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The Discovery of America
In the 15th century people knew only three continents: Europe, Asia and Africa. They knew nothing about such a big continent as America. Christopher Columbus discovered America in 1492.
He was the man who was thought to be the discoverer of America. He was born in 1451 in Italy. His father and both grandfathers were cloth makers. Columbus was a seaman and made many sea voyages.
Most people in Columbus's days thought that the earth was flat and they did not believe that beyond the Atlantic Ocean lay India. In 1492 the King and the Queen of Spain gave him money to go to India. He decided to sail west as he was sure that our planet was round. There were 3 caravels: the Santa Maria, the Nina and the Pinta. After sailing 4000 miles (they were sailing for more than two months) he reached some land.
The crew saw something like a white cliff and cried out: "Tierra! Tierra!". Columbus thought 'that it must be India but it was not. It was a new land — a new continent. It was America. Columbus was certain that the lands he discovered were part of India, and he called these islands the West Indies. The people living there have been called Indians since then, though they have nothing in common with the real Indians – inhabitants of India. People began to speak about the land as "The new World".
European people came to the New World for many reasons. Some hoped to find gold and silver. Priests and missionaries came to bring the Christian religion to the Indians. Among those who came for freedom was a small group of English people called Pilgrims. They wanted to start a new life and to have no religious problems they had in England.
In 1620 on the ship "Mayflower" they landed in the north-east of America. They set up a colony and called that part of the country "New England".
Answer the questions:
1. Who discovered America?
2. King and Queen of what country gave Columbus money for voyage?
3. How many caravelas were there?
4. How did Columbus name the land he had reached?
5. What reasons did European come to New Land for?
6. What do you know about Pilgrims?
