1. North America - Discovery and its Location

I hope you remember there are seven continents. They are North America, South America, Europe, Asia, Antarctica, Australia and Africa. Last year we studied about Asia and Europe. Similarly, this year we will be learning about the continents of North America and South America.

 

North and South America together called Americas. North & South America are also called the "New World" because European explorers discovered them only in the late \(15\)th century. They are new only to the European explorers but old to the indigenous people living there.

 

 

While trying to find a new sea route to India, Christopher Columbus - an Italian explorer and navigator, discovered North America in \(1492\). Columbus set sail from Spain aboard three ships: the Nina, Pinta, and Santa Maria. On August 3, 1492, the Italian explorer Christopher Columbus set out from Palos de la Frontera, Spain, with a crew of 90 men and three ships—the Nia, Pinta, and Santa Maria.

 

 

But, the landmass was named after Italian explorer Amerigo Vespucci who landed there in \(1507\).

 

 

Though we give Columbus the credits of discovering America, there were plenty of native people living there already. Native people includes many native tribes in the USA and the Aztec civilisation in Mexico.