Who was Columbus? Italian man born in 1451 Merchant sea-trader who lived in Portugal and then Spain Interested in maps Devout Christian, believed that the Garden of Eden was on the opposite side of the Earth from Jerusalem Who was Columbus? Italian man born in 1451 Merchant sea-trader who lived in Portugal and then Spain Interested in maps Devout Christian, believed that the Garden of Eden was on the opposite side of the Earth from Jerusalem

Why did he set sail? He believed that one could sail west from Europe (that is, into the Atlantic Ocean) to reach Asia more quickly Asia, specifically China and India (which were already home to major civilizations) could be a great source for trade  wealth Wanted to help spread Christianity to other parts of the world

Who financed his trip? After several unsuccessful sales pitches to other European kings and queens, Queen Isabella of Spain agreed to pay for the trip Columbus would become governor of whatever lands he found and could get 1/10 th of the wealth All else would belong to the Spanish Crown

Where did he land? In October, 1492, his three ships landed in what is now the Bahamas in the Caribbean Sea. He and his crew explored several islands in the area, including Cuba and Hispaniola, before returning to Spain.

Where did he think he had landed?  He thought he landed on islands off the coast of Asia, known to Europeans as “the Indies.”  Therefore, he called the islands the West Indies.

With whom was his first encounter? In their island explorations, the Spanish met the Arawak people Thinking the Arawaks were the native people of “the Indies,” Columbus called them los indios

“The Landing of Columbus on the Islands of Guanahani, West Indies” by John Vanderlyn (1836) On display at the U.S. Capital Building

“Disembarkation at Veracruz” by Diego Rivera (1951) On display at the National Gallery in Mexico City