Columbus thought he had reached Asia when he landed in the Americas primarily because he miscalculated the size of the Earth by more than half. His estimates led him to believe that a westward voyage from Europe would result in a much shorter distance to Asia than was actually the case. Consequently, when he arrived in the Caribbean, he assumed he had found the outskirts of Asia, particularly the islands off the coast of Asia, like those of 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.
He believed the Indigenous peoples who told him that he had reached Asia.
He believed the Indigenous peoples who told him that he had reached Asia.
The land looked like the pictures he had of Asia.
1 answer