After stopping in the Canary Islands off the coast of Africa, Columbus’s ships hit the open seas. Covering about 150 miles a day, the trip was long and arduous. The crew was afraid of sea monsters and grew more restless every day that land was not sighted. Columbus offered a reward for the first person to sight land. On October 12, a crew member aboard the Pinta sighted one of the Bahama Islands. Columbus set foot on what he believed was one of the Spice Islands, a group of islands in Asia (now known as Indonesia), where valuable spices and riches came from. He named the land San Salvador. Columbus failed to find the riches he expected and continued to search for China. He next visited Cuba and Hispaniola (Dominican Republic). He encountered native peoples who he named “Indians” because he believed they were inhabitants of the Indies. I Did Find a Shortcut to the Indies!Columbus returned to Spain a hero. He was named Viceroy of the Indies. He soon returned to the New World but never found the riches he expected. Some began to believe that Columbus had found “a new world” rather than a shortcut to the Indies. LegacyChristopher Columbus is credited with discovering the continent of North America, although he probably wasn’t the first explorer to see the continent, and he believed until his death that the islands he encountered were in the Asian continent. His discoveries were instrumental in the establishment of Spanish colonies in North America. Today, we celebrate Columbus Day in October to commemorate his discoveries. Discussion Questions
Heading West to Reach the EastChristopher Columbus was born in Genoa, Italy, in 1451. He began exploring at a young age and later made Portugal his home. Columbus believed he could reach the East Indies by sailing west across the Atlantic Ocean. After many failed attempts to get funding, King Ferdinand and Queen Isabella of Spain finally agreed to support his voyage. On August 3, 1492, Columbus and his crew set sail from Spain with three ships: the Niña, Pinta, and Santa María. Land Sighted!After stopping at the Canary Islands, Columbus sailed into the open Atlantic. The journey was long, and the crew became anxious. To encourage them, Columbus promised a reward to the first person who saw land. On October 12, 1492, land was sighted—one of the Bahama Islands. Columbus thought he had reached Asia and named the island San Salvador. He continued to search for riches, visiting Cuba and Hispaniola, and called the local people “Indians,” believing he had reached the Indies. I Did Find a Shortcut to the Indies!Columbus returned to Spain and was welcomed as a hero. He was named Viceroy of the Indies and went on more voyages. However, he never found the riches he expected, and people started to believe he had discovered new lands rather than a shortcut to Asia. LegacyChristopher Columbus is remembered for opening the door to European exploration of the Americas. Although he believed he had reached Asia until his death, his voyages led to the founding of Spanish colonies. Columbus Day is celebrated each October in his honor. |
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