to reach Cathay and the extreme eastern coast of Asia, but I

Question

did not expect to find such an obstacle of new land as I have found; and if for some reason I did
expect to find it, I estimated there would be some strait to get through to the Eastern Ocean.
This was the opinion of all the ancients, who certainly believed that our Western Ocean was
joined to the Eastern Ocean of India without any land in between. Nevertheless, land has been
found by modern man which was unknown to the ancients, another world with respect to the
one they knew, which appears to be larger than our Europe, than Africa, and almost larger than
Asia, if we estimate its size correctly….All this land or New World which we have described above
is joined together, but is not linked with Asia or Africa (we know this for certain), but could be
joined to Europe by Norway or Russia; this would be false according to the ancients…” (from a
letter written by Verrazzano to King Francis I, July 8, 1524)
What did Giovanni da Verrazzano believe about the land he found on his route to Asia?

Verrazzano gives a detailed description of his discovery of the land we now know as North/South America. He expresses his curiosity about the land mass.

Verrazzano gives a detailed description of this land mass and his excitement on finding it for Spain.

Verrazzano discusses in detail the land that he finds and is confused about it not being connected to Asia or Africa.

Verrazzano was aware of this large land mass but did not know that it would block his route to Asia.

Answer 1

Giovanni da Verrazzano believed that the land he found on his route to Asia was an unexpected obstacle, as it was not what he anticipated when seeking a passage to Cathay and the eastern coast of Asia. He expressed confusion about the existence of this large landmass, noting that it was not connected to Asia or Africa, which contradicted the beliefs of the ancients who thought the Western Ocean was linked to the Eastern Ocean of India without any land in between. Thus, the best interpretation of Verrazzano's perspective is:

Verrazzano discusses in detail the land that he finds and is confused about it not being connected to Asia or Africa.