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John Cabot

John Cabot
Reading Level
     edHelper's suggested reading level:   grades 7 to 9
     Flesch-Kincaid grade level:   7.45

Vocabulary
     challenging words:    mapmaker, mapmakers, crossing, better, seafaring, northerly, seaport, riches, successful, exploration, banks, merchant, disagreement, trade, expedition, route
     content words:    Giovanni Caboto, Far East, Christopher Columbus, So Caboto, In England, John Cabot, Both King Henry VII, East Coast, Nova Scotia, Like Columbus

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John Cabot
By Sharon Fabian 		  
1     Giovanni Caboto was born in Italy. When he grew up he became a merchant sailor in Venice, Italy. Like other seafaring traders, he traveled the seas to buy spices, silk, precious stones, or metals. At that time, the Far East was the place where all of the traders wanted to go, because that was where they could buy the spices and other items that people in their own country wanted. Caboto had heard of Christopher Columbus' voyage, and like other people of his time, believed that Columbus had really found a shorter route to the Far East. He didn't know what we know now, that Columbus had discovered America instead. So Caboto wanted to make a voyage like the one Columbus made, and maybe find an even shorter route. His idea was to sail farther north, where the distance would be shorter.
 
2     Unfortunately, his own country of Italy wasn't interested in exploring. They were already the leaders in the Far East trade and were happy with things the way they were. So, like Columbus, Caboto decided to try another country. In about 1495, Caboto, his wife, and their three children moved to the seaport of Bristol, England. In England he began using the name John Cabot.
 
3     England was interested in exploring. Both King Henry VII and the English merchants hoped to find a shorter trade route, especially one that was not controlled by the Italian traders. They decided to sponsor Cabot's explorations.

Paragraphs 4 to 8:
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