O DESCOBRIMENTO DA AMÉRICA | RESUMO ESCOLAR

Summary

In the late 15th century, Europe was seen as the center of the world. Christopher Columbus, convinced the Earth was round, sought a westward route to Asia. Rejected by Portugal, he gained support from Spain's Queen Isabella and King Ferdinand. In 1492, Columbus embarked on his historic voyage, discovering the Caribbean instead of Asia. Despite difficulties, including a delayed journey and false reports to calm the crew, Columbus eventually landed in the Bahamas. His exploration led to the subjugation of indigenous peoples and the naming of the Americas after Italian explorer Amerigo Vespucci.

Takeaways

• 😀 The discovery of America marked a pivotal point in history, and during the 15th century, Europe was considered the center of the world.
• 😀 People believed that only Europe, parts of Asia, and North Africa represented the entire planet at the time.
• 😀 In 1492, Italian explorer Christopher Columbus believed the Earth was round and aimed to reach India by sailing westward.
• 😀 Columbus proposed his plan to King John II of Portugal, who rejected it, doubting the possibility of finding a new route to India.
• 😀 Columbus then turned to the Kingdom of Castile and Aragon in Spain, where Queen Isabella and King Ferdinand supported his expedition.
• 😀 On April 17, 1492, Columbus and the Spanish monarchy signed the Capitulations of Santa Fe, making Columbus vice-king and granting him a share of the profits from any discoveries.
• 😀 On August 3, 1492, Columbus set sail from Palos de la Frontera with a crew of 90 men aboard three ships: the Pinta, the Nina, and the Santa Maria.
• 😀 Columbus' goal was to reach Asia quickly, but the journey turned out to be longer and more difficult than expected, with several setbacks, including ship repairs.
• 😀 After a long journey and many difficulties, Columbus' crew finally sighted land on October 12, 1492, but they mistakenly thought they had reached the East Indies.
• 😀 The land they discovered was actually an island in the Caribbean (Bahamas), which Columbus named San Salvador, marking the beginning of his exploration of the Americas.
• 😀 Over the years, Columbus made several more voyages to the Americas, initiating a process of conquest and colonization, while the term 'America' was later coined in honor of Italian explorer Amerigo Vespucci.

Q & A

Why was Europe considered the center of the world before the discovery of America?

Before the discovery of America, Europe was considered the center of the world because people at the time believed that only the European continent, parts of Asia, and northern Africa comprised the entire known world.

What did Christopher Columbus believe about the shape of the Earth?

Christopher Columbus believed that the Earth was round and was convinced that by sailing westward, he could reach India.

Why did Christopher Columbus seek support from the Spanish monarchs after being rejected by Portugal?

Columbus sought support from Spain after King John II of Portugal rejected his proposal, doubting that a new route to India could be found by sailing west.

What agreement did Columbus sign with the Spanish monarchs in 1492?

In 1492, Columbus signed the Capitulations of Santa Fe with King Ferdinand and Queen Isabella of Spain, which granted him the title of Admiral and Governor of the lands he would discover, along with a share of the riches found.

What was the purpose of Columbus' expedition in 1492?

The purpose of Columbus' 1492 expedition was to find a faster route to Asia, specifically Japan and India, by sailing westward across the Atlantic Ocean.

What challenges did Columbus' expedition face during their journey?

Columbus' expedition faced several challenges, including delays in their journey, damaged ships that had to be repaired, longer-than-expected travel time, and tensions within the crew. At one point, there was even consideration of turning back to Spain.

When did Columbus first sight land during his journey, and what did he believe he had reached?

On October 12, 1492, Columbus and his crew first sighted land, believing they had reached the East Indies. However, they had actually arrived at an island in the Caribbean, which they later named San Salvador.

What was the first island Columbus visited, and what did he name it?

The first island Columbus visited was located in the Bahamas, and he named it San Salvador.

How did Columbus contribute to the European exploration of the Americas?

Columbus' voyages initiated a process of exploration, conquest, and colonization of the Americas by Europeans, leading to the subjugation of indigenous populations and the establishment of European settlements in the New World.

Why was the name 'America' given to the newly discovered lands, and who was it named after?

The name 'America' was given to the newly discovered lands in honor of the Italian explorer Amerigo Vespucci, who was one of the first to suggest that the lands discovered by Columbus were part of a new continent.