John Cabot's Voyages

Study Notes

John Cabot and His Voyages

John Cabot and his sons were granted a patent by King Henry VII to sail into the New World, allowing them to find, discover, and investigate unknown lands.
The financial terms of the patent included a 20% tax on all capital gained by Cabot, much more favorable than Christopher Columbus's 90% tax.
The patent granted Cabot and his sons a monopoly over the territories they discovered, prohibiting others from visiting without their permission.
There is little surviving written information about John Cabot's voyages, with most existing in bits and pieces from other sources.
The John Day letter, believed to have been written to Christopher Columbus, describes Cabot's second voyage, including his landing in modern-day Newfoundland.
Cabot's writings indicate his reluctance to interact with natives and his decision not to venture far inland.
The letter briefly describes Cabot's first voyage, where he faced crew issues, supply shortages, and bad weather, leading to his decision to turn back.
Despite a challenging first voyage, Cabot maintained the endorsement of the royal crown for his subsequent expeditions.
There is speculation that the people of Bristol, England, had been exploring the western hemisphere prior to Cabot's voyages, as mentioned in a dispatch sent to Ferdinand and Isabella.
An historian alleged that British navigators found North America 20 years before Cabot, but their research was ordered to be destroyed after their death.
John Cabot's third voyage was delayed due to an uprising against King Henry VII, who had come to power in an uprising against Richard III.
After the rebellion was put down, a second patent was issued in February 1498 to support John Cabot's third voyage.

Description

Test your knowledge of John Cabot and his voyages with this quiz. Explore the details of Cabot's expeditions to the New World, including his interactions with the royal crown, the challenges he faced, and the impact of his discoveries.