Question

Which of the following best explains why royal geographers in Portugal rejected Columbus's plan for a westward voyage?

1) They believed that Columbus's calculations were incorrect.
2) They thought that Columbus's plan was too risky.
3) They did not believe that Columbus would find a new route to Asia.
4) They were afraid of angering other European powers.

Answer 1

Royal geographers in Portugal rejected Columbus's plan for a westward voyage because they believed his distance calculations were inaccurate.

Step-by-step explanation:

The primary reason why royal geographers in Portugal rejected Columbus's plan for a westward voyage was their belief (1) that Columbus's calculations were incorrect. They knew the Earth was round and that a westward path to Asia was technically possible. However, Columbus underestimated the Earth's circumference—relying on figures which most scholars at the time did not trust. This, coupled with the fact that Portugal was already establishing a route to Asia around Africa, made Columbus's plan seem superfluous and his calculations misleading.