The Columbus Story

Blue Squad
Joachim Sagayaraj, Sophie Hassell

Background - Christopher Columbus

Born - 1451, Genoa Italy

Explorer and navigator

Background - Spain
King Ferdinand of Aragon
and Queen Isabela of
Castille
Wanted to find gold
Paid for Columbuss
journeys

The Voyage
Columbus set sail
August 3, 1492 with
the Nina the Pinta
and the Santa Maria
Thought he landed in
China (Not India)
Actually landed in the
Caribbean

The Voyage
Where he
landed

Where he
thought he
was

Columbuss Arrival
Already established
cultures and people
on the islands
Columbus declared
the land property of
Spain
Renamed many of the
islands

Question 1:
Why did Columbus rename
the islands?

Looking For Gold

Columbus wanted to
find gold because he
promised Spain
Forced the natives to
look for gold
They were punished
if they did not find
any

Question 2:
How were the natives
punished?

Columbus Lied

Not as much gold as

he claimed there was
Needed to bring
resources back to
Spain
Captured natives to
be used as slaves
Many did not survive
the voyage back to
Spain

Question 3:
Why did Columbus lie about
there being gold?

Life of a Native
Many natives died
Natives were no
longer safe
Huge population
decline

Question 4:
Why did so many die?

Question 5:
Was Columbus a bad man?

Activity
The class will create a short play based upon the
information they learned. Each student is assigned to
portray either a Native American or European.