Columbus remained adamant that he had reached Asia, even before his final voyage in 1502, despite all the evidence to the contrary.

Question

Answer

Pro: After Amerigo Vespucci's 1501 trip past South America, most European voyagers were convinced that the land they had discovered was not Asia, but rather a new continent.

Answer

Con: Most maps at the time failed to represent Asia accurately. Therefore, it is understandable that it would take several trips for Europeans to realize they had found a new continent.

Was Columbus a hero?

Columbus remained adamant that he had reached Asia, even before his final voyage in 1502, despite all the evidence to the contrary.

Pros

Cons

After Amerigo Vespucci's 1501 trip past South America, most European voyagers were convinced that the land they had discovered was not Asia, but rather a new continent.

Most maps at the time failed to represent Asia accurately. Therefore, it is understandable that it would take several trips for Europeans to realize they had found a new continent.

Selected claim, opposing its parent

Columbus remained adamant that he had reached Asia, even before his final voyage in 1502, despite all the evidence to the contrary.

Pro claim 1

After Amerigo Vespucci's 1501 trip past South America, most European voyagers were convinced that the land they had discovered was not Asia, but rather a new continent.

Con claim 1

Most maps at the time failed to represent Asia accurately. Therefore, it is understandable that it would take several trips for Europeans to realize they had found a new continent.