The Discovery of America (2) Christopher Columbus discovered America in 1492. He was born in Italy. His father and both grandfathers were cloth makers. Columbus was a seaman and made many sea voyages. Most people in Columbus's days thought that the earth was flat and they did not believe that beyond the Atlantic Ocean lay India. In 1492 the King and the Queen of Spain gave him money to go to India. He decided to sail west as he was sure that our planet was round. There were 3 caravels: the Santa Maria, the Nina and the Pinta. After sailing 4000 miles he reached some land. The crew saw something like a white cliff and cried out: "Tierra! Tierra!". Columbus thought 'that it must be India but it was not. It was a new land — a new continent. It was America. Columbus named the land they had reached San Salvador ("Holy Saviour"). People began to speak about the land as "The new World". European people came to the New World for many reasons. Some hoped to find gold and silver. Priests and missionaries came to bring the Christian religion to the Indians. Among those who came for freedom was a small group of English people called Pilgrims. They wanted to start a new life and to have no religious problems they had in England. In 1620 on the ship "Mayflower" they landed in the north-east of America. They set up a colony and called that part of the country "New England". Открытие Америки (2) Христофор Колумб открыл Америку в 1492 г. Он родился в Италии. Его отец и оба дедушки занимались шитьем одежды, Колумб был моряком и совершил много путешествий. Большинство людей в дни Колумба полагали, что Земля плоская, и они не верили в то, что за Атлантическим океаном лежит Индия. В 1492 году король и королева Испании дали ему деньги на поездку в Индию. Он решил плыть на запад, так как был уверен, что Земля круглая. В путешествие отправились 3 каравеллы: "Санта Мария", "Нина", "Пинта". После того, как они проплыли 4 000 миль, они достигли какой-то земли. Команда увидела что-то похожее на белую скалу и закричала: "Земля! Земля!"' Колумб подумал, что это должна быть Индия, но это была не она. Это была новая земля, новый континент. Это была Америка. Колумб назвал землю, которой они достигли, Сан Сальвадор ("Святой "). Люди стали говорить об этой земле как о Новом Свете. Европейцы приезжали в Новый Свет по разным причинам. Некоторые надеялись найти золото или серебро. Священники и миссионеры приезжали, чтобы принести христианство индейцам. Среди тех, кто приезжал за свободой, была маленькая группа англичан, прозванных пилигримами. Они хотели начать новую жизнь и начать ее без религиозных проблем, с которыми они столкнулись в Англии. В 1620 на корабле "Мэйфлауэ" они высадились на северо-востоке Америки. Они основали колонию и назвали эту часть страны Новая Англия.
Father Columba, Domenico , changing occupations - was a weaver , a wool merchant , even the landlord .Columbus mother , Susanna Fontanarossa , bore her husband five children , of whom Christopher was the eldest . His younger brothers called Bartolomeo , Giacomo and Giovanni Pellegrino, was a younger sister Byanchinetta . Many years later, Bartolomeo and Giacomo participated in expeditions of his older brother . Then called them to the Spanish style - Bartholomew and Diego .As for names , Columbus , living in different countries, has changed its name according to the requirements of phonetic language : in Portugal, he was called Cristovão , and in Spain Cristobal .About the childhood of the great explorer virtually nothing is known . Scientists can not come to a consensus regarding education and Columbus. We only know that Columbus began quite early to go on merchant ships in the Mediterranean Sea .1470 's - Columbus settled in Portugal, in Lisbon. Now he goes to the Portuguese courts , swimming away far north. It is known that if he managed to visit the British Isles, and possibly in Iceland. Caravels under the Portuguese flag and went to the Canary Islands , and along the west coast of Africa .End of 1470 s - Columbus marries Felipe Moniz, who came from a wealthy Italian- Portuguese family . Wife gave birth to a son Columbus .Columbus was also father-in navigator , and after his death his wife gave in-law cards , diaries and other documents of the deceased husband. Perhaps for these documents Columbus went on to study geography. Moreover , textbooks have become for him the book of the Italian poet Silvoi Enea Piccolomini, "The image of the world " by Pierre de Ayli , "book " Marco Polo.1480 th year - during this period the Portuguese were preoccupied with finding a sea route to Asia. Interest in this part of the world is explained quite simply : some Asian spices while often replaced the money, and there were also incense , silk, carpets , luxury ... overland route to Asia was not there - it overlaps the mighty Ottoman Empire . Had outbid spices , silk and other exotic goods from the eastern Arab merchants , losing big profits. The Portuguese saw only one route : rounded Africa, climb into the Indian Ocean , and in the early decades of the king of Portugal João II was equipped and sent to the appropriate expedition . Columbus has suggested an alternative : to reach Asia, moving west . Columbus theory was based on his own calculations navigator . But in fairness I must say that Columbus was not an innovator - the idea of a western route to India put forward in antiquity , Aristotle and Protagoras .1483 - believing in his theory , Columbus decides by all means to prove its correctness . He meets with Juan II and asks him to assist in the organization of the expedition. King approached the matter seriously and held a council consisting of the bishop and two cosmography . Calculations of Columbus were found incorrect, the expedition was denied.1485 - Columbus leaves Portugal and moved to Spain.1486 - Columbus gets an audience with the King of Spain, Ferdinand of Aragon and Queen Isabella of Castile . Monarch and his wife interested in the offer of Columbus. As well as in Portugal, was collected for the Commission decision on the case, and as the commission did not support the navigator . Spanish "competent experts" referred to the fact that the existence of a western route to India contrary to church teaching . Columbus was almost declared a heretic (and it still had the Inquisition ) . The king and queen decided yet to meet a traveler , but with one condition - first the war would end with the Moors .1488 - Beatriz Enriquez de some Arana foaling Columbus son Fernando. Columbus not only recognized the child , but do not forget it later , after thirteen years, taking one of his expeditions. That Fernando later wrote a biography of his father , which will be the main source of information about the great explorer .1492 - Spain liberated from the Moors , and King Ferdinand and Queen Isabella finally make the final decision about funding the search of a western route to Asia. In case of failure, they lose only the money invested in the venture. In the case of success before Spain opened a dizzying prospect. Columbus had promised : a knighthood , the titles of Admiral , Viceroy and Governor-General of all open expedition islands and continents .1492 - 1493 years - the first expedition of Christopher Columbus . In the Atlantic off two caravels "Pinta " and " Nina " and four-masted sailing ship " Santa Maria ." The team consisted of 90 people.
