The History of America
1.A Great Error in Navigation—Finding the New World（1492） 航海史上的伟大错误——发现新大陆
Christopher Columbus（1451-1506）was born in Genoa， Italy. He was the oldest of five children in his family.His father was a wool weaver[1] and he helped his father with the weaving， but he always wanted to sail the seas.He didn't go to school very much， but he learned to read and write Spanish during his travels.He also taught himself Latin because all the geography[2] books were written in Latin.
Some people thought he was trying to prove the world is round， but this is not true. At that time， most people already knew the earth is round.He just wanted to find a short way to get to the Indies by ship.He was a Christian and wanted to tell the story of Christ to the people he would find in the far-away lands.He also wanted wealth for himself and for Spain， and he wanted to be famous.He tried for eight years to get King Ferdinand and Queen Isabella to supply him with ships and money.Finally they agreed， but he made more demands.He wanted to be made a knight and admiral[3] of the Ocean Sea.He wanted to be the viceroy and governor of all lands he would discover.Also he wanted one-tenth of everything he found of value in the new lands.He even boldly told them he wanted all of this in writing.This was rather brave of him because they could have had him killed because of his demands.They finally agreed and he got three ships ready to sail； the Santa Maria and two smaller ships， the Pinta and the Nina.He took enough food for a year and four months later he was ready to sail.
They left Spain on August 3， 1492. Captain Christopher Columbus' ensign pictured a cross and the crown-topped initials F（for King Ferdinand of Spain）and Y（for Queen Isabella of Spain）.His objective was to sail west until he reached Asia（the Indies）where the riches of gold， pearls and spice awaited.His first stop was the Canary Islands where the lack of wind left his expedition becalmed until September 6.
Once underway， Columbus benefited from calm seas and steady winds that pushed him steadily westward. However， the trip was long-longer than anticipated by either Columbus or his crew.In order to mollify his crew's apprehensions， Columbus kept two sets of logs： one showing the true distance traveled each day and one showing a lesser distance. The first log was kept secret.The latter log quieted the crew's anxiety by under-reporting the true distance they had traveled from their homeland.This deception had only a temporary effect； by October 10， 1492，the crew's apprehension had increased to the point of near mutiny.The sailors were ready to turn around and start back home.
"Just three more days，" he said， "Then if we don't see land， we'll turn around and go back home." Two days later they saw land. Having landed， they saw green trees， and much water， and fruits of diverse kinds； Columbus named the island San Salvador.Shortly after landing， many of the island's inhabitants assembled on the beach and Columbus gave them gifts of red hats and beads.The natives reciprocated[4] with gifts of parrots， cotton and other goods.In describing the natives， Columbus wrote： "They go as naked as when their mothers bore them， and so do the women， although I did not see more than one girl.They are very well made， with very handsome bodies， and very good countenances." He thought he had found the Indies and called the people he saw there "Indians".Actually， many of the local men were captured[5] by Columbus' men and later sold as slaves.
While exploring the islands in the area and looking for gold to loot[6]， Columbus' men traveled to the islands of Hispaniola（now divided into Haiti and the Dominican Republic），Cuba， and many other smaller islands. When they got to Cuba， he thought he was in China.But the world was a lot larger than he thought.On Christmas Eve， the Santa Maria was wrecked near Haiti.Columbus built a fort[7] and left 40 men to hunt for gold.Then he returned to Spain on the Nina.The Pinta also returned.The people of Spain welcomed him as a hero.He made three more voyages across the ocean later.His 13-year-old son， Ferdinand went with him on the fourth voyage.However， Columbus did not become rich as he had hoped.At the end of his life he only had a pension the king and queen had given him because he was the first one reach the New World.He spent the last few months of his life in bed because of the pain of arthritis[8].
As an explorer and navigator， the far-reaching impact of Christopher Columbus voyage is much higher than any previous expedition. Discovering the New World is the most egregious human history， the geographical discoveries of human challenge themselves and conquer the world a great victory.Columbus not only discovered a New World， but he also led the way for other explorers.
克里斯托弗·哥伦布（1451～1506）出生于意大利热那亚。他是家里5个孩子中最大的。父亲是羊毛织工，他经常帮助父亲织布，但他一直渴望在海上航行。他没怎么上过学，但他在旅行中学会了阅读和写作西班牙语。他还自学了拉丁文，因为所有的地理书籍都是用拉丁语写的。
有些人以为他要证明地球是圆的，但事实并非如此。当时大多数人已经知道地球是圆的。其实他想找到一个乘船到印度最短的路程，因为他是一个基督徒，想把基督故事讲给他将发现的遥远国度的人。同时，他想为西班牙和自己谋得财富，也想出名。他用了8年的努力去说服国王费迪南德和王后伊莎贝拉为自己提供船舶和资金上的赞助。他们最终同意了，但他却提出了更高的要求：他想成为骑士和印度洋海军上将，想成为他将发现的所有土地上的总督，还想把新发现的土地上所有财富的1/10据为己有。他甚至还大胆地要求，他希望将这一切载入史册。他相当勇敢，因为这可能引来杀身之祸。好在他们最终同意并给他3艘船准备开航：圣玛丽亚和两个较小的船舶——平塔和尼娜。他准备了足够食用一年的粮食。4个月后，他准备启航了。
他们于1492年8月3日离开西班牙。船长克里斯托弗·哥伦布的旗以十字架和和字母F， Y（迪南德和伊莎贝拉名字的首字母）组成。他的目标是要向西航行到达富有黄金、珍珠和香料的亚洲（印度）。舰队的第一站是加那利群岛，由于缺乏合适的风向，他的探险队直到9月6日才再次启程。
一开始航行，得益于平静的海洋和稳定的海洋风，舰队稳步向西进发。不过，此行是漫长的——比哥伦布和他的船员所预想的更漫长。为了安抚船员，哥伦布坚持写两本日志：他在一本日志中记载每天真实的航程，另一本则将里程数写得很小；第一本日志是保密的。第二本瞒报里程数的日志则来向船员汇报他们与祖国的距离，以此来缓解船员的焦虑。这种欺骗只具有暂时的效果，1492年10月10日船员的担心已临近兵变点。船员纷纷准备掉头返航。