Christopher Columbus Voyage — Reading Comprehension

Christopher Columbus was an explorer who lived over 500 years ago. He was born in Italy, but he sailed for the king and queen of Spain. Columbus had a big idea. He believed he could reach Asia, a land known for its spices and gold, by sailing west across the Atlantic Ocean. At that time, most people were afraid to sail too far from land because they thought the ocean was full of monsters and that they might sail right off the edge of the world!

After years of asking, King Ferdinand and Queen Isabella finally agreed to pay for his trip. In 1492, Columbus set sail with three ships: the Niña, the Pinta, and the Santa María. The journey was long and difficult. His crew grew scared and wanted to turn back, but Columbus encouraged them to keep going.

After more than two months at sea, a sailor finally spotted land. Columbus had reached an island in the Bahamas, which was part of a continent unknown to Europeans. He thought he had landed in the Indies, near Asia, so he called the people he met “Indians.” He made three more voyages to this "New World," never realizing he had found a continent that was new to people in Europe. His journeys opened up a new age of exploration and connected two parts of the world.

Interesting Fact: Columbus never set foot in North America! His four voyages were mostly around the Caribbean Islands and the coasts of Central and South America.

Who did Columbus sail for?

When did Columbus first set sail?

Why did Columbus call the people "Indians"?

What can you infer about Columbus's journey?

What was Columbus's main goal for his voyage?

What was a major result of Columbus's voyages?

Columbus set foot in North America.

What does "voyages" mean in the passage?