Childrens Illustrated Encyclopedia

EXPLORING THE CARIBBEAN

When Columbus arrived in the Caribbean, he was welcomed by the

Carib and Arawak people. Native Americans became known as

Indians because the early explorers thought they were in India.

Bowsprit

was a spar,

or horizontal

mast, supporting

triangular sails.

133

COLUMBUS

CHRISTOPHER

THE CREW

The Santa Maria carried a crew

of 40. The main risk of a long

voyage was running out of

food and fresh water.

THE SANTA MARIA
Columbus’s flagship was a slow,
clumsy, wooden cargo ship, no
larger than a modern fishing
trawler. The ship relied on wind
power, and conditions on board
were cramped and difficult.

PTOLEMY’S WORLD MAP

The map used by Columbus

had been produced by the

ancient Greek mapmaker

Ptolemy in the 2nd century.

The world that it showed did

not include the continents of

North and South America,

Australia, or the Pacific.

THE FIRST VOYAGE

Columbus’s voyage to the

Caribbean lasted four

months. He made three

more voyages, reaching

Central America on

his final voyage.

IN 1492, THREE SMALL SAILING SHIPS named the Niña, the

Pinta, and the Santa Maria left Spain on a daring voyage. Their

aim was to find a new sea route to Asia in search of spices and

gold. In command was Christopher Columbus, an Italian sailor

from Genoa. Unlike other explorers of the time who were

sailing east, Columbus believed that if he sailed west he would

reach India and its luxuries within a few months. The Spanish

were eager to profit from trade with India and the rest of Asia,

and Columbus persuaded Queen Isabella of Spain to pay for

his expedition. He set sail in August and two months

later sighted land that he believed

was Asia. In fact, Columbus

had arrived in the

Caribbean Islands. He did

not realize what he had

found, but his journey paved

the way for later European

settlement in the Americas.

Cuba

Hispaniola

Began homeward voyage

January 16, 1493.

Find out more

South

America

Food and other

supplies were

stored here.

Captain’s cabin held

navigation equipment and

a chest to store treasure

captured on the voyage.

North America

Spare canvas for

mending sails.

Off-duty sailors slept

wherever there was space.

Caribbean

Conquistadors

Explorers

Landed on

San Salvador on

October 12, 1492.