Europe wanted special luxuries that only existed in Asia. These were items such as gold, gems, and exotic spices. To get these items, Europeans were forced to take overland routes which were extremely difficult and time-consuming. Due to this, Europeans began looking for faster trading routes. In the late 1400s, a man named Christopher Columbus offered to bring riches back faster by going in the opposite direction from Asia. He also wanted to prove that the world was actually a sphere and not a flat shape. (Robinson). Columbus was not the first person to theorize that the earth was round. This theory was understood and accepted since the ancient Greeks. What Columbus did do was underestimate the size of the earth and overestimate the size of
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He discovered Cuba which he thought was a small peninsula near China. Despite an arising suspicion of Columbus's talents, the King and Queen funded his third expedition (Queen). After he went back to Spain to report his findings, Columbus went back to his colony. The Spanish colonists there revolted against him. He was returned to Spain in chains. He was also banned from ever entering Hispaniola again (Queen). Columbus’s fourth and final voyage turns out to be a huge disaster. Columbus was equipped with only four canals. On the way back to, "Asia" he encounters a storm. For the safety of his four boats, he disobeys the monarchs and docks in Hispaniola. There, he warns the governor about the storm. Because of Columbus's reputation, nobody believed him and as a result, 25 boats sank and only 3-4 canals successfully made it. With what Columbus had left, he started searching for a canal through the continent. He failed to find one. In spite of that, he established a temporary settlement. The Natives did not tolerate this and successfully kicked the Spanish off their land. After this Columbus decides to return to Hispaniola, his plans change when he discovers that the last boats are all either lost or severely damaged
He discovered Cuba which he thought was a small peninsula near China. Despite an arising suspicion of Columbus's talents, the King and Queen funded his third expedition (Queen). After he went back to Spain to report his findings, Columbus went back to his colony. The Spanish colonists there revolted against him. He was returned to Spain in chains. He was also banned from ever entering Hispaniola again (Queen). Columbus’s fourth and final voyage turns out to be a huge disaster. Columbus was equipped with only four canals. On the way back to, "Asia" he encounters a storm. For the safety of his four boats, he disobeys the monarchs and docks in Hispaniola. There, he warns the governor about the storm. Because of Columbus's reputation, nobody believed him and as a result, 25 boats sank and only 3-4 canals successfully made it. With what Columbus had left, he started searching for a canal through the continent. He failed to find one. In spite of that, he established a temporary settlement. The Natives did not tolerate this and successfully kicked the Spanish off their land. After this Columbus decides to return to Hispaniola, his plans change when he discovers that the last boats are all either lost or severely damaged