American History Age of Exploration Columbus Reaches the

American History Age of Exploration Columbus Reaches the Americas Coach Kirkwood 1

American History Objectives • Why Christopher Columbus believed he could reach Asia by sailing west • What places in the Americas Columbus visited • How did the Americas receive their names Coach Kirkwood 2

American History Christopher Columbus (1 of 3) • Read Description of the World – Polo states the island of Cipango was 1500 miles off the coast of Asia • He believed the world was round • Because of Polo’s error, believed Asia was much closer to Europe then people believed. Coach Kirkwood 3

American History Christopher Columbus (2 of 3) • • • Was an Italian by birth Went to sea at an early age Sailed with the Italians Moved to Portugal Sailed many years with the Portuguese fleet – Became an expert navigator Coach Kirkwood 4

American History Christopher Columbus (3 of 3) • Early 1480 – Approached Portugal for money to explore the western route – Was turned down because they felt he had misjudged the distance • 1485 – Approached Spain – Queen Isabella and King Ferdinand agree Coach Kirkwood 5

American History Voyage Across the Atlantic (1 of 2) • Sails on 8/3/1492 – 3 Ships • Santa Maria (largest) • Pinta • Nina – Had a crew of 90 men – Sail to the Canary Islands • Takes on supplies • Sails on 9/6/1492 Coach Kirkwood 6

American History Voyage Across the Atlantic (2 of 2) • Finds western sea route – Westerly trade winds • Sails for about a month – Crews become impatient – Had never been that far from land – Threatened to mutiny • Promised them to turn back in 3 more days Coach Kirkwood 7

American History Tierra! • October 12, 1492 – Sight land – 70 days after voyage begins – 2, 400 miles • Land in present day Bahamas – Named an island San Salvador • Holy Savior Coach Kirkwood 8

American History Native Americans • Taino – Lived on the islands • Found the white man curious • Columbus calls them Indians – Thought he was in the Indies • Gives them jewelry Coach Kirkwood 9

American History More Exploration • Columbus will sail to several island – Uses the Taino as guides • Sails to Cuba • Found another island – Called it Hispainola – Present day Haiti and the Dominican Republic • Returns home as a hero on 3/4/1493 – Brought 6 Natives with him Coach Kirkwood 10

American History Later Voyages • Columbus will make 3 more voyages • 2 nd voyage found the colony of Santo Domingo – The first permanent colony in the Western Hemisphere • Columbus will govern this colony for 2 years Coach Kirkwood 11

American History Coach Kirkwood 12

American History Results • Brought little gold to Spain • Columbus poorly governs the new colony • Never realized he had discovered 2 uncharted continents • Will die in 1506 Coach Kirkwood 13

American History Amerigo Vespucci • Sails to North America a few years after Columbus • Wrote that he had come to a new world • Published his claims in a booklet • A German map maker read this in 1507 – Charts a new map – Named the continents after Vespucci Coach Kirkwood 14

American History Activity • Update your chart of Explorers Coach Kirkwood 15

American History Assignment • Read Pgs 78 --81 Coach Kirkwood 16

American History What you have learned today • Why Christopher Columbus believed he could reach Asia by sailing west • What places in the Americas Columbus visited • How did the Americas receive their names Coach Kirkwood 17