Christopher Columbus was
born in Genoa, a busy center of trade on the northwest coast of
Italy. He was enthralled by the tales of Marco Polo's travel
to China. His studies convinced him the world was round, and
he could reach the East by sailing west. He took his idea to
King John of Portugal. However, at this same time a
man named Bartolomeu Dias returned with news of the sea route
around Africa to India. King John would not support
Columbus's plan to reach the East by sailing west.
Columbus decided to go the
court of Spain. After many appeals he persuaded King
Ferdinand and Queen Isabella to support his expedition.
Ferdinand and Isabella shared a mixture of economic and religious
motives. They wanted the great cargoes of gold and other
goods Columbus promised them he would bring back. Columbus
also wanted to spread Christianity wherever he went.
Columbus made four
voyages. He began his first voyage in 1492 with three
ships-two small ones, the Nina and the Pinta, and the larger ship,
the Santa Maria. For two months the ships sailed west.
Columbus promised his crew they would turn back if they did not
see land in three days. On the third day, October 12, 1492,
Columbus landed at an island, which he called San Salvador.
He was convinced he was nearing India or China.
The islands where Columbus
first landed are today called the West Indies. They stretch
over 2,500 miles between North and South America.
Answer the questions below
1. Christopher Columbus was born in
Madrid,
Spain.
Genoa, Italy.
the West Indies.
2. Columbus was convinced the world was .
3. King John of
was the first person approached by Columbus.
4. Columbus then approached the court of .
5. Columbus planned to reach the East
by sailing
east.
by sailing west.
by following the same
plan as Dias.
6. King Ferdinand and Queen Isabella shared economic and
motives.
7. On October 12, 1492 Columbus landed on an
island. He was convinced he was nearing
India or
China.
North
America.
San Salvador.
8. Columbus had three ships on his voyage -
the
Nina, the Pinta, and the Santa Maria.
the Nina,
the Pina, and the Santa Lucia.
the
Nina, the Santa Maria, and the Santa Louisa.
9. Dias had news of a sea route around Africa to .
10. The islands where Columbus first landed are located
between North and South .
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