Columbus

http://www.fordham.edu/halsall/source/columbus1.html

What reason does Columbus give for keeping his journal? What does this reason tell us about his mission on this journey?
Why does Columbus decide to lie to the crew about the distance covered each day? How does the crew seem to feel about this voyage? On what evidence do you base that conclusion?
What are Columbus' first impressions of the natives he meets in this new land? What do these impressions tell us about the native culture? What do they tell us about European culture of the era?

The East-India Trade

http://www.yale.edu/lawweb/avalon/econ/eastindi.htm

What does this author think about the benefits and drawbacks of the East India trade for England? On what does he base these conclusions? What can you determine about the author's status in English society? Does that status have any impact on the credibility of this document for historical purposes?
What can we learn about European culture of this era from this document?