Changes

[[Image:columbus.jpg|thumb]] '''Christopher Columbus''' (1451-1506) was a [[Genoa|Genoese]] explorer who explored the [[West Indies]] for [[Spain]] from 1492 to 1502.  Christopher Columbus headed the first expedition from the European mainland to reach the Americas, the first expedition to America being led by the [[Norse]] explorer [[Leif Erikson]], whose discovery produced no enduring settlements. There is archaeological evidence that Viking settlements in Newfoundland lasted until the early 12th century, and [[Basques|Basque]] fishermen had been visiting the [[Grand Banks]] off [[Newfoundland]] for hundreds of years.

[[Image:columbus.jpg|thumb]] '''Christopher Columbus''' (1451-1506) was a [[Genoa|Genoese]] explorer who explored the [[West Indies]] for [[Spain]] from 1492 to 1502.  Christopher Columbus headed the first expedition from the European mainland to reach the Americas, the first expedition to America being led by the [[Norse]] explorer [[Leif Erikson]], whose discovery produced no enduring settlements. There is archaeological evidence that Viking settlements in Newfoundland lasted until the early 12th century, and [[Basques|Basque]] fishermen had been visiting the [[Grand Banks]] off [[Newfoundland]] for hundreds of years.

==First Voyage==

==First Voyage==

He went to [[Queen Isabella]] and King [[Ferdinand of Spain]] to ask them to finance his journey to the Far East (SE Asia and India); his plan was to sail west to get to the east: contrary to popular misconceptions, it was well known at the time, that the world was round - however its true circumference was unknown, so it seemed feasible to Columbus, to be able to sail from Europe to SE Asia within a reasonable amount of time. His first appeal to the king and queen was disappointing but the second time they furnished him with three ships ([[The Niña]], [[The Pinta]] and The [[Santa Maria]]). Leaving August 3 1492, he sailed for months without sight of land while his crew was becoming increasingly disillusioned with the voyage believing themselves to be sailing towards their deaths; they began plotting [[mutiny]].  

He went to [[Queen Isabella]] and King [[Ferdinand of Spain]] to ask them to finance his journey to the Far East (SE Asia and India); his plan was to sail west to get to the east: contrary to popular misconceptions, it was well known at the time, that the world was round - however its true circumference was unknown, so it seemed feasible to Columbus, to be able to sail from Europe to SE Asia within a reasonable amount of time. His first appeal to the king and queen was disappointing but the second time they furnished him with three ships ([[The Niña]], [[The Pinta]] and The [[Santa Maria]]). Leaving August 3 1492, he sailed for months without sight of land while his crew was becoming increasingly disillusioned with the voyage believing themselves to be sailing towards their deaths; they began plotting [[mutiny]].  

== See also ==

== See also ==

*[[Ibn Battuta]]

*[[Ibn Battuta]]

*[[Marco Polo]]

*[[Marco Polo]]