05/01/13
Period 5 History 7
Have you ever wanted to have adventure and fame in your life? John Cabot did just that. Though John Cabot failed to reach and trade in Asia, he did succeed at reaching Northern and Eastern America.
Born around 1450 in Genoa,Italy under the name of Giovanni Caboto, ( later called John) he learned how to sail at the age of 11 from Italian sailors and merchants, when his family moved to Venice, Italy. After he got married in 1474 to Mattea Cabot, they were said to have financial trouble and that's when his career for sailing started. He was deeply inspired by the accomplishments of Christopher Columbus and Bartholomeu Dias. He also agreed with Columbus that the shorter way to reach Asia was to sail west from Europe. He then planned to do what Columbus did only better.
He moved to Bristol, England and met with King Henry VII to ask for a grant to seek new lands for England in return for money. He left in early May in 1497 on the ship "Matthew" weighing 50 tons and carrying a crew of 18 men. He arrived on June, 24 1497 near Canada or Greenland in North/East America (people are unsure). He claimed the land in the name of King Henry VII. When he got back on August 6, 1497 he received a pension of f.20 (a form of British money) and the gratitude of King Henry VII. John Cabot only explored North America /East America and was thought to have explored near Canada or near Greenland. There he came across the Natives who lived there and just like Columbus he swore that he had become successful at finding India and Asia.
There where many difficulties during the two voyages but he had two major problems. First, during both voyages Cabot was sailing near lots of ice since he was near Canada or Greenland and so the ships had to navigate through many ice bergs to get to their destination. Second, they lacked in food so they were continuously hungry. As well as not trading their items for spices and milk. Being that John did accomplish his goals of reaching Asia he was able to successfully reach Northern and Eastern America. He started with financial trouble and ended with fame in England as a proud sailor. Though on Cabot's last voyage he never returned and yet is known for finding a short new route to reach Northern and Eastern America.
During Cabot's mission to find Asia he came across hunger, ice and no trade along the way and yet he was able to reach Northern America ( not Asia) along with the help of King Henry the VII of England. Sadly during his second voyage John never returned and was pronounced dead in 1499. Soon enough John Cabot became one of the greatest explorers of Europe.
Works Cited
"John Cabot Biography - Facts, Birthday, Life Story - Biography.com." BIO. N.p., n.d. Web. May 7, 2013.
"John Cabot Facts ***." Colonial America for kids ***. N.p., n.d. Web. May 7,2013. <http://www.landofthebrave.info/info/John-Cabot-facts.htm>.
"John Cabot." History.com. N.p., n.d. Web. 7 May 2013. <www.history.com/topic/John-Cabot>.
