Question 1

What happens when you are completely wrong about the size of the Earth — and sail anyway?

Accepted Answer

Columbus thought Asia lay about 4,000 km west of Spain. It lay 20,000 km away. Two continents he had never heard of were in between — and the people living on them had been there for thousands of years.

Question 2

Christopher Columbus: what happened in 3 August 1492?

Accepted Answer

Three ships leave Palos — The Santa María, the Pinta and the Niña sail with about ninety men. They stop in the Canary Islands to repair a rudder and to reach the trade winds.

Question 3

Christopher Columbus: what happened in 12 October 1492?

Accepted Answer

Landfall at Guanahani — After thirty-three days out of sight of land, a lookout sights a Bahamian island. The Lucayan people who live there come down to the beach to meet the ships.

Christopher Columbus — Atlantic · 1492 · four crossings · Great Explorers

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