Columbus Day Lesson, Page 3

Why did the King and Queen of Spain sponsor Columbus's voyage?

• They wanted to increase Spain's power and wealth by establishing new trade routes and new colonies.

• Columbus made four trips to the New World.

What did Columbus call the inhabitants of North America?

• He thought he was in India, so he called them Indians.

• The arrival of Columbus and the European colonization that followed led to a genocide of the native population.

• Many native people were killed, enslaved, committed suicide or died from European diseases.

When did Christopher Columbus die?

• He died on May 20, 1506. He was about 55 years old.

• He is buried in the Cathedral of Seville in Spain.

• Some experts believe that a mistake was made and that his remains are in Santo Domingo.