College Board Themes
3. State Building, Expansion & Conflict, Political Structures, Empires, Nations, Nationalism, Revolts & Revolutions
4. Creation, Expansion & Interaction of Economic Systems: Agriculture, Pastoralist, Trade & Commerce, Labor Systems, Industrialism, Capitalism, Socialism
- Although unintentionally, Columbus layed the framework for European exploration and expansion. When Columbus set sail on his first expedition, he was trying to test his idea of sailing west to reach Asian markets. Even though his route was first criticized for being too lengthy, his journey was cut short when he landed in the Americas (Bahamas), a place which no one knew existed at the time. Columbus never admitted that what he found was a new continent, always urging that he had found Asian islands, but many explorers traveling the route after him confirmed it was a new land. After the European nations caught wind of this uncolonized territory, there was a race to colonization between the superpowers of the time: England, Spain, and France. Though this was much after Columbus's period, he was certainly the father of it all in his accidental discovery of the new world.
4. Creation, Expansion & Interaction of Economic Systems: Agriculture, Pastoralist, Trade & Commerce, Labor Systems, Industrialism, Capitalism, Socialism
- Trade in the Indian Ocean Basin was the reason for Columbus's expedition in the first place. He was looking for an alternative way to reach Asian markets when he stumbled upon the Americas. Trade was the reason he wanted to try sailing West, and trade is the reason King Ferdinand and Queen Isabel funded his expedition (they asked him to return to Spain with Asian goods such as gold, spices, and silk). The discovery of the new land also eventually lead to trade with the Native Americans.
Comparison
The voyages and explorations of Christopher Columbus can be compared to those of Chinese explorer, Zheng He. Although their discoveries both led the way to important trade, colonization and discovery, the purposes of their expeditions were very different. Columbus was sent out by Spain for the purpose of finding a new trade route and trading in Asian markets and "accidentally" stumbled upon the Americas. Zheng He, on the other hand, was deliberately sent by China for the purpose of exploration, discovery and establishing Asian influence in the Indian Ocean Basin.
Notes
Columbus's Ideas
Proposition and Acceptance
Voyage
Return
Influence
- Portugese mariners before him were trying to find a sea route around Africa to reach India
- Columbus proposed the idea that of sailing West from Europe to reach Asian markets
- Idea made fair amount of sense at time because people did not know that the Americas blocked the direct pathway Columbus theorized
- Many were critical of his proposition because the long distances involved in this venture would not generate profitable trade
Proposition and Acceptance
- Columbus needed sponsoship for an expedition to test plan
- Proposed idea to king and queen of Portugal who rejected him
- Proposed idea to Catholic King Fernando and Queen Isabel of Spain and was accepted
- They agreed to underwrite a voyage and asked Columbus to bring back silk, spices, and gold to Spain
Voyage
- Columbus set sail in 1492 on his three ships: the Niña, Pinta, and Santa Maria
- Stopped in the Canary Islands to take on supplies and make repairs to his ships
- Ships then crossed Atlantic Ocean and reached land in the Bahamas at San Salvador
- Did not realize he was in the Americas
Return
- Columbus returned to Spain without any gold, silk, or spices
- He persisted that he had reached the islands near the Asian mainland and had come close to the markets of China and Japan
- Made three more voyages to the Carribean reagion
- Never acknowledged that he had not reached Asia
Influence
- News of journey traveled fast
- By end of 15th century, enough mariners had explored Carribean and American continents to determine that it was a seperate, "new" land
- Unknowling, Columbus fathered much of European exploration, giving incentive for their expeditions
- Opened the door to future colonization and expansion into the new lands