Why did the European monarchs refuse to finance Columbus's venture?
A) Each monarch believed the world was flat.
B) Each monarch assumed Columbus had miscalculated the earth's circumference.
C) The monarchs were more comfortable investing their money in overland trade routes.
D) The Chinese controlled the oceanic routes to China and prevented all but a few European ships from entering Asia.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Columbus had indeed miscalculated the Earth's circumference, significantly underestimating the distance to Asia by sea. This miscalculation made his proposed voyage seem more feasible than it actually was, but it also made monarchs skeptical of his plan.

Why Did the European Monarchs Refuse to Finance Columbus's Venture