Christopher columbus a. believed that asia was larger, and closer to europe by water, than people then thought. b. converted to islam on his forty-third birthday. c. was of genoese origin, although he gained fame in the service of the portuguese king. d. was the brother of hessin cortes. e. was an escaped criminal from munich when he sailed to the americas.

Option a. believed that Asia was larger, and closer to Europe by water.  Christopher Columbus was born in Genoa, Italy in 1451.  He was an explorer, he learned to sail on trading ships.  He thought that he could find a shorter route and reach Asia by sea. Asia had silks and spices so finding a faster route would help and make trade easier. He first asked the King of Portugal for funding for the trip but the King refused to finance such trip.  Columbus then went to the King and Queen of Spain and they agreed to sponsor his trip.  He sailed with three ships and his belief was that instead of sailing east as was the long route back then, if he sailed west he would find a shorter route to Asia since he thought Asia was larger that it really was. When he reached America he called indians the native people he saw since he believed he had actually found the shortcut to Asia he was looking for.

some american cities felt workers were being oppressed by business monopolies