CHRISTOPHER COLUMBUS

Дата добавления: 2014-10-24 | Просмотров: 1662

In the fifteenth century people knew only three conti­nents: Europe, Asia and Africa. They knew nothing about such a big continent as America.

The man who was thought to be the discoverer of America was born in 1451 in Italy. His name was Chris­topher Columbus. He probably worked as a weaver be­fore going to sea.

At that time the life of a sailor was full of adventure and danger, so Columbus had many exciting experienc­es. Once during a battle with a vessel off the coast of Por­tugal, he had to leave his boat and swim to the shore a long distance away. He afterwards lived in Portugal a number of years, and while there, he married the daugh­ter of a sea captain. For some time he earned his living, partly by making sea voyages, and partly by drawing maps and selling them.

Knowing that the earth was round, he decided to reach India by sailing to the west. It was very difficult for him to organise his expedition as nobody wanted to help him. Many years after, the Spanish government gave him some money for his expedition.

In 1492 he sailed with three small ships into the At­lantic Ocean. They had been sailing for more than two months. At last they saw land.

When they landed they saw strange trees and flow­ers. Men and women with olive coloured skins gathered around them and looked at them with great surprise.

Columbus was certain that the lands he discovered were part of India, and he called these islands the West Indies. The people living there have been called Indians since then, though they have nothing in common with the real Indians — inhabitants of India.

His last voyage was made in 1502-1504. After that, seriously ill, he remained in Spain-until his death. He died believing that Cuba was part of Asia.