2006-07-12 17:53:52 · 8 answers · asked by ankit 1 in Society & Culture ➔ Other - Society & Culture
Christopher Columbus was an Italian from Genoa living in Portugal. Although in the fifteenth century most people still believed that the world was flat, others including Columbus, had come to believe it was round. If this was so, he argued, a ship could sail around the globe and return to its original starting point. Thus the shortest route to the Spice Islands of the East Indies would be by sailing westwards.He sought support for his theory but it was rejected again and again. Finally, after years a disappointment, he gained the help of Ferdinand and Isabella, the king and queen of Spain. In August 1492, three small ships set sail from Spain, their bows pointing westwards across the wide, unknown Atlantic. They were the Santa Maria, the Nina and the Pinta. On 12 October land was sighted. Columbus was convinced that it was an island off the coast of India. When other islands came into view he named them the ‘Indies’. His ‘mistake’ was nevertheless a vitally important event in the discovery and exploration of the West.
2006-07-12 17:56:35 · answer #1 · answered by Pyara_sweet_abhi 4 · 3⤊ 0⤋
I'm no expert, but I understand that the idea was that columbus beleived the world was round. Not knowing about other continents Columbus intended to sail west, encircle the globe, and reach Asia.
2006-07-13 00:57:51 · answer #2 · answered by d h 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
He was looking for the West Indies, and apparently or as history tells us he got lost.
2006-07-13 01:08:55 · answer #3 · answered by rufus_t 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Because it would be pretty difficult to sail EAST from SPAIN!
2006-07-13 01:03:37 · answer #4 · answered by Danger, Will Robinson! 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
with the hope to find a shorter (water) way to india for trading spices...
2006-07-13 00:57:23 · answer #5 · answered by beso4u 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
to find a new trade route to india.........thats why american natives are called indians ,
2006-07-13 00:58:54 · answer #6 · answered by Ron P 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
because he no sense of direction along with no sense at all.
2006-07-13 00:56:40 · answer #7 · answered by deerwoman777 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
WEN UR MUM FARTED!!!!!!!
2006-07-13 00:57:40 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋