Setting Sail With Columbus
In Setting Sail With Columbus, host Andrew Marr introduces Columbus and the men who sailed with him on one of the first expeditions to find a trading route to Asia. The queen declared a reward for the first person to spot land, which ended up being what Columbus called the “New World.” This video is excerpted from BBC’s Andrew Marr's History of the World, a story of human history that uses reenactments, modern footage, and storytelling to explain history’s greatest achievements.
Advisory: Deals with adult themes.
Andrew Marr goes on an epic journey through 70,000 years of human history, telling the story of how great forces of nature and individual genius shaped the world we live in today. Learn more.
Lesson Express
Q: What were the European explorers hoping to find?
A: The “Far East” where there were silk and spices.
Q: What did Columbus tell his crew about the journey? What actually happened?
A: Columbus said that they would sail for about four weeks; the trip actually took much longer.
Q: What motivated the explorers?
A: The explorers hoped to earn riches from what they brought back or a reward for sighting land first. Students may suggest other motivations like adventure or seeing the other side of the world.
More Like This
In Columbus in the New World, host Andrew Marr recounts how Christopher Columbus lands on the Bahamian island of Guanahani and decides to name it San Salvador. After meeting with the Indigenous people on the island, Columbus describes how he thinks he can claim the land for Spain, enslave the people, and convert them to Christianity. This kicks off a global gold rush. This video is excerpted from BBC’s Andrew Marr's History of the World, a story of human history that uses reenactments, modern footage, and storytelling to explain history’s greatest achievements.
In Columbus in the New World, host Andrew Marr recounts how Christopher Columbus lands on the Bahamian island of Guanahani and decides to name it San Salvador. After meeting with the Indigenous people on the island, Columbus describes how he thinks he can claim the land for Spain, enslave the people, and convert them to Christianity. This kicks off a global gold rush. This video is excerpted from BBC’s Andrew Marr's History of the World, a story of human history that uses reenactments, modern footage, and storytelling to explain history’s greatest achievements.