What inspired Columbus to try reaching China by sailing west?
Understand the Problem
The question asks about the primary inspiration behind Christopher Columbus's decision to attempt reaching China by sailing west. This requires identifying the factor that led him to believe such a voyage was feasible and would reach its destination.
Answer
Columbus believed sailing west was a faster route to East Asia (India, China, Japan) for spices.
Christopher Columbus was inspired to reach China by sailing west because he believed the world was round. He thought that a westward route would be a faster and more efficient way to reach the East Asian sources of spices, like India, China, and Japan.
Answer for screen readers
Christopher Columbus was inspired to reach China by sailing west because he believed the world was round. He thought that a westward route would be a faster and more efficient way to reach the East Asian sources of spices, like India, China, and Japan.
More Information
Columbus's plan was initially rejected by other European monarchs. He mistakenly underestimated the size of the Earth, which led him to believe that Asia was closer to Europe than it actually was when traveling west.
Tips
A common mistake is thinking Columbus was trying to prove the world was round. Educated people at the time already knew the world was round.
Sources
- Voyages of Christopher Columbus - Wikipedia - en.wikipedia.org
- Christopher Columbus - Ages of Exploration - exploration.marinersmuseum.org
- Why did Christopher Columbus sail westward and discover a new ... - quora.com
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