When did Columbus’ journey to the New World begin? How did it progress?


               Columbus’s fleet set out on a voyage from the Spanish port of Palos de Fontera on Friday 3rd August, 1492. After passing through the Straits of Gibraltar, the ships sailed directly to the Canary Islands, where they arrived on 8th August. They went further to the west.



               By 16th September, the convoy reached the Sargasso Sea. The fleet did not see land for many days, and Columbus became dispirited. The early part of the voyage was uneventful.



               But on 12th October, they reached an island, which was inhabited. The island was a natural beauty, immensely blessed with flora and fauna. Columbus named the island ‘San Salvador’. San Salvador was a small island; the islanders indicated that there were other larger islands.



               Columbus noticed that many of the natives were wearing gold ornaments. He captured a few of the natives, and kept them in captivity. He insisted that they guide him to the source of their gold. Columbus also landed on the northeast coast of Cuba on 28th October. On his way to Cuba, he also passed the island of Rum Cay. Later, he also explored the Long Island. 


When did Columbus’ journey to the New World begin? How did it progress?


               Columbus’s fleet set out on a voyage from the Spanish port of Palos de Fontera on Friday 3rd August, 1492. After passing through the Straits of Gibraltar, the ships sailed directly to the Canary Islands, where they arrived on 8th August. They went further to the west.



               By 16th September, the convoy reached the Sargasso Sea. The fleet did not see land for many days, and Columbus became dispirited. The early part of the voyage was uneventful.



               But on 12th October, they reached an island, which was inhabited. The island was a natural beauty, immensely blessed with flora and fauna. Columbus named the island ‘San Salvador’. San Salvador was a small island; the islanders indicated that there were other larger islands.



               Columbus noticed that many of the natives were wearing gold ornaments. He captured a few of the natives, and kept them in captivity. He insisted that they guide him to the source of their gold. Columbus also landed on the northeast coast of Cuba on 28th October. On his way to Cuba, he also passed the island of Rum Cay. Later, he also explored the Long Island. 


Why is it said that the voyages of Christopher Columbus were exceptional in world history?



               Christopher Columbus was born in 1451, in the Italian city of Genoa. Little is known about his childhood, apart from the fact that his father was a weaver. Columbus later became a great sailor and navigator. Columbus made four trips across the Atlantic Ocean: in 1492, 1493, 1498 and 1502. He was determined to find a direct sea route west from Europe to Asia, but he never could. Instead, he accidentally stumbled upon ‘the Americas’. Those voyages initiated the permanent European colonization of the American continent.



               Columbus proposed the idea of reaching the East Indies by sailing westward. This idea received a positive nod from the Spanish Crown, as it could open up a new sea route to begin spice trade with Asia. During his first voyage in 1492, he reached the American continent. Though Columbus intended to reach Japan in Asia, he landed on an island in the Bahamas. He named the island ‘San Salvador’. During his next three voyages, he visited the Antilles, as well as the Caribbean coast of Venezuela and Central America, claiming all of it for Spain.



 


Why is it said that Bartolomeu Dias played a significant role in the future voyages of Portugal?


 



               Following his expedition, Bartolomeu Dias had a stint at Guinea in West Africa, where Portugal had established a gold-trading site. He later served as a shipbuilding consultant. He used his years of wisdom as a seafarer, and constructed the ships Sao Gabriel and Sao Rafael. Later, Vasco da Gama used these vessels to sail past the Cape of Good Hope and to reach India.



               Dias accompanied Da Gama’s fleet as far as the Cape Verde Islands, and then returned to Guinea. Da Gama’s ships reached India in May 1498, nearly a decade after Dias’ historic trip around the tip of Africa.



               Later, the Portuguese king sent out a massive fleet to India. Pedro Alvares Cabral was ordered to lead the fleet. Dias captained four of the ships. They reached Brazil in March 1500, then headed across the Atlantic, towards South Africa and, further ahead, to the Indian subcontinent. Dias perished near the Cape of Good Hope that he had, presciently named the Cape of Storms. Four ships encountered a huge storm off the cape, and were lost, including Dias’, on 29th May 1500. 


Why is it said that Dias’ voyage from Mossel Bay became important?

            Bartolomeu Dias followed the coast from Mossel Bay, but to his surprise, he found that he was travelling to the northeast. He registered that fortunately, the storm might have taken him to the final cape of Africa. Dias’s expedition reached its furthest point on 12th March 1488, when they anchored at Kwaaihoek, near the mouth of the Bushmans River. They erected one of the padroes there.



            Dias knew that his ship was sailing along the east coast and into the Indian Ocean. Dias was greatly elated by the achievement, but his crew did not share his joy. They were on the verge of mutiny as they were fearful of sailing further towards unknown lands.



            Thus Bartolomeu Dias was disheartened, and decided to sail back from the very gateway of the Indian Ocean.



            While returning, Dias and his men saw the southernmost cape of Africa. Dias named it the ‘Cape of Storms’.



            Later, the king renamed it as the ‘Cape of Good Hope’. This was an important discovery, as it was the key to the long sought passage to India. 


Who was Bartolomeu Dias? What was the course of his voyage?



 



               In 1488, Portuguese explorer Bartolomeu Dias became the first European mariner to round the southernmost tip of Africa, reaching the Indian Ocean from the Atlantic, opening the sea route from Europe to Asia.



               The discovery of the passage around southern Africa was significant. Till that time, Europeans were not able to conduct direct trade with either India, or any other Asian country, except through the overland route through the Middle East.



               That was the reason why King John II of Portugal appointed Bartolomeu Dias to head an expedition to find a sea route to India. Dias set sail on October 10th, 1486.



               Dias had a convoy of three ships. He followed the coast line beyond the point reached by Diogo Cao four years before him until he had crossed the Tropic of Capricorn. Dias sailed southwards for many days, until the wind and currents drove him back again towards the east. Even though he was not able to find land, Dias bravely decided to turn his ships back to the north again. Soon afterwards, they sighted an island, which came to be known as Mossel Bay, now in Cape Province, South Africa.



 


Why is Diogo Cao’s journey remembered till date?



 



               Henry the Navigator undoubtedly made a significant contribution in opening up the West coast of Africa. But his expedition fell a long way short of discovering the southernmost cape of Africa. In 1482 Diogo Cao was dispatched by King John II of Portugal to discover a sea route around Africa to India.



               The navigators were given stone pillars known as padroes to stake the claims of the Portuguese wherever they explored. These pillars had inscriptions in languages that Henry the Navigator’s ships had once used.



               These were to be set up on all the prominent capes and headlands along the coast. When Cao reached the mouth of the Congo in 1483, he set up a padroe there, and another at Cape Cross. He sailed further along 2414 kilometres of the African coast, but still the land seemed to continue further to the south.



               Cao became convinced that the African continent lay all the way to the South Pole, and that there was no sea passage around Africa! 


Why is it said that crossing the Cape Nun and the Cape Bojeador were historic events?


 



              Cape Nun was the most southerly headland to which many seafarers prepared to sail during their early voyages. But, there was a legend that nobody could return if they ventured beyond the cape, which is a deadly point in Nigeria.



              Owing to this mysterious story, it got the name Cape Nun, as a corruption of ‘Cape None’. But Henry the Navigator’s sailors crossed the mysterious Cape Nun, and duly reached Cape Bojeador. Until Henry’s time, Cape Bojeador remained the most southerly point known to Europeans. Many superstitious seafarers believed that beyond Cape Bojeador there were sea monsters. In 1434, Gil Eanes, a Portuguese commander became the first European known to pass Cape Bojeador.



              These explorations helped the Portuguese to establish themselves as a mighty naval power. 


How did Prince Henry sponsor many major voyages after the discovery of Madeira?


               Henry the Navigator sponsored many major expeditions after discovering Madeira. One among his other discoveries was of the Azores. It was first discovered in the year 1427 by Diogo de Silves. The first Portuguese settlement was made there in 1432. This discovery involved a voyage of 1287.4 kilometres through the Atlantic, with no coastline to guide them.



               Prince Henry’s sailors officially discovered the Canary Islands. Though these islands were known to the Romans and Phoenicians, none of them established settlements there. Thus, Henry made the island the valuable offshore base.



               In the 1450s, Henry’s captains came across the Cape Verde islands. This gave advantage to the Portuguese to establish provisional stations to explore the west coast of Africa. The islands were better suited than the mainland for this purpose.



               Henry’s captains went along the coast of Africa. There followed several decades of exploration. Every year Henry’s captains returned with new discoveries which ensured the Portuguese position as a maritime Power. 


Why the discovery of Madeira is considered crucial?



               Henry the Navigator encouraged many exploring, trading, slaving expeditions along the western coast of Africa. His intentions mainly included finding sources of slaves and gold, and to establish potentially profitable colonies on under-exploited islands in Africa.



               The Portuguese prince was noted for his patronage of voyages of discovery among the Madeira Islands, and along the western coast of Africa. The voyages were made in very small ships, mostly the caravel, which is a light and manoeuvrable vessel. Most of the voyages sent out by Henry consisted of only one or two ships. The ships sailed only during daytime, and were docked during nights.



               In 1418, Henry’s navigators were driven by a storm, and this accidentally led to the rediscovery of Madeira under the leadership of Joao Gonclaves Zarco. The uninhabited island had been already discovered in the previous century. Henry the Navigator immediately established a colony there. Thus the island came under the control of Portugal, and the discovery was marked a milestone in the history of Portugal. 


Why is Henry the Navigator considered a significant figure in the history of voyages?


 



            Henry the Navigator was a Portuguese prince, soldier, and patron of explorers. His real name was Henrique. Henry the Navigator never actually took command of a ship, or went on a voyage, but he sent many expedition fleets down Africa’s west coast. He played a pivotal role in bringing Portugal to the forefront of seafaring and exploration.



            He was the major initiator of the so called ‘Age of Discovery’. He was the driving force behind the early development of Portuguese exploration and maritime trade with other continents through the systematic exploration of Western Africa, the islands of the Atlantic Ocean, and the search for new routes.



            Henry’s father King John I was the founder of the House of Aviz, the second dynasty of the kings of Portugal. Henry encouraged his father to conquer Ceuta, on the North African coast, across the Straits of Gibraltar from the Iberian Peninsula. He learned of the opportunities from the Saharan trade routes, and became fascinated with Africa. He grew up intrigued by the idea of expanding Portuguese trade, and thus benefitting his homeland.


What were the purposes of the voyages conducted by the Ming dynasty?


            Chinese voyages were entirely different from the conventional voyages of the Europeans, later in the same century. The Chinese expedition fleet was heavily militarized, and carried vast amounts of treasures, which served to project Chinese power and wealth to the known world. Many kings were willing to declare themselves as tributaries to the Ming Empire.



            These great expeditions were an attempt by the Ming emperors to discover and conquer the world. While exploring new lands, the fleets encountered several unknown civilizations, and opened beneficial trading opportunities.



             The inhabitants of all the new lands, explored and colonized by Chinese seafarers, were expected to pay taxes to the mighty Ming Empire. This raked in a lot of additional wealth for the Chinese.



             The voyages were basically diplomatic, and commercial in nature. They were conducted to bring the maritime trade into the tributary system, and to force foreign countries into compliance within the tributary system. 


Why was the seventh treasure voyage the most remarkable of them all?


               On 29th June 1429, the Xuande Emperor gave the order for a final treasure voyage. He appointed Zheng He to lead the fleet. But by this time, the Zheng He was 59 years Old. His health was deteriorating too.



               This last voyage took three years. They visited at least 17 different ports. Their last destination was said to be Calicut. Once in Calicut, they found that the local ships were preparing to set out to Mecca.



               Seven Chinese men were immediately sent to accompany the ships bound for Mecca.



               On 22nd July 1433, they arrived at Beijing. Xuande Emperor bestowed the fleet personnel with ceremonial robes, and paper money.



               Admiral Zheng He returned with envoys from 11 countries, including one from Mecca. Many ambassadors visited China, along with the treasure fleet, in order to pay tribute to the Ming dynasty.



               During the course of the voyages, Ming China had become the pre-eminent naval power of the time.



               These voyages were not celebrated in Chinese history. The scholars deplored the voyages criticizing that they caused financial drain.



 


What were the special features of Zheng He’s next three voyages?


            On 18th December 1412, the Yongle Emperor issued the order for the fourth voyage. Admiral Zheng He was commanded to lead the fleet. They travelled to Malacca, Java, Champa, Semudera, Aru, Cochin, Calicut, Lambri, Pahang, Kelantan, Jiayile, Ormuz, Bila, Maldives and Sunla.



            On 12th August 1415, Admiral Zheng He’s fleet returned to Nanjing. An estimated 18 states sent tributes and envoys to China, after Zheng He’s visits to their homelands. This was in order to present their tribute at the Ming Court.



            The fifth voyage was mainly to escort the 18 ambassadors back to their homelands, and to reward their kings. The Ming emperor had sent imperial letters and valuable gifts for the kings. Admiral Zheng He and a few selected officials led the ambassadors. They started from the Chinese coast in the autumn of 1417, and on 8th August 1419, the fleet returned to China.



            The order for the sixth voyage was delivered on 3rd March 1421. Admiral Zheng He was dispatched with imperial letters, silk brocade, silk floss, silk gauze and other gifts for the rulers of many countries. According to Ming China’s history, the treasure voyages were suspended temporarily on 14th May 1421. 


What were the courses of the initial three treasure voyages?


               On 11th July 1405, the treasure fleet departed for their first expedition. They voyaged under the leadership of Admiral Zheng He. The fleet sailed to Champa, Java, Malacca, Aru, Semudera, Lambri, Sumatra, Ceylon, Quilon and Calicut While returning, Zheng He and his associates confronted the pirate fleet of Chen Zuyi at Palembang on Sumatra. Chen Zuyi’s fleet had seized Palembang, but Zheng He and his crew defeated Chen Zuyi. They returned to Nanjing on 2nd October, 1407.



               Later, the imperial order for the second voyage was issued. On 30th October 1407, a grand director was dispatched with a squadron to Champa. Zheng He followed them with his fleet. They sailed to Champa, Siam, Java, Malacca, Semudera, Aru, Sumatra, Jiayile, Abobadan, Ganbali, Quilon, Cochin, and Calicut. The treasure fleet arrived back to Nanjing in the summer of 1409.



               Admiral Zheng set out on his third voyage in 1409 itself. His fleet made stops at Champa, Java, Malacca, Semudera, Ceylon, Quilon, Cochin and Calicut.