by Meghann G.

Blue Group

February 11th, 2019

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.

This is a model of a map that explains how Columbus viewed the world. Because of how he viewed the world, he thought that he could voyage to Asia going west. As you can see, North and South America are much closer to Europe and Africa. These calculations valued out to Columbus thinking that the world was much smaller than about 25,000 miles.

I am impressed that someone is taking the risk to voyage that long alone at sea. I believe that Columbus is brave to do something like this. It realtes to people now because they try to break records and try risky things. It gives a big impact to people to inspire them to try new ideas and to try the impossible.

I Wonder Question: Did Columbus ever miss his family and friends? Who were his family?

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christopher_Columbus

On September 6th, the voyage to "Asia" begins. Columbus starts in Palos, Spain and begins to travel southwest to the Canary Islands. After he goes through the Canary Islands, he voyages about the same each day, but he didn't go as far as he planned. Also, he lied to his reporters that he was farther along than he was so they wouldn't worry about him being in a bad situation. On October 12th he reaches what he thinks is Asia but is really the Bahamas. Keep in mind this land has never been found yet so this is why people say he discovered America. During this time he begins to learn about the culture and the language that they speak. For a while, he travels around the islands of the Bahamas and leads to the coast of Cuba. After this he finds land nearby in Hispanola, discovering both Haiti and the Dominican Republic.

This makes me inspired to go traveling to unpopular land and to learn more about other people and the history behind different places. I believe that Columbus is being respectful towards the others. I think it relates to my life when I travel somwhere new, I become more positive and I end up learning lots about the place. I think it could transform into being a more open place and for the people to realize how they may stop thinking negatively towards other cultures.

I Wonder Question: What was his point of writing in his diary mostly everyday?

AND This made me think about how different life and traditions are and how they have improved from 1492. I like how Morning Girl was trying to welcome herself and to have the others like and enjoy her company. It relates to people because travelers like to find new places and to learn about more things. This may impacts a lot of stuff by showing that not all people look and do the same things that other cultures may do mainly on where they are and what they know.

I Wonder Question: Did the people question Morning Girl the same way she questioned them?

The New Era Begins article makes me feel empowered about the fact that he is meeting new cultures and having an open mind like people today. My opinion on the events is that it is unusual that Columbus thinks he is actually in Asia. It is so weird how he had no clue even though he was an inspirational voyager. I learned to always get out of your comfort zone to explore and adventure new places.

I Wonder Question: How could he not have known he was in the Bahamas? Was it because of the latitude?

This article made me interested about the life differences in Cuba versus Europe (more specifically Spain).I believe that becuase Columbus is finding all these important things, he should try to discover even more. This scene relates to life now becuase we discover new things and learn new things everyday. The impact this has on me is big. If these and other things were not discovered, we could have a lack of resources which could lead to less money and more poverty. caption describing, with RESPONSE from backside of World of Surprises Reading Report

I Wonder Question: Did the resources and places back then named something different? Did he name them himself?

On January 16th, Columbus begins his voyage back home to Palos, Spain from the Dominican Republic in Hispanola. When the voyage began, he had to leave back a lot of people. He begins to travel north from a latitude of 19 degrees to a latitude of 36ish degrees from January 16th to February 3rd. From this he travels straight heading for Europe.

Citations for Columbus Voyage of Discovery:

Camusso, Lorenzo.The Voyages of Columbus. New York, New York. Dorset Press, 1991.

Fuson, Robert (translator). The Log of Christopher Columbus. Camden, Maine. International Marine Publishing, 1992.

Dorris, Michael. Morning Girl. New York, New York, Hyperion, 1991.

Further Online Reading:

Wikipedia contributors. "Christopher Columbus." Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia. Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia, 12 Feb. 2019. Web. 15 Feb. 2019.

Link, Edwin A., and Marion C. Link. "A New Theory on Columbus's Voyage through the Bahamas." Smithsonian Miscellaneous Collections, unknown, 20 Jan. 1958, repository.si.edu/bitstream/handle/10088/22943/SMC_135__Link_1958_4_1-45.pdf. Accessed 19 Feb. 2019.

History.com Editors. "Columbus lands in South America." History, A&E Television Network, www.history.com/this-day-in-history/ columbus-lands-in-south-america. Date unknown. Accessed 5 Mar. 2019.

Currier and Ives. "The Landing of Columbus at San Salvador, October 12, 1492." Library of Congress, www.loc.gov/item/92501264/. Date unknown. Accessed 5 Mar. 2019.

"Bahamas History, Language, and Culture." World Travel Guide, unknown, www.worldtravelguide.net/guides/caribbean/bahamas/history-language-culture/. Date unknown. Accessed 5 Mar. 2019.