1) Christopher Columbus was born in 1451 in Italy and set out to prove that the world was round by sailing west to reach Asia, believing he could find a quicker route to the spices and goods of Asia. 2) He struggled to find a country to fund his voyage, but was finally able to convince Ferdinand and Isabella of Spain to give him three ships. 3) In 1492, Columbus set sail and eventually landed in the Caribbean, believing he had reached Asia, though he had actually discovered lands that would later be known as the Americas.

1. Get ready to join the
European explorers
on their voyages to
new lands!

2. 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.

3. 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.

4. 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!

5. 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.

6. 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.

7. 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!

8. Hey Everyone!
Do you see what
I see?

9. 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.

10. 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?

11. 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.

12. 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!

13. 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.

14. End of Section
This is the end of
Christopher Columbus’
journey.