Toscanelli Estimate of Distance from Portugal to China (1474)


Region Date
Portugal 1474

Florentine banker Paolo Toscanelli in Lisbon advises King of Portugal that China only 5000 miles west of Portugal and therefore within sailing reach; estimate known to Columbus in 1480s, when he and Toscanelli corresponded.

Sources

Robert A. McCaughey

Related People

Christopher Columbus

Related Events

First Voyage of Columbus to the Americas (1492)
Second Voyage of Columbus to the Americas (1493)
Third Voyage of Columbus to the Americas (1498)
Fourth Voyage of Columbus to the Americas (1502)

Compiler

Peter Richards

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