Christopher ColumbusPgs. 130-135

Just the Facts

• Columbus had been a sailor almost all of his life.

• He was born and raised in Italy.

• He had sailed all over the known world.

• He had read The Travels of Marco Polo and was fascinated by the stories he had heard about the wealth of Asia, especially the Indies.

A Westward Route to the East

• Columbus thought he could reach Asia by sailing west instead of going around Africa.

• He believed that sailing west was a quicker and more direct route.

• He asked Queen Isabella and King Ferdinand of Spain to support his plan.

• It would be years before they would lend their support.

The First Voyage

• Ferdinand and Isabella agreed to pay for the first voyage in April of 1492.

• Columbus’s first expedition consisted of three ships and 89 men.

• The Santa Maria was about 100’ long. The Pinta and the Nina were about 50’ long.

• Columbus set sail on August 3, 1492.

The First Voyage - 1492

Grumbling and Complaining

• Columbus had been at sea for almost two months with no land in site.

• His crew grumbled and complained.

• Some of the crew thought about throwing him overboard then turning the ships around to head for home.

• He told the crew he planned to find the Indies and would continue until he did.

Land Spotted

• On October 11, 1492, Columbus spotted the Caribbean Islands off southeastern North America.

• They landed on an island called Guanahani, but Columbus later renamed it San Salvador.

• They were met by the local Taino Indians. • Columbus thought he had made it to Asia,

and called this area the Indies, and called its inhabitants Indians.