USA HISTORY

Detailed explanation-1: -After sailing across the Atlantic Ocean, Italian explorer Christopher Columbus sights a Bahamian island on October 12, 1492, believing he has reached East Asia.

Detailed explanation-2: -In the 15th and 16th centuries, Europeans wanted to find sea routes to the Far East. Columbus wanted to find a new route to India, China, Japan and the Spice Islands. If he could reach these lands, he would be able to bring back rich cargoes of silks and spices.

Detailed explanation-3: -On August 3, 1492, Columbus and his crew set sail from Spain in three ships: the Niña, the Pinta and the Santa Maria. On October 12, the ships made landfall-not in the East Indies, as Columbus assumed, but on one of the Bahamian islands, likely San Salvador.

Detailed explanation-4: -Amerigo Vespucci made about 3 to 4 voyages and landed on mainland America. He realised Columbus had not reached Asia but landed on a new continent. He named it “New World". Later, while preparing the new world map, a German cartographer re-named the New World as America, after Amerigo Vespucci.