1. Columbus’ Great Adventure
Into the Unknown…

2. What Influenced Columbus?
he grew up in Italy during the Renaissance
his experience as a sailor and captain
desire to obtain Asian products without going through the Muslims of the Middle East

3. What Columbus Wanted to “discover” a westward travel route to Asia
wealth and fortune
fame and recognition

4. What Columbus Demanded
to receive 10% of all profits from all voyages…forever…
to be called “Admiral of the Ocean Seas”
to be the governor of any land he “found”
to be knighted by the king and queen and called “Sir Columbus”

5. Why Ferdy & Issy Agreed.. 1492 was a critical year in Spanish history:
Ferdinand & Isabella had beaten the Moors (Muslims) out of Spain
All non-Catholics were expelled from Spain
IF Columbus found something, Spain might become incredibly wealthy

6. What Columbus Knew the world was round there were no “sea monsters”
winds off Africa blew to the west
winds near England blew to the east

7. Columbus’ Big Idea sail south toward Africa
catch the easterly winds to Asia
“easterly” winds blow west…
ASIA
EUROPE
AFRICA

8. Columbus’ Big Idea, con’t
find India, China, and Japan (a.k.a. the “Indies”)
trade as much as possible
JAPAN
CHINA
INDIA

9. Columbus’ Big Idea,con’t
sail north past Japan
catch the westerly winds back to Europe
“westerly” winds blow east…
ASIA
EUROPE
AFRICA

10. What Columbus Did Not Know
the actual size of the earth
the true distance to the next continent
that the Americas were in the way

11. Hazards of Sea Travel weather food and water illness and disease
navigational issues
quality of ships and sailors
lack of technology
pirates and mutineers

12. Columbus’ Fleet: Santa Maria

13. Columbus’ Fleet: Santa Maria
75 ft long, 25 ft wide, round-hulled “nao”
crew: men
speed: 4-8 knots/hour
displacement: 100 tons
owner: Juan de la Cosa, master
captain: Christopher Columbus

14. Columbus’ Fleet: Pinta

15. Columbus’ Fleet: Pinta
50 feet long, sleek caravel
crew: 26 men
speed: 4-8 knots/hour
displacement: 70 tons
owner: Cristobal Quintero
captain: Martin Pinzon

16. Columbus’ Fleet: Nina

17. Columbus’ Fleet: Nina 50 feet long, sleek caravel crew: 20 men
speed: 4-8 knots/hour
displacement: 60 ton
owner: Juan Nino, master
captain: Vicente Pinzon

18. Columbus’ Fleet:

19. Columbus’ Great Adventure