The Age of Exploration
By: Jessica Martinez
Christopher Columbus
Christopher Columbus was born in Genoa, Italy, in 1451. Christopher Columbus wanted to create a shorter route to Asia. The reason why is because the route from Europe to Asia was very far. Explorers would sail South along the West African coast and around the cape of good hope. So Christopher Columbus decided that he would sail across the Atlantic Ocean. He believed that it would be a better and faster way to get to Asia from Europe. Christopher Columbus thought that the circumference of the earth was much smaller than it actually is. Columbus proposed his idea, to the Spanish monarchs Ferdinand of Aragon and Isabella of Castile. They liked his idea. It was not till 1491that they agreed to his plan. On August 3rd, 1492 Columbus set sail. Columbus set sail on the Nina, Santa Maria and Pinta. He promised his Spanish patrons gold, silver, spices and pears. He did not find any gold, silver, spices or pears. Columbus saw land on October 12th, 1492. But he did not find Asia. Instead he found America. In March of 1493, Christopher Columbus decided to head back home. Leaving 40 crew men, in present day Haiti and Dominican Republic.
The Santa Maria, Pinta and Nina ships
Christopher's second voyage to America
On September 1493, Columbus decided to go back to America. He headed West to find gold and other goods. He found the Hispaniola settlement destroyed. He dropped off his 2 brothers to re-build.
Columbus's Journey to America For the 3rd Time
In May of 1498, Christopher Columbus went back to America. The colonist of the Hispaniola settlement were in revolt with Columbus's brothers. Columbus had dropped them off there on his second voyage to America to rebuild the settlement. Columbus was arrested and sent back to Spain. The Spanish authorities had to send a new governor.
Did You Know?
Did you know that on Christopher's first journey to America he was attacked by French privateers, and he had to swim to the shore of Lisbon, Portugal?
Did you know that he got married to Felipa Perestello, and they had a son named Diego in 1480?
Did you know that his wife later died, and Christopher Columbus re-married Beatriz Enrique and had a son in 1488?
Did you know that the Spanish monarchs agreed to Columbus's idea to sail across the Atlantic ocean because they wanted him to spread the Catholic religion?