For my essay, I chose to write about Christopher Columbus. He sailed from Portugal to what he thought was India. He was trying to find a shorter route to India, and by going west instead of east to get there. He was the first to try this route because everyone else thought that the world was flat and they would sail off the edge.
At first, Columbus tried to ask for help from the King of Portugal, but the King said no because he was already helping Bartolomeu Dias. So Columbus went to the King and Queen of Spain. At first, they said no because they were at war with the Moors. But then, on his way from Portugal, Columbus stopped at a Franciscan monastery to rest and met Father Perez. Columbus told him of his plans and Father Perez, who was a friends with the king and Queen of Spain, told Columbus to stay at the monastery and wait. Father Perez begged King Ferdinand and Queen Isabella to help Columbus. So Queen Isabella decided to help Columbus.
Columbus set sail in the summer of 1492 with three ships. The ships’ names were the Pinta, Nina, and the Santa Maria. Columbus finally saw land on the night of October 12. Unfortunately, he died thinking he had found India, but he really landed in the Bahamas. Even though he failed to find a new route to India, he made an even bigger discovery: America. I chose to write about Columbus because I live in America.
Stuff That Jack Built 