What issue did Christopher Columbus face due to the map created by Ptolemy?

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Christopher Columbus encountered significant challenges due to the inaccuracies in distances depicted on Ptolemy's map. Ptolemy's calculations of the Earth's circumference and the distances between various landmasses were flawed. As a result, Columbus underestimated the distance he would need to travel to reach Asia by sailing westward from Europe. He believed that his journey would require significantly less time and distance than it actually did, which contributed to his decision to set sail across the Atlantic Ocean without fully understanding the amount of water he would need to traverse. This miscalculation had profound implications for his voyage, as it led him to believe he could reach Asia quickly, ultimately resulting in his arrival in the Americas instead.

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