The primary reason Columbus thought he had reached Asia when he landed in the Americas is that he miscalculated the size of the Earth by more than half. Columbus underestimated the Earth's circumference and believed that Asia was much closer to Europe than it actually is. His goal was to find a westward route to Asia, and when he landed in the Caribbean, he concluded he had reached the outskirts of Asia, specifically the East Indies.
Why did Columbus think he had reached Asia when he landed in the Americas?
Responses
He miscalculated the size of the Earth by more than half.
He miscalculated the size of the Earth by more than half.
His instruments indicated that his location was 120° W longitude.
His instruments indicated that his location was 120° W longitude.
The land looked like the pictures he had of Asia.
The land looked like the pictures he had of Asia.
He believed the Indigenous peoples who told him that he had reached Asia.
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