What Was He Looking For?

 

      Christopher Columbus wanted to prove it was possible to reach the Indies by sailing west from Europe instead of east. Land was sighted on October 12, thirty three days after leaving Europe. Christopher discovered the Bahamas and claimed them for Spain. He also discovered Cuba. He named the natives there “Indians” because he thought he had found the Indies. He crossed the Atlantic three more times after this. On his fourth voyage in 1502, he touched the mainland of America. He went back home to Spain rich and thinking he had actually found the Indies.

 

What Dangers and Problems Did He Face?

 

      His first problem was getting someone to give him the ships to test his theory that he could reach the Indies by sailing west.  Some other problems that Columbus and his crew encountered were that they were sailing into unknown waters and they didn’t know where they were going. Sailors were scared and wanted to turn back but Columbus said “Sail On!”  Another problem was that the sailors he had left after his first voyage turned out to be mean to the Indians and the Indians killed them.  The biggest problem was that he thought he had actually reached the Indies when he hadn’t.  He believed this until he died.