Who Discovered The New
World?
The Phoenicians or Columbus?
Name_____________________
Period_____________________
Date_____________________
COLOUMBUS
PHOENCIANS
COLOUMBUS
Christopher Columbus: The First Voyage
At the end of the 15th century, it was nearly impossible to reach Asia from Europe by land. The route was long and
arduous, and encounters with hostile armies were difficult to avoid. Portuguese explorers solved this problem by taking
to the sea: They sailed south along the West African coast and around the Cape of Good Hope.
But Columbus had a different idea: Why not sail west across the Atlantic instead of around the massive African
continent? The young navigator’s logic was sound, but his math was faulty. He argued (incorrectly) that the
circumference of the Earth was much smaller than his contemporaries believed it was; accordingly, he believed that the
journey by boat from Europe to Asia should be not only possible but comparatively easy. He presented his plan to
officials in Portugal and England, but it was not until 1491 that he found a sympathetic audience: the Spanish monarchs
Ferdinand of Aragon and Isabella of Castile.
Columbus wanted fame and fortune. Ferdinand and Isabella wanted the same, along with the opportunity to export
Catholicism to lands across the globe. (Columbus, a devout Catholic, was equally enthusiastic about this possibility.)
Columbus’ contract with the Spanish rulers promised that he could keep 10 percent of whatever riches he found, along
with a noble title and the governorship of any lands he should encounter.
On August 3, 1492, Columbus and his crew set sail from Spain in three ships: the Nina, the Pinta and the Santa Maria. On
October 12, the ships made landfall--not in Asia, as Columbus assumed, but on one of the Bahamian islands. For months,
Columbus sailed from island to island in what we now know as the Caribbean, looking for the “pearls, precious stones,
gold, silver, spices, and other objects and merchandise whatsoever” that he had promised to his Spanish patrons, but he
did not find much. In March 1493, leaving 40 men behind in a makeshift settlement on Hispaniola (present-day Haiti and
the Dominican Republic), he returned to Spain.
COLOUMBUS
Christopher Columbus: Excerpts from his 1492 Journal
The land was first seen by a sailor called Rodrigo de Triana, although the Admiral at ten o’clock that evening
standing on the quarter-deck saw a light, but so small a body that he could not affirm it to be land. . . . At two
o’clock in the morning the land was discovered; they took in sail and remained . . . lying to till day, which was
Friday, when they found themselves near a small island. . . called in the Indian language Guanahani.
The Admiral landed in the boat, which was armed, along with Martin Alonzo Pinzon, and Vincent Yanez,
captain of the Nina. The Admiral bore the royal standard, and the two captains
each a banner of the Green Cross; this contained the initials of the names of the King and Queen each side of
the cross, and a crown over each letter. . . . The Admiral called upon the two Captains, and the rest of the crew
who landed . . . to bear witness that he . . . took possession of that island for the King and Queen.
As I saw that they were very friendly to us, and perceived that they could be much more easily converted
to our holy faith by gentle means than by force, I presented them with some red caps, and strings of beads
to wear upon the neck, and many other trifles of small value. . . Afterwards they came swimming to the boats,
bringing parrots, balls of cotton thread, javelins, and many other things which they exchanged for articles we
gave them, such as glass beads, and hawk’s bells. They seemed on the whole to me, to be a very poor
people. They all go completely naked, even the women, though I saw but one girl. All whom I saw were young,
not above thirty years of age, well made, with fine shapes and faces. . . . Some paint the face, and some the
whole body; others only the eyes, and others the nose.
Weapons they have none, nor are acquainted with them, for I showed them swords which they grasped by the
blades, and cut themselves through ignorance. . . . I am of opinion that they would very readily become
Christians, as they appear to have no religion. . . . I intend . . . to carry home six of them to your Highnesses,
that they may learn our language.
I . . . strove to learn if they had any gold. Seeing some of them with little bits of this
metal hanging at their noses, I gathered from them by signs that by going southward or steering round the
island in that direction, there would be found a king who possessed large vessels of gold. We anchored near
the cape . . .to enquire for gold, for the natives we had taken from San Salvador told me that the people here
wore golden bracelets upon their arms and legs. I believed . . . that they had invented this story . . . to find
means to escape from us, still I determined to pass none of these islands without taking possession, because
being once taken, it would answer for all times.
PHOENCIANS
Aristotle – Greek Philosopher
In the sea outside the Pillars of Hercules they say that an island was discovered
by the Carthaginians, desolate, having wood of every kind, and navigable
rivers, and admirable for its fruits besides, but distant several days’ voyage from
them. But, when the Carthaginians often came to this island because of its fertility,
and some even dwelt there, the magistrates of the Carthaginians gave notice
that they would punish with death those who should sail to it, and destroyed all
the inhabitants, lest they should spread a report about it, or a large number might
gather together to the island in their time,3 get possession of the authority, and
destroy the prosperity of the Carthaginians.
PHOENCIANS
Diodorus of Sicily Greek Historian
19 1 But now that we have discussed what relates to the islands which lie within the Pillars of Heracles, we
shall give an account of those which are in the ocean. For there lies out in the deep off Libya an island1 of
considerable size, and situated as it is in the ocean it is distant from Libya a voyage of a number of days to the
west. Its land is fruitful, p147much of it being mountainous and not a little being a level plain of surpassing
beauty. 2 Through it flow navigable rivers which are used for irrigation, and the island contains many parks
planted with trees of every variety and gardens in great multitudes which are traversed by streams of sweet
water; on it also are private villas of costly construction, and throughout the gardens banqueting houses have
been constructed in a setting of flowers, and in them the inhabitants pass their time during the summer season,
since the land supplies in abundance everything which contributes to enjoyment and luxury. 3 The mountainous
part of the island is covered with dense thickets of great extent and with fruit-trees of every variety, and,
inviting men to life among the mountains, it has cozy glens and springs in great number. In a word, this island is
well supplied with springs of sweet water which not only makes the use of it enjoyable for those who pass their
life there but also contribute to the health and vigour of their bodies. 4 There is also excellent hunting of every
manner of beast and wild animal, and the inhabitants, being well supplied with this game at their feasts, lack of
nothing which pertains to luxury and extravagance; for in fact the sea which washes the shore of the island
contains a multitude of fish, since the character of the ocean is such that it abounds throughout its extent with
fish of every variety. 5 And, speaking generally, the climate of the island is so altogether mild that it produces
in abundance the fruits of the trees and the other seasonal fruits for the larger part of the year, so that it would
appear that the island, because of its exceptional felicity, were a dwelling-place of a race of gods and not of
men.
p149 20 1 In ancient times this island remained undiscovered because of its distance from the entire inhabited
world, but it was discovered at a later period for the following reason. The Phoenicians, who from ancient times
on made voyages continually for purposes of trade, planted many colonies throughout Libya and not a few as
well in the western parts of Europe. And since their ventures turned out according to their expectations, they
amassed great wealth and essayed to voyage beyond the Pillars of Heracles into the sea which men call the
ocean. 2 And, first of all, upon the Strait itself by the Pillars they founded a city on the shores of Europe, and
since the land formed a peninsula they called the city Gadeira;2 in the city they built many works appropriate to
the nature of the region, and among them a costly temple of Heracles,3 and they instituted magnificent
sacrifices which were conducted after the manner of the Phoenicians. And it has come to pass that this shrine
has been held in an honour beyond the ordinary, both at the time of its building and in comparatively recent
days down even to our own lifetime. Also many Romans, distinguished men who have performed great deeds,
have offered vows to this god, and these vows they have performed after the completion of their successes.4 3
The Phoenicians, then, while exploring the coast outside the Pillars for the reasons we have stated and while
sailing along the shore of Libya, were driven by strong p151winds a great distance out into the ocean. And after
being storm-tossed for many days they were carried ashore on the island we mentioned above, and when they
had observed its felicity and nature they caused it to be known to all men.5 4 Consequently the Tyrrhenians, at
the time when they were masters of the sea, purposed to dispatch a colony to it; but the Carthaginians prevented
their doing so, partly out of concern lest many inhabitants of Carthage should remove there because of the
excellence of the island, and partly in order to have ready in it a place in which to seek refuge against an
incalculable turn of fortune, in case some total disaster should overtake Carthage. For it was their thought that,
since they were masters of the sea, they would thus be able to move, households and all, to an island which was
unknown to their conquerors.6