Glencoe World History © 2008

The Mission of Columbus

Introduction
The voyages of Columbus were motivated by more than a spirit of adventure. In a letter Columbus wrote to King Ferdinand and Queen Isabella of Spain, he describes a multi-faceted mission for the voyages that brought him to America. In this activity you will read the letter and one of the journal entries from Columbus's voyage. Through these documents, you can learn a great deal about Columbus's time, his worldview, and the motives for his voyages.

Destination Title: Christopher Columbus: Extracts from Journal

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Directions

• Click on and read Christopher Columbus’s Letter to the Queen, taking notes as you go.
• Go back and click on Columbus’s Journal. Scroll down and read the entry for 11 October.

Use the information you found to answer the following questions.

1			What are the two directions Columbus received from King Ferdinand and Queen Isabella concerning the upcoming voyage?
2			Who does Columbus say has turned down repeated requests from India? What was the nature of the requests? Why is this important?
3			List the other peoples Columbus mentions. Why does he mention them?
4			What has Columbus been promised in return for his services?
5			On October 11, Columbus's sailors encountered the people of an island in the Lucayos (Bahamas). Read the journal entry. Then, on a separate piece of paper, describe the conclusions of the Admiral (Columbus) about the native people. Compare the Admiral's conclusions with Columbus's own comments in his letter to Ferdinand and Isabella. In your essay, discuss whether the Admiral's comments and Columbus's letter reflect a similar or different worldview.