Columbus Sails Across The Atlantic

Columbus Sails Across The Atlantic

S.W.B.A.T. Explain how Christopher Columbus’s voyages led to new exchanges between Europe, Africa, and the Americas

Initial Activity • Where did Columbus first land? • Why do you think Columbus saw only the coastal area of Mesoamerica?

Word of the Day uncharted: not previously mapped

Columbus Sails Across The Atlantic Stories of fabulous kingdoms and wealth in Asia captured the imagination of Christopher Columbus, a sailor from Italy. Columbus was convinced that he could reach Asia by sailing west across the Atlantic Ocean.

The Journey Begins • Columbus asked King Ferdinand and Queen Isabella of Spain to pay for an expedition across the Atlantic Ocean. • He promised them great riches, new territory, and Catholic converts. • Ferdinand and Isabella agreed and ordered Columbus to: • Bring back any items of value • To claim for Spain any lands he explored

The Journey Begins • On August 3, 1492, Columbus’s three ships set sail. • The Nina and Pinta were caravels. • Columbus sailed in the larger Santa Maria. • Soon, they passed the limits of Columbus’s maps and sailed into uncharted seas.

Columbus Reaches Land • On October 12, 1492 the ships landed on an island in the Bahamas. • Columbus thought he had found a new route to Asia. • Instead, he reached another continent that was unknown to him. • He called this island San Salvador, which means “Holy Savior.”

Predicting the Results of Exploration Based on what we have learned in this class, what do you think Christopher Columbus found when he landed?

Columbus Meets The Native Americans • Columbus also visited another island called Hispaniola, where he met Native Americans. • At that time Europeans called Asia the Indies. • Since Columbus thought he was in Asia, he called these Native American people Indians.

Columbus’s Results • After three months of exploring, looking for gold, and collecting exotic plants and animals, Columbus returned to Spain. • Columbus made three more journeys to the Americas during his lifetime. • In 1504, Columbus returned to Spain. • He died two years later, still believing he had reached Asia.

Impact of Columbus’s Voyages • Columbus’s discovery created conflict between European countries. • Both Spain and Portugal wanted to add these lands to their growing empires.

Line of Demarcation • As a solution, Pope Alexander VI, originally from Spain, drew a boundary for Portugal and Spain in 1493. • This line, known as the Line of Demarcation divided the Atlantic Ocean. • Portugal could claim lands East of the line. • Spain could claim all lands West of the line.

Treaty of Tordesillas • The Portuguese king believed that the Line of Demarcation was better for Spain. • To prevent war, both countries signed the Treaty of Tordesillas. • Moved the Line of Demarcation 800 miles further west. • Gave Portugal more opportunity to claim lands unexplored by other Europeans.

Summary • Answer the following question in your notebook and be ready to share your conclusions with the class: How did Columbus’s voyage lead to a dispute between Spain and Portugal?

Columbus Sails Across The Atlantic