Columbus Flashcards
(20 cards)
Who is Christopher Columbus often portrayed as in educational contexts?
An exemplary visionary who transformed Europe from the Middle Ages to the modern era.
What was Cristoforo Colombo’s preferred name?
Colón
What profession did Columbus’s father have?
A wool weaver and merchant.
At what age did Columbus go to sea?
By the age of fourteen.
What were the key trades in Genoa during Columbus’s time?
- General trade
- African slave trade
- Gold trade
What was Columbus’s relationship with the slave trade?
He became the New World’s first slave trader.
What maritime advancements were the Portuguese known for in the 15th century?
- Lateen-rigged caravel ships
- Navigational instruments like the quadrant
- Charting the seas
What inspired Columbus to sail west?
The fever of discovery and navigational advancements in Portugal.
Who turned down Columbus’s request for funding initially?
The king of Portugal and Queen Isabel of Castile.
What was the reaction of Queen Isabel’s advisors to Columbus’s plans?
- They concluded he miscalculated the earth’s circumference
- They were aware of the earth’s spherical shape
What erroneous belief did Columbus hold regarding the distance to the Indies?
He assumed it was 2,400 miles to the west.
What significant event influenced Queen Isabel’s decision to fund Columbus’s expedition?
Her victory over Muslim Granada.
How long did it take Columbus to reach the Bahamas after leaving the Canary Islands?
Thirty-three days.
What misconception did Columbus have about the lands he discovered?
He believed he had found the East Indies.
What was Columbus’s belief about the shape of the world?
He believed it was pear-shaped.
What was Columbus’s primary motivation for exploration?
A desire for gold to finance the reconquest of Jerusalem.
True or False: Columbus was a modern thinker who based his plans on scientific principles.
False
Fill in the blank: Columbus’s miscalculations led to him believing he had reached the _______.
Indies
What did Columbus mistakenly identify Cuba as?
Cipango (Japan).
What phrase summarizes Columbus’s impact on the modern world?
Sometimes it is better to be lucky than smart.
