Christopher Columbus

Christopher Columbus is the explorer who is credited for discovering America. There were already people living in America, Native Americans. There even was a European, Leif Ericsson, who visited America before. However, it was Columbus' voyage that started the exploration of America.

Columbus spent years trying to get someone to pay for his voyage. He first tried to get King John II of Portugal to pay for his voyages. Unfortunately, the King wasn’t interested on this investment. Finally, he was able to convince Queen Isabella and King Ferdinand (from Spain) to pay for this trip.

He started his trip on August 12, 1492 with three caravels named the Nina, the Pinta, and the Santa Maria. The voyage was long and difficult. At one point his men wanted to do a mutiny and to return. Columbus promised them he would turn back in two days if they didn't find land.

(Interesting fact: in his journal he wrote that he had no intentions of turning back.)

On October 12, 1492 they found land. It was a small island in the Bahamas that he named San Salvador. He met natives that he called Indians because he thought that he had landed on islands of East Asia. He also visited other islands in the Caribbean like Cuba and Hispaniola.

Columbus made 4 voyages to “east Asia” America.

 october 12