Columbus & His Crew Arrive
The Voyage: Columbus eventually landed in a ‘new world.’
Did you know: Christopher Columbus was not the first person to think that an explorer could reach Asia by sailing west from Europe. In fact, historians believe this idea is almost as old as the idea that the Earth is round.
Christopher Columbus made four trips to explore different parts of the Americas. The Americas include the regions of North America and South America. Click on each of the voyages below to learn more about the routes and where Columbus and his crew landed during each.
Christopher Columbus was determined to find a direct water route west from Europe to Asia. But he never did. Instead, he stumbled upon several parts of the Americas — paving the way for European expansion to the west. During (and after) his voyages, leaders of several other European nations paid for expeditions across the oceans.
Like King Ferdinand and Queen Isabella, the leaders of these nations hoped the expeditions they funded would lead to new wealth and undiscovered lands. While they denied the request of Columbus to sail west, the Portuguese, were in fact the earliest participants in this so called, “Age of Discovery.” Historians also call this time the “Age of Exploration”, which is the period when Columbus and others explored new and exciting places.
The faith, planning, and perseverance were rewarded for Columbus and his crew. They did not achieve their objective of new trade routes, but they did find something else.
Christopher Columbus is celebrated by many, but not all people, for his faith and his adventurous spirit.
How do we honor Columbus today in North America?
Columbus paved the way for the expansion of western lands and the migration of European settlers to the new world. A world we call — early America.
Little Patriots
