Simple History - Columbus

Most of civilization was founded in the eastern hemisphere (Europe, Asia, & northern Africa). The inhabitants of these early civilizations traded with each other across the land. The overland routes were difficult for many reasons. It took a very long time and they had to deal with the weather and the people that wanted what they had. There was also an over the sea route, but this also took a very long time, and the sea was unpredictable. The powerful Empires wanted to find a faster way to trade so they sent many men out to find that faster route. Columbus thought he could find that faster route by traveling west across the sea. He was certain by going west from the east coast of Spain he would run right into the west coast of Asia. He and almost everyone else had no idea what he would really find. So, when he did happen upon this unknown land he thought he had found small islands off the coast of India which is why he named the inhabitants "Indians".