Giovanni Caboto, better known as John Cabot, was an English sailor of Italian origin.He held important positions and achieved a lot, but today it is better known as the man who discovered North America.
biography
Giovanni Caboto was born in Genoa, but later, John's father decided to move to Venice, where they settled for a long time.Here, the future explorer lived for many years, managed to start a family: his wife and three children.Later, one of his sons become a follower of his father and will participate in his expedition.
lodging in Venice, Cabot worked sailor and merchant.Caught in the East, he had the opportunity to talk with Arab traders who have tried to find out who is supplying them with spices.
Career
It was during his travels in the East, John Cabot starts to think about reaching the unknown lands across the northwest because of the existence of America was not yet known.He tried to inspire the ideas of Spanish and Portuguese monarchs, but he did not succeed.Therefore, in the early 1490's sailor sent to England, where he will be called John in the English style, not Giovanni.
Shortly after Columbus was able to open up new land, that is, South America, Bristol merchants decided to organize an expedition, which was appointed commander of Cabot.
first expedition
In 1496 at that time already well-known navigator managed to get permission from the King of England to sail under the British flag.In 1497, he departed from the port of Bristol with the aim to reach China on the water.This expedition was very successful and quickly yielded results.In late June, the ship reached the island, although it was not clear that John Cabot discovered.There are two versions, one by one, it was the Labrador Peninsula, on the other - Newfoundland.
Since the time of the Normans this discovery was the first significant visit North America, implemented by Europeans.Noteworthy is the fact that he believed Cabot, though he almost managed to reach Asia, but it is off course and went too far to the north.
landing on terra incognita, Cabot called the new land possession of the English crown and went on.Heading to the southeast with the intention still to reach China, navigator noticed in a sea of large shoals of cod and herring.This was the area that is now known as the Grand Banks.As usual in this area is very large number of fish, after opening at the British merchants lost the need for her to go to Iceland.
second expedition
In 1498 was made a second attempt to conquer new lands, and led the expedition again appointed John Cabot.The opening of North America at this time is still held.Despite the scarce information preserved, it is known that the expedition failed to reach the mainland, along which ships went down to Florida.
It is not known how to end the life of John Cabot, presumably, he died on the way, and then guide the expedition passed to his son - Sebastian Cabot.Sailors periodically ashore, where they encountered people dressed in animal skins, which did not have any gold or pearls.Due to lack of supplies, it was decided to return to England, where the court and came to the same in 1498.
Residents of England, however, as the sponsor of the expedition, we decided that the trip was unsuccessful, since he had spent a lot of money, and as a result of the sailors could not bring anything valuable.The British hoped to find a direct sea route to "Cathay" or "India", and received only a new, virtually uninhabited land.Because of this, over the next few decades, residents of Albion did not undertake new attempts to find the shortest route to East Asia.
Sebastian Cabot
John Cabot, Father Sebastian obviously strongly influenced his son, when you consider that even after his death, he continued the work of his father and became a sailor.When he returned from the expedition, where he has replaced his father after his death, Sebastian has been successful in their craft.
He was invited to Spain, where he became the helmsman, and in 1526-1530 he headed a major expedition, went to the coast of South America.He managed to reach the La Plata River and then swim to the mainland via the Parana and Paraguay.
After this expedition under the Spanish flag Sebastian returned to England, where he was appointed chief superintendent of the Navy Department, and later became one of the founders of the British fleet.Inspired by the views held by his father, John Cabot, Sebastian also sought to find a sea route to Asia.
These two famous explorer did a lot for the development of new land.Despite the fact that in the 15-16 th centuries to make such a long and distant travel was not only difficult, but dangerous, courageous father and son were devoted to their ideas.But, unfortunately, John Cabot, discoveries that could fundamentally change the lives of Europeans, and did not recognize that he was able to accomplish.
