Get ready to join the European explorers on their voyages to

new lands!

Meet

Hi! You can call me Chris! I was born in Italy in 1451. Want to

hear about how I got involved in the exploration business? Come along on my journey and I’ll tell

you all about it!

Think!

When and where was Columbus born?

Write your answer on your “Background Information” fact card.

In my day, most people thought that if you went sailing, you could eventually fall off the edge of the earth. They thought the world was flat! Can you believe that? I knew better! I was on a mission

to prove to them that the world was round! So I had an idea!

I decided I would go on my own voyage, traveling west and I’d show them! I’d find them a quicker way to Asia instead going

around Africa! I’d even get them those spices they were always whining about!

However, I had just one, teeny, tiny problem - I didn’t have a ship.

Think!

What did Columbus want to prove to the

Europeans?Write your answer on your “Goals” fact card.

I went to several European rulers to tell them about my

plan, hoping they’d loan me a ship or two, but you know what?

They thought I was crazy for thinking the world was round!

What?! Are you crazy? You’ll

fall off the earth!

Oh, Chris! Always coming up with those wacky ideas!

I don’t have money to waste on your foolish

ideas! I just want my spices! None of

this “round world” business!

Then, just when I thought I was out of luck, I gave Spain a

shot and I asked King Ferdinand and Queen

Isabella.

Please???

Sure!

Think!

What country gave Columbus money for his voyage?

Write your answer on your “Background Information” fact card.

This will show all of Europe just how

strong and powerful we are!

You bet! Let’s give Chris our 3 best ships to explore:

The Pinta, Niña, and the Santa Maria!Think!

Why did Spain want to send Columbus out to explore?

Write your answer on your “Goals” fact card.

We set sail in August of 1492. Let me tell you, some days were rough out on the water. My

crew started to think we should turn back. They

were getting mad!

I’m through with this!

We can’t take it anymore!

If we don’t see land in 3 days, I’m turning this ship around, or

else!

Hey Everyone! Do you see what

I see?

Luckily – we saw land not long after. We had finally found Asia. I was right!!

Who is that?

They look

funny!

Columbus had actually landed in the Caribbean, on an

island that is now shared by the countries of Haiti and Dominican

Republic.Think!

Where did Columbus think he had landed? Where had he actually

landed?Write your answer on your “Voyages” fact card.

We’re not Indians, we are Native

Americans! He needs to get his facts

straight!

Let me tell you, Asia looked a lot different than what I had

pictured. I was pretty sure I had arrived in India. Once I got there, I found a few Indians

already living there, and boy did they look different! Who’s he

calling Indian?

I certainly learned about quite a lot of new things. The food and animals

there were so different! I knew Queen Isabella and King Ferdinand would

want me to bring back some for them to see, so I brought back some food

and animals like turkey and pineapple.

Um….where are you taking me, exactly? I get sea sick pretty

easily…

Think!

What are some of the things Columbus took back with him to

Europe?Write your answer on your “Voyages” fact card.

Soon, it was time for us to head back to Spain and be treated like heroes! We couldn’t wait to tell

everyone that we had found India by sailing around the

world!

I’m glad to see them leave!

And they think they discovered America?! Ha!

So, you see. My voyages were a pretty big deal. It was kind

of the start to the “Age of Exploration.” After I got back, other

countries were anxious to send out

their own explorers to see what they could

find.

Also, people began to believe me that the

world was round, and not flat!

Think!

What was the result of Columbus’ Exploration?

Write your answer on your “Results” fact card.

End of Section

This is the end of Christopher Columbus’

journey.