Italian sailor Christopher Columbus (1451-1506) set sail from Palos, Spain on August 3, 1492, on what he thought would be a 3,000 mile trip to China. When his ships failed to reach land by late September, Columbus realized the Far East must be farther away than he had calculated. Afraid to further upset his already frightened sailors, some of whom believed the Earth was flat and feared sailing right off the edge of it, Columbus began keeping two log books. In one, which kept to himself, Columbus accurately recorded the distance traveled. In another, which he showed the crew, Columbus made it appear that the ships hadn’t traveled nearly as far as they had.
Short Essay Writing Question:
Do you think Columbus was right to deceive his crew regarding the distance
they had traveled? Be sure to explain your answer in your short essay.
