1. Chapter 5 European Exploration
Section 1

2. Christopher Columbus
In the late 1400’s, Columbus , an explorer born in Genoa, Italy, persuaded Queen Isabella and King Ferdinand of Spain to pay for his expedition. Columbus told the queen he would find a new route across the Atlantic Ocean to Cathay, the European name for China.

3. Columbus had taught himself Spanish, Portuguese, and geography
Columbus had taught himself Spanish, Portuguese, and geography. Like other educated Europeans of his time, he know that the earth was round. Because of this, he believed that he could sail westward to reach Asia faster and easier than traveling eastward.

4. The king and queen did agree to support his expedition, so Columbus set sail with his three ships, the Nina, Pinta, and the Santa Maria for Asia on August 3, 1492.

5. Landed was sited on Oct. 12, 1492
Columbus's explorers set foot on an island they believed to be in the Indies, in Southeast Asia. They named the new land San Salvador, meaning Holy Savior. Columbus named the helpful and friendly native people indios. Columbus did not realize that his ships had landed among the islands we know today as the Bahamas.

6. Columbus continued with his expedition and visited many islands including Cuba and Hispaniola. Hispaniola was the sight of the first Spanish colony in the Americas.

7. COLUMBUS’S FOUR VOYAGES

8. Columbus joined his brother, Bartholomew to colonize new lands for Spain. Bartholomew established the first permanent colony on Hispaniola and named it Santo Domingo.
Columbus made a total of 4 voyages to the Americas for Spain. Columbus failed to find a new trade route to Asia or to bring back riches to Spain. Finally, Spain withdrew her support, but this only opened the door for other European explorers.