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

American History Coach Kirkwood 2 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

American History Coach Kirkwood 3 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.

American History Coach Kirkwood 4 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

American History Coach Kirkwood 5 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

American History Coach Kirkwood 6 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

American History Coach Kirkwood 7 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

American History Coach Kirkwood 8 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

American History Coach Kirkwood 9 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

American History Coach Kirkwood 10 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

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

American History Coach Kirkwood 12

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

American History Coach Kirkwood 14 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

American History Coach Kirkwood 15 Activity Update your chart of Explorers

American History Coach Kirkwood 16 Assignment Read Pgs

American History Coach Kirkwood 17 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