Christopher
Columbus
Gathered by Eleanor
Updated 9/24/2000
Carmen Sandiego's Great Chase through Time - http://www.carmensandiego.com/products/time/columbusc10/ebmain_c10.html
With information provided by Britannica
Online, this case (number 10 in a series) specifically focuses on Columbus,
Isabella, the voyages and Spanish colonialism in the new world. Lots of great
information here excellently done.
Christopher Columbus and the Spanish Empire - http://www.acs.ucalgary.ca/HIST/tutor/eurvoya/columbus.html
This excellent discussion of Columbus'
impact on the Americas from an imperialist point of view is great stuff for
Middle School on up. It offers much perspective on the political role of his
discoveries and their connection to Spanish influence in the western
hemisphere.
Columbus Lesson Plans - http://members.aol.com/Donnpages/USHolidays.html#COLUMBUS
From Mr. Donn's wonderful history
pages, here is an overview and collection of lesson links online that have to
do with Columbus Day, as well as a variety of other holidays!
Columbus' Navigation - http://www1.minn.net/~keithp/
Keith Pickering offers this more
technical look into the voyages of Columbus, covering such fundamental
questions as latitude, longitude, dead reckoning navigation, celestial
navigation, and discussion starters like 'How long was Columbus's league? '
Lots of good information here!
Columbus Research and Articles - http://marauder.millersv.edu/~columbus/pg-full.html
Millersville University does a great
job of archiving LOTS of articles and information on Columbus for eager
students to explore. Completely text-based and all easily found online, this
may be a great find for a High School class looking to dig further into the
Columbus story.
Controversial Columbus - http://www.indians.org/welker/columbu1.htm
Here's a website to stretch those
critical thinking skills while looking at Columbus from the viewpoint of those
who do not honor him. Rather, they see him as an oppressor and imperialist who
should not be revered in today's enlightened world. Full of pejoratives and
propaganda, a master High School teacher can make good use of this site from a
number of perspectives. See http://www.aynrand.org/medialink/columbus.html
for an opposing point of view.
A Culinary History - http://www.castellobanfi.com/features/story_3.html
Tired of examining Columbus from the
same old point of view? How about learning about the foods he and his crew
consumed for sustenance? Columbus had the best of everything on his first
voyage, but not on his subsequent trips. Intriguing reading for upper
elementary and beyond!
Explorations of Christopher Columbus - http://www.mariner.org/age/columbus.html
Presented by the Mariner's Museum in
Newport News, Virginia, this site gives a nice breakdown of each of the four
voyages with pictures and maps to supplement the reading. And if you decide to
step back and look at other explorers coming to the new world, this site covers
the entire span of history using a hypertext timeline.
The Indian's Discovery of Columbus - http://www.yale.edu/ynhti/curriculum/units/1992/2/92.02.01.x.html
The Yale-New Haven Teachers Institute
presents this revisionist view of Columbus' encounters with indigenous peoples
and then truth of who actually found who. Excellent material for secondary
students or teachers wishing to brush up on the subject before teaching their
students.
Just Where was Columbus? - http://www.infoplease.com/spot/columbus.html
The Information Please Almanac asks
"exactly where was Columbus on October 12, 1492? There's lots of solid
information here written in such a way that upper elementary students could
even get a handle on it. Even if it does beg the question of why we celebrate
Columbus Day on October 12th, it's a fun read!
Myth Busters - http://marauder.millersv.edu/~Columbus/data/art/LAUFER02.ART
The International Columbian
Quincentenary Alliance offers this plain text list of fascinating facts about
Columbus, his life and times and ultimately his legacy. What a great set of
facts to help prime a class for Columbus studies, or a great reference to help
bring closure once your studies are done!
1492: An Ongoing Voyage - http://www.ibiblio.org/expo/1492.exhibit/Intro.html
The Library of Congress offers this
examination of America from pre-Columbian times through colonization of the
continent with a nice section on 'Christopher Columbus, the man and the myth'.
The section on 'How to use the 1492 Exhibit' offers guidelines for making use of
the site.
CHRISTOPHER
COLUMBUS BIOGRAPHY:
http://www.millersv.edu/~columbus/columbus.html This very good and extensive bio
from pro-fessor Tirado attempts to put Columbus’ life into historical context.
1492: AN
ONGOING VOYAGE: http://metalab.unc.edu/expo/1492.exhibit/Intro.html Navigate your own way through the
historical voyage in this wonderful online exhibit from the Library of
Congress.
COLUMBUS
AND THE SPANISH EMPIRE:
http://www.acs.ucalgary.ca/HIST/tutor/eurvoya/columbus.html These tutorials from the University
of Calgary present a relatively unbiased account of the Columbus journeys, and
its effects upon the Spanish, American and European worlds.
THE
COLUMBUS NAVIGATION HOMEPAGE:
http://www1.minn.net/~keithp/index.htm The history, navigation, crew and
landfall of the Columbus expedition.
PRIVILEGES
GRANTED TO COLUMBUS BY THE KING & QUEEN OF SPAIN:
http://www.yale.edu/lawweb/avalon/colum.htm . . . and it really wasn’t that
much, beyond titles and a certain legal position of authority—it’s no wonder he
died poor.
COLUMBUS’
LETTER OF RELATING HIS DISCOVERY:
http://www.usm.maine.edu/~maps/columbus/translation.html Translated from the original latin
text.
COLUMBUS’
LETTER TO THE KING & QUEEN OF SPAIN;
CIRCA 1494: http://www.fordham.edu/halsall/source/columbus2.html In 13 articles addressing
colonization of the Island of Espanola, 9 of those articles concern themselves
with gold.
EXPLORATION
& DISCOVERY OF AMERICA BEFORE COLUMBUS:
http://marauder.millersv.edu/~columbus/data/art/WASHBR12.ART
THE
CONTROVERSY: EXAMINING THE REPUTATION OF CHRISTOPHER COLUMBUS:
http://www.hartford-hwp.com/taino/docs/columbus.html First published in the Baltimore
Evening Sun, by anthropologist Jack Weatherford.
COLUMBUS LESSON PLANS AND
ACTIVITIES
KINDERGARTEN
5 DAY UNIT ON COLUMBUS:
http://www.coreknowledge.org/CKproto2/resrcs/lessons/kcolmbs.htm Gives students a good idea of
geography and routes, and key players in the Columbus discovery scenario.
COLUMBUS
DAY MINI-UNITS:
http://www.scholastic.com/inschool/columbus/ Activities across the curriculum to
celebrate Columbus Day.
THE
INDIANS’ DISCOVERY OF COLUMBUS UNIT:
http://www.yale.edu/ynhti/curriculum/units/1992/2/92.02.01.x.html High school level, reexamines
Columbus in history. Written by the Yale New Haven Teacher’s Institute.
CHRISTOPHER
COLUMBUS WEBQUEST:
http://www.public.usit.net/llcave/clmbswbqst.html
CHRISTOPHER
COLUMBUS’ CROSSING GAME & LESSON:
http://edweb.sdsu.edu/courses/edtec670/Cardboard/Board/C/Columbus.html
HUNT FOR
FAMOUS EXPLORERS GAME: