As Europeans searched for sea routes to Asia, Christopher Columbus reaches the Americas.

Why Explore?

Henry the Navigator

Started a school on the coast Portugal. Organized sailing expeditions.Motivations –

Find African goldLearn more about geographySpread Christianity

Bartolomeu DiasPortuguese develop a new ship called the Caravel

Triangular sails made it faster/betterDias will sail in a caravel and reach the southern tip of Africa.

Named is the Cape of Good Hope Bc they hoped they had found a route to Asia.

Vasco da GamaTen years later, da Gama follows Dias’s route

Continues north around Africa and reaches India

First person to find an all-water route to Asia

Portugal Grows RichPortugal will take control of the spice trade

after finding the all-water route.This made the people their rich

Spain and other European Rivals want their own part in this profitable trade.They start looking for an all-water route.

Christopher ColumbusItalian sailor, Christopher Columbus thought he

knew a faster way to reach Asia.Instead of going East, his plan was to go west

across the Atlantic because he thought it would be faster.He made 2 mistakes

Wrong about the size of Asia Underestimated the distance around the globe

In 1483 he asked the King of Portugal to sponsor his voyage –they turned him down.In 1486 he asked their rival, Spain.

King Ferdinand and Queen IsabellaThey liked Columbus’s plan because they

wanted a share of the rich Asian trade.The Queen was a strong Catholic and wanted

to spread Christianity.Reservations-

1. Advisors had doubts about Columbus’s calculations.

2. Spain was in a costly war to drive the Muslims out of Spain.

3. Columbus was asking high prices for his payment.

Setting SailAfter their war with the Muslims ended, they

agreed to sponsor Columbus. Columbus assembled 3 ships:

1. Nina2. Pinta3. Santa Maria

About 90 men loaded the ships with enough supplies for 1 year.

Once aboard the ship Columbus kept a log about the journey.

Reaching the Americas

Reaching the AmericasColumbus thought he reached the Indies,

islands of southeast Asia.He and his men were greeted by the Taino people,

but Columbus mistakenly called them Indians.Claimed and named the Island San Salvador.

Reaching the AmericasEager to reach Japan, He left San Salvador

with Taino as guides.For three months traveled through the

Caribbean.Finally landed on an island he named

Española (Hispaniola)There Columbus found gold and was convinced

he found Asia. Returned home leaving 39 of his men on Hispaniola.

By the time he returned 10 months later, the Taino killed everyone.

Reaching the AmericasIn January 1493, returned to Spain, believing

he had found a new route to Asia… …No one knew he had landed near continents

entirely unknown to Europeans. Never brought back treasures. Didn’t spread Christianity. Enslaved and Mistreated Natives. He died in 1506, believing he had reached Asia.

Spain Grows PowerfulBegan an era of great wealth and power for

Spain.As Spain’s wealth grew, England, France and other

countries began sending voyages to the Americas.