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In 1493, when word of Columbus' reports of his successful journey to the New World arrived, Cabot convinced King Henry VII that England did not have to sit still while the Spaniards helped themselves to the New World. Even though the Pope had given Spain control of all the new lands in the New World, King Henry VII liked Cabot's idea.

He paid for Cabot to begin an exploration of the New World as it might add to England's wealth by opening up new trade routes. Cabot also convinced him that it was possible to reach Asia on a more northerly route than Columbus had taken, and this route would be even shorter! The idea that a northern route existed started the search for the Northwest Passage to the Indies.

Cabot sailed out of Bristol with his ship, the Matthew, on May 2, 1497. When he saw land on 24th June 1497, it was not Asia that he had discovered, but Newfoundland (now part of Canada). Cabot did not realise it, but he had found a continent that was unknown in Europe, which he claimed in the name of England.

As well as being the first European explorer to discover the mainland of North America (Canada and the United States), he also sailed further north, making the first recorded attempt to find the Northwest Passage, only to find ice-crusted waters.

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13y ago

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