N a m e D a t e P e r i o d _________________________________ _________________ __________

CHRISTOPHER COLUMBUS: Celebrated or Condemned Christopher Columbus was an Italian navigator. He thought he could find a new trade route to Asia by sailing west across the Atlantic. Columbus asked the rulers of Spain to

give him money and supplies. In return, he would bring back gold, spices and silks, claim new lands for Spain, and convert the people he found to Christianity. Because of the good and

the bad he did, people today debate whether the Columbus is a man to be celebrated or condemned.

Directions: Below are a series of statements about the Columbus. Place a S by the statements that YOU believe were a success and an F by the statements YOU believe were failures. If you think a statement could go either way, just place an X on the line.

First Voyage___ Columbus set out on a voyage that most people thought was foolish. His bravery and sheer will allowed him

to claim new land for Spain, which would be made into colonies adding to Spain’s wealth.___ Columbus thought he had traveled to the Indies(Spice Islands) in Asia. He didn’t. He wasn’t even close.

Second Voyage___ On his second voyage, he discovered some islands

including Jamaica. He set up the colony of Hispaniola.

___ Columbus’ crew were cruel to the natives who lived there. They enslaved the them, and punished them with the loss of a limb or death if they did not collect enough gold. Columbus took 560 natives as slaves back to Spain.

Third Voyage___ On his third voyage Columbus discovered South

America. Most of South America became Spain’s largest colony.

___ He went back to Hispaniola and found the people who lived in the colony were short of food and ready to rebel. Columbus, Hispaniola’s governor, was arrested for mismanagement and sent back to Spain in chains.

Fourth Voyage___ Columbus went on a fourth voyage to prove he had reached Asia. Columbus arrived at Panama. They found

some gold there and set up a trading post. ___ Columbus’ voyage led to him and his crew shipwrecked for over a year. After his rescue, he returned to

Spain, still believing he had found Asia.

Columbus Retired in Spain ___ Columbus was disappointed because he never did find the lucrative spices and silks that flowed through

Asia. He returned to Spain in 1504. He died two years later in 1506, disappointed that he had not found a the route to the riches of the Far East.

___ Columbus was not the first man to discover America because the Vikings had been there before him. However, he did open up a new pathway from the Old World (Spain, Italy, etc) to the New (America) and changed life forever on both sides of the Atlantic Ocean.

Writing frame for: Should Columbus be celebrated or condemned Introduction: In your first paragraph, you need to start by saying who Columbus was.

In this paragraph you need to write about some positive about Columbus. (Look for the letter S on the back) You could start like this: In some ways Christopher Columbus was a success. Here are some examples…

In this paragraph you need to write about some negative things about Columbus. (Look for the Fs on the back)You could start like this: In other ways, Columbus was a failure. Here are some examples. . .

Conclusion: In this paragraph you have say what you think. Do you think Christopher Columbus was a success or a failure, should he be celebrated or condemned? Summarize the reasons why.

CHRISTOPHER COLUMBUS: Celebrate or Condemn