发现新大陆【英文】

COLUMBUS SETS OFF
• Columbus left Spain on August 3, 1492 with three ships manned by 90 Spanish sailors – Plan was to sail to the Canary Islands, rest up a little, and then sail west to Asia • And hit either Japan or China
PORTUGAL TAKES THE LEAD II
• By the time Columbus moved to Portugal, Portuguese explorers had traveled far along the coast of Africa – Established trading posts along the way – But had not yet made it to India
PORTUGAL TAKES THE LEAD I
• Financed and supported by men such as Prince Henry the Navigator, Portuguese explorers began to look for an all sea route to the “Indies” – And thereby bypass Arab merchants who monopolized land routes to Asia
NORSEMEN TRY AGAIN
• Around 1010-1015, another group of Norsemen from Iceland returned to Newfoundland – Named in Vinland – Tried to establish permanent colony there • Lasted two years • Forced to leave because of Indian raids
NORSEMEN DISCOVER NEW WORLD?
• Norsemen from Denmark discover Greenland around 1000 AD and establish colony there • Leif Ericson, son of ruler of Greenland, lands at Newfoundland in 1001 – Spends winter there and then returns to Greenland
Baidu Nhomakorabea
CHRISTOPHER COLUMBUS
• Born in Genoa, Italy in 1451 • Began career as sailor at age of 20 • Moved to Portugal at age 27 – One of the most progressive kingdoms in Europe at the time
COLUMBUS HITS LAND
INTERNATIONAL TRADE
• Europe was undergoing a cultural and commercial revival, mainly based on expansion of international trade with Middle and Far East • Trade was monopolized by Arab middlemen – Send caravans to India and China to obtain spices, drugs, and jewels – Then sold then at tremendously marked up prices to European merchants • European merchants still made big profits but realized that they could make far more if they could deal with sources of supply directly
A DIFFERENT PLAN
• Columbus came up with his own plan to reach Asia – Instead of sailing around Africa – Sail directly west, around the world, until he hit China • Logical plan but based on faulty mathematical calculations – Figured distance would be only 2000 miles – Did not figure on Western Hemisphere being in the way
QUEEN ISABELLA GAMBLES
• Had trouble getting financing – Not because people thought world was flat – But because of his bad math – Searched for money for 8 years • Queen Isabella of Spain finally took a chance on him – Figured he wasn’t asking for much money, so if he failed it would be no great loss – But if he succeeded, Spain would have an exclusive route to the Indies