Christopher ColumbusChristopher Columbus

Christopher ColumbusChristopher ColumbusBiographical DataBiographical Data• Born: Born: 1451 in Genoa, 1451 in Genoa,

ItalyItaly• SentSent by Queen Isabella by Queen Isabella

and King Ferdinand of and King Ferdinand of SpainSpain

• Died: Died: May 20, 1506 in May 20, 1506 in Valladolid, Spain Valladolid, Spain

Christopher Columbus Christopher Columbus Reason for ExploringReason for Exploring• Thought that Japan and the Indies Thought that Japan and the Indies

were much closer than they are.were much closer than they are.• ““Enterprise of the Indies.”Enterprise of the Indies.”• Explore a new route to the East Explore a new route to the East

Indies (Spice Islands).Indies (Spice Islands).• Would become Governor of any lands Would become Governor of any lands

discovered.discovered.• Keep 10% of wealth discovered.Keep 10% of wealth discovered.

Christopher ColumbusChristopher Columbus• Christopher Columbus was born in Christopher Columbus was born in

1451, in Italy.1451, in Italy.• He studied navigation and believed he He studied navigation and believed he

could find a better route to Asia.could find a better route to Asia.• Instead of going around Africa, he Instead of going around Africa, he

wanted to go west. He, however, wanted to go west. He, however, did not know that NA and SA were did not know that NA and SA were between Europe and Asia.between Europe and Asia.

Christopher ColumbusChristopher Columbus• Columbus asked King Ferdinand and Columbus asked King Ferdinand and Queen Isabella of Spain to pay for hisQueen Isabella of Spain to pay for hisvoyage.voyage.• They were fighting a war and did not They were fighting a war and did not

have the money.have the money.• Columbus asked again in 6 years.Columbus asked again in 6 years.• This time they said “yes” because they This time they said “yes” because they

needed money for their war. They needed money for their war. They believed the spices and gold that believed the spices and gold that Columbus brought back would help pay Columbus brought back would help pay their debt.their debt.

Christopher ColumbusChristopher ColumbusHis VoyageHis Voyage

• Three ships:Three ships:– the the Niña,Niña, the the Pinta,Pinta, and the and the Santa MariaSanta Maria

• A crew of about 90 men and boysA crew of about 90 men and boys• The The Santa Maria,Santa Maria, at 100 feet in length, at 100 feet in length,

was the largest of the three ships; was the largest of the three ships; • the the NiñaNiña and the and the PintaPinta were 70-foot were 70-foot

caravels. caravels. • Set sail on Aug 3, 1492 from port of Palos, Set sail on Aug 3, 1492 from port of Palos,

Spain.Spain.

Christopher ColumbusChristopher Columbus His 1His 1stst Voyage Voyage• Voyage into uncharted waters.Voyage into uncharted waters.• Made good time, but it was much Made good time, but it was much

farther than he thought.farther than he thought.• Had to ration food & drink.Had to ration food & drink.• October 10October 10thth crew became crew became

mutinous..wanted to turn backmutinous..wanted to turn back• Oct 12Oct 12thth..sighted land “Tierra, tierra.”..sighted land “Tierra, tierra.”• Landed in the Bahamas.Landed in the Bahamas.

Christopher ColumbusChristopher Columbus

1st Voyage

Christopher ColumbusChristopher ColumbusDiscoveries/OutcomesDiscoveries/Outcomes• Explored Cuba and Hispaniola (Haiti Explored Cuba and Hispaniola (Haiti

and Dominican Republic)and Dominican Republic)• Met Native Americans (Taino) and Met Native Americans (Taino) and

traded gold with them.traded gold with them.• Returned to Palos on March 15Returned to Palos on March 15thth..• Made three more voyages to explore Made three more voyages to explore

the Caribbean region. the Caribbean region. 1493-1496, 1493-1496, 1498-1500, 1502-15041498-1500, 1502-1504

Christopher ColumbusChristopher ColumbusOpinionOpinion• Did not “discover” America since many Did not “discover” America since many

native peoples were already there.native peoples were already there.– Maybe they came from AsiaMaybe they came from Asia– Maybe Vikings and other sailors came Maybe Vikings and other sailors came

before him.before him.• Started commerce between Europe Started commerce between Europe

and Americasand Americas• Was an excellent sailor and explorer.Was an excellent sailor and explorer.

The Columbian ExchangeThe Columbian Exchange• Ferdinand and Isabella wanted Ferdinand and Isabella wanted

Columbus to start settlements and Columbus to start settlements and look for gold.look for gold.

• A settlement is a small community of A settlement is a small community of people living in a new place.people living in a new place.

• He continued to claim more land in He continued to claim more land in the West Indies for Spain.the West Indies for Spain.

The Columbian ExchangeThe Columbian Exchange• Columbus brought ships filled with Columbus brought ships filled with

horses, cows, pigs, wheat, barley, horses, cows, pigs, wheat, barley, and sugar cane to the Western and sugar cane to the Western Hemisphere.Hemisphere.

• These animals did not live in the These animals did not live in the Americas before Columbus brought Americas before Columbus brought them.them.

Effects of ColumbusEffects of Columbus• Europeans cut down rain forests on Europeans cut down rain forests on

Caribbean Islands and built sugar plants.Caribbean Islands and built sugar plants.• Many American plants and animals were Many American plants and animals were

destroyed.destroyed.• They brought diseases.They brought diseases.• They caused epidemics.They caused epidemics.• An epidemic is an outbreak of disease An epidemic is an outbreak of disease

the spreads quickly and affects many the spreads quickly and affects many people.people.

The Columbian ExchangeThe Columbian Exchange• Columbus returned to Spain with plants no Columbus returned to Spain with plants no

one in Europe had seen before.one in Europe had seen before.• These included maize (corn), peanuts, These included maize (corn), peanuts,

potatoes, cacao (chocolate), and certain potatoes, cacao (chocolate), and certain peppers, beans, and squashes.peppers, beans, and squashes.

• This movement of plants, animals, This movement of plants, animals, and people between the Eastern and and people between the Eastern and Western Hemispheres is known as the Western Hemispheres is known as the Columbian Exchange.Columbian Exchange.

Christopher ColumbusChristopher ColumbusBibliographyBibliography““Christoper Columbus” UXL Biography, Christoper Columbus” UXL Biography,

Gale.Gale.““The Columbus Navigation The Columbus Navigation

Homepage.” Homepage.” http://www1.minn.net/~keithp/. Sept Sept 16, 2002.16, 2002.