1.  What do you know from your American History textbook about Christopher Columbus' motive for his voyages?  How does that contrast with what Columbus himself said?

2.  What academic subjects did Columbus study?

3.  Which of the following words do you not associate with Christopher Columbus:  adventurer, discoverer of the New World, Christian, sailor.  Why is this so?

4.  What most surprises you about the excerpt from Columbus' book?  Why?

5.  Columbus wrote a letter in 1493 to King Ferdinand's treasurer reporting on his voyage.  (To read the letter, go to http://usm.maine.edu/maps/web-document/1/4/sub-/4-translation.)
Re-read paragraph 9 of the letter which begins "Yet when they perceive that they are safe..."  Does Columbus' report differ from what you have learned in your history textbooks?  Explain your answer.

6.  What did you discover about Christopher Columbus (from the excerpt of his book, his letter to the treasurer, or from the links in "Resources" below) that you didn't already know?