Columbu's life
The Voyage
The Discovery
Spain and the Celebration
Fun Facts
100

Where was Christopher Columbus born?

Genoa, Italy

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When did Columbus begin his first voyage?

August 3, 1492

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On what date did Columbus arrive in America?

October 12, 1492

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What is celebrated in Spain on October 12th?

“Día de la Hispanidad” or Spain’s National Day

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What shape did Columbus believe the Earth had?

Round

200

What year was Columbus born?

1451

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From which port did he leave Spain?

Palos de la Frontera

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Where did they arrive?

One of the islands in the Bahamas

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What does this day commemorate?

The arrival of Columbus in America

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What language did Columbus speak?

Italian (but he also learned Spanish)

300

What was Columbus’s dream?

To find a new route to Asia by sailing west

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What were the names of the three ships?

The Niña, the Pinta, and the Santa María

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What did Columbus believe he had reached?

Asia

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In which city is the main parade held?

Madrid

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What did Columbus want to find in Asia?

Spices, silk, and gold

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Who supported Columbus’s voyage?

Queen Isabella I and King Ferdinand II of Spain

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Who was the sailor who first saw land?

Rodrigo de Triana

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What did he actually discover?

A new continent — America

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Who usually attends the parade?

The King and Queen of Spain and other authorities

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What sea did he cross during his voyage?  

The Atlantic Ocean

500

How many voyages to the Americas did Columbus make in total?

Four

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How long did they sail before finding land?

More than two months

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What regions did Columbus explore later?

The Caribbean, Central America, and South America

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Name one common way people celebrate this day.

Military parades, displaying the Spanish flag, concerts, or cultural events

500

How did Columbus’s voyages change history?

They connected Europe and the Americas for the first time