Pearson Edexcel · GCSE · History
Course version: 1HI0 · Version from Sept 2016
Key topic 1: Spain reaches the Americas, c1490–1512 - 2 Columbus reaches…
Full specification wording
Option P1: Key topic 1: Spain reaches the Americas, c1490–1512 - 2 Columbus reaches the Americas: Columbus’s actions: exploration of the Bahamas and the Caribbean. The foundation of La Navidad.
Upon reaching the Americas in October 1492, Columbus first explored the Bahamas, landing on an island he named San Salvador.
Checked against the Pearson Edexcel 1HI0 specification (opens in a new tab) on .
- Point 1 of 3
- 3 key terms
Study notes
From the checked teaching notes for this specification point.
The idea
Upon reaching the Americas in October 1492, Columbus first explored the Bahamas, landing on an island he named San Salvador. He then navigated through the Caribbean, exploring the coastlines of Cuba and Hispaniola, continually searching for the Asian mainland and sources of gold. During this exploration, the flagship Santa María ran aground and was wrecked off the coast of Hispaniola on Christmas Day. Unable to take all the crew back to Spain on the remaining ships, Columbus used the timber from the wrecked ship to found the settlement of La Navidad. He left 39 men behind with instructions to search for gold and maintain good relations with the local population, marking the first Spanish attempt at settlement in the New World.
What earns the marks
- Describe Columbus's initial landing in the Bahamas and his naming of San Salvador.
- Explain his subsequent exploration of the Caribbean, specifically Cuba and Hispaniola, driven by the search for gold and Asia.
- Detail the wrecking of the Santa María and how it necessitated the creation of a settlement.
- Explain the foundation of La Navidad, including the use of salvaged timber and the leaving behind of 39 men.
Common mistakes and how to put them right
Confusing the Bahamas with the mainland of North America.
Put it right: Columbus explored the islands of the Bahamas and the Caribbean, never reaching the North American mainland on this voyage.
Stating La Navidad was a planned, permanent colony from the start.
Put it right: La Navidad was an improvised settlement created out of necessity after the Santa María ran aground.
Claiming Columbus stayed at La Navidad.
Put it right: Columbus left 39 men at the settlement and returned to Spain to report his findings.
Exam tips
- Clearly distinguish between Columbus's exploration of the Bahamas and his later movements through the Caribbean islands.
- Explain the foundation of La Navidad as a direct consequence of the loss of the Santa María, showing cause and effect.
- Remember that Columbus's actions were heavily motivated by the need to find wealth (gold) to justify the expedition's cost to the Spanish monarchs.
Try the lesson
The start of the Option P1: Key topic 1: Spain reaches the Americas, c1490–1512 - 2 Columbus reaches the Americas: Columbus’s actions: exploration of the Bahamas and the Caribbean. The foundation of La Navidad. lesson, made from checked teaching notes for this specification point.
Have a go first
What event directly led to Christopher Columbus establishing the settlement of La Navidad on the island of Hispaniola in 1492?
Listen
Upon reaching the Americas in October 1492, Columbus first explored the Bahamas, landing on an island he named San Salvador. He then navigated through the Caribbean, exploring the coastlines of Cuba and Hispaniola, continually searching for the Asian mainland and sources of gold. During this exploration, the flagship Santa María ran aground and was wrecked off the coast of Hispaniola on Christmas Day. Unable to take all the crew back to Spain on the remaining ships, Columbus used the timber from the wrecked ship to found the settlement of La Navidad. He left 39 men behind with instructions to search for gold and maintain good relations with the local population, marking the first Spanish attempt at settlement in the New World. A strong answer earns marks for these points. Describe Columbus's initial landing in the Bahamas and his naming of San Salvador. Explain his subsequent exploration of the Caribbean, specifically Cuba and Hispaniola, driven by the search for gold and Asia. Detail the wrecking of the Santa María and how it necessitated the creation of a settlement. Explain the foundation of La Navidad, including the use of salvaged timber and the leaving behind of 39 men. A common slip: Confusing the Bahamas with the mainland of North America. Instead, Columbus explored the islands of the Bahamas and the Caribbean, never reaching the North American mainland on this voyage. Exam tip: Clearly distinguish between Columbus's exploration of the Bahamas and his later movements through the Caribbean islands.
Key words
Say what each word means before you turn the card.
Exploration and mapping
Try answering aloud or in your head before turning the card.
Colonisation and settlement
Try answering aloud or in your head before turning the card.
Resource exploitation
Try answering aloud or in your head before turning the card.
See every definition
- Exploration and mapping
- Columbus first explored the Bahamas, landing on an island he named San Salvador, then navigated through the Caribbean, exploring the coastlines of Cuba and Hispaniola.
- Colonisation and settlement
- Unable to take all the crew back to Spain, Columbus used the timber from the wrecked ship to found the settlement of La Navidad, leaving 39 men behind.
- Resource exploitation
- Columbus continually searched for the Asian mainland and sources of gold, and left 39 men behind with instructions to search for gold.
There is more to this lesson
The full lesson goes on to check your understanding and help you earn the marks. Create a free account to carry on, with your progress saved.
A week of Premium from your first lesson · Then the free plan continues · No card, no charge
Test your understanding of Option P1: Key topic 1: Spain reaches the Americas, c1490–1512 - 2 Columbus reaches the Americas: Columbus’s actions: exploration of the Bahamas and the Caribbean. The foundation of La Navidad.
Active recall beats re-reading. Take an instant quiz now to test what you’ve learned and lock it into long-term memory.
A week of Premium from your first lesson · Then the free plan continues · No card, no charge