USA HISTORY

Detailed explanation-1: -Explain to students that hundreds of years ago people often crossed the Atlantic Ocean to explore new places and move from one place to another. They traveled on sailing ships. Tell students that people traveling from Europe to North America during the colonial period of 1600-1799 faced a long, dangerous journey.

Detailed explanation-2: -Columbus wanted to sail ships west across the Atlantic Ocean in search of a new trade route to Asia. This would help Spain expand its trade in spices and other goods from China and the islands of the East. Columbus also hoped to find and bring back gold and silver.

Detailed explanation-3: -These early maps provided the basis for important expeditions. In the late 1400s, Cristopher Columbus became the first European to sail westward across the Atlantic Ocean and return home. In the early 1500s Ferdinand Magellan sailed all the way around, or circumnavigated, the globe.

Detailed explanation-4: -Developed by the Portuguese in order to explore the Atlantic Ocean, the caravels were small, highly maneuverable boats. Christopher Columbus voyaged from Spain to America in a carrack called the Santa Marina. His other ships were caravels.

Detailed explanation-5: -In 1492 the Italian Christopher Columbus crossed the Atlantic in a Spanish-backed attempt to find a new trading route to Asia.