Questions and Answers
What characteristics did Christopher Columbus have? (Select all that apply)
What were the reasons for Christopher Columbus sailing the ocean? (Select all that apply)
How many miles did Christopher Columbus believe the world was around?
8,000 miles
How many miles is the world really around?
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What was the date that Christopher Columbus set sail?
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What did Christopher Columbus start?
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What happened on October 3?
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What happened on October 12, 1492?
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What was the name of the natives in El Salvador?
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What did Christopher Columbus write in his journal about the Natives?
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How many trips did Christopher Columbus take from Europe to the USA?
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What did Christopher Columbus not realize he was starting?
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Study Notes
Christopher Columbus: Characteristics and Motivations
- Columbus was known for his daring nature and salesmanship.
- His goal was to find a westward route to India.
Reasons for Columbus's Voyage
- Urbanization in Europe created new opportunities and desires for exploration.
- The outbreak of diseases heightened the need for new trade routes.
- Awareness of the Earth being round influenced exploration, although the true size was misunderstood.
- Advances in maritime technology included the caravel, featuring triangle-shaped sails, and the astrolabe, an early compass.
- The invention of the printing press in the 1440s allowed information about explorers to reach wider audiences, boosting interest.
- Bartolomeu Dias's journey to India in 1488 inspired further exploration.
- The Battle of Granada on January 1, 1492, marked the conclusion of the Reconquista, enabling resources for new explorations.
- Columbus successfully pitched his idea to sail west in the summer of 1492.
Columbus's Perception of the World
- Columbus estimated the circumference of the Earth to be 8,000 miles.
- The actual circumference is approximately 26,000 miles.
Voyage Timeline
- Columbus set sail on August 3, 1492.
- On October 3, 1492, the crew began facing food shortages.
- The expedition reached the island of El Salvador on October 12, 1492.
Encounter with Native Peoples
- The indigenous inhabitants of El Salvador were known as the Taino.
- Columbus noted in his journal that the Taino would be easy to convert to Catholicism.
Columbus's Journeys
- Columbus made a total of four voyages to the Americas between 1492 and 1504.
- Significant events included conflicts with natives during the second voyage in 1493, his arrest during the third voyage in 1498, and exploration of Jamaica in the fourth voyage in 1502.
Impact of Columbus's Expeditions
- Columbus inadvertently initiated the Columbian Exchange, which facilitated cultural and biological exchanges among Europe, Native Americans, and Africa.
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Explore the intriguing reasons behind Christopher Columbus's voyage across the ocean in 1492 through these flashcards. Discover his characteristics and the factors that propelled Europe into the Age of Exploration. Test your knowledge about this pivotal historical figure and event.