Америка в прошлом и настоящем. Часть I. Горчакова Е.П - 22 стр.

go where no European ships had ever been. "We must sail to India by going around
Africa," Henry thought. "Then, we will never again need the Muslims and their
Mediterranean trade."

SOUTH TO AFRICA WITH BARTHOLOMEW DIAS
2.     When Prince Henry died in 1460, Portuguese ships had sailed less than
halfway down the coast of Africa. As they approached1 the Equator, the sailors had
become frightened. The African coast seemed endless. Wind and current2 patterns
were unfamiliar. Even the stars in these new southern skies were new. But finally, in
1487, Prince Henry's dreams came true. In a violent storm, the sturdy3 caravels of
Bartholomew Dias rounded the rocky shores of southern Africa. When the skies
cleared, Dias and his crew were gazing at4 the blue waters of the Indian Ocean. The
Muslim's monopoly on Eastern trade was broken.
3.     Dias joyfully5 returned to Portugal with the news. "A trade route to the
Orient has finally been found! Soon ships will return home to Lisbon filled with the
spices everyone wants. Profits will pour in to King John of Portugal and to the
merchants who support him."
4.     King John was happy. He had been right. Now he was glad that he had not
listened to that young Italian sailor in his court. "His foolish plan to cross the
Atlantic will never succeed," King John thought. "Our route around Africa may be
long, but it will be successful."
5.     Forgotten, Columbus was not in Lisbon to celebrate the victory of Dias. He
had already gone to Spain. "I will have a better chance here," he told himself. "Spain
must compete with its Portuguese rivals."
6.     Columbus was right. If Spain did not act quickly, Portugal would become the
most powerful nation in Europe. So Queen Isabella and King Ferdinand did not
turn Columbus down.6 Instead, they gave him money and ships for a daring ocean
attempt. In return, Columbus promised them that he would reach Japan in a short
time.

WESTWARD WITH COLUMBUS
7.     When he left Spain, Columbus believed that Marco Polo's magnificent Orient
lay directly west across the Atlantic. With confidence and joy, he set out on August
3, 1492. His fleet7 was small. Only two caravels, the Nina and the Pinta, followed
his flagship8, the Santa Maria.


1
  approach: come close
2
  current: movement of water in a certain direction
3
  sturdy: strong
4
  gaze at: look at for a long time
5
  joyfully: happily
6
  turn down: reject
7
  fleet: group of ships
8
  flagship: the main ship

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