Glory, God and Gold Voyages and

Adventures

John CabotItalian born merchant that moved

to England in the late 1400’s.Looked for a northwestern passage

across the Atlantic to Asia. Records show that he first landed in Newfoundland,

Canada thus making him the first European to discover North

America since the Vikings.

John CabotCabot explored most of the eastern coastline

of Canada and northeastern parts of the United States.

John CabotDisappointed by not finding the Northwest

passage, Cabot decided to do a return voyage to keep looking. A Spanish envoy

had reported seeing Cabot’s fleet caught in a storm. The fleet was never seen again

and it is assumed that they were lost at sea or sunk during a storm.

Amerigo VespucciItalian navigator, cartographer and explorer, Vespucci

was commissioned by both Spain and Portugal to further explore and survey the “Indies”. His

voyages took him to Hispanola and down the coast of South America into what is now Brazil.

Amerigo VespucciDuring this time, it was believed that only 3 continents

existed on the Earth; Europe, Africa and Asia. The explorers believed they had reached the very eastern

islands of Asia. In a letter Vespucci wrote, he explained that the land masses he explored were much larger than

anticipated and were much different than the ones described by Marco Polo. He therefore concluded that this land was not Asia and must be a “New World”, a

previously unknown, 4th continent.

Following these claims, many people credited him by calling the “New World” America.

Juan Ponce de LeonPonce de Leon was a Spanish

soldier that looked for adventure abroad. He volunteered and sailed with Christopher Columbus on his 2nd voyage.

In the early 1500’s, Ponce de Leon was stationed on Hispanola where he crushed a rebellion and restored order to the colony. Impressed, the governor appointed Ponce de Leon as the new governor of a territory called Puerto Rico.

Juan Ponce de LeonRumors of lands to the northwest of

Hispanola had reached Spain. Wanting to further exploration and discovery of Christopher Columbus, King Ferdinand of Spain commissioned Ponce de Leon to venture forth.

On Easter in 1513, Ponce de Leon sighted land, which he thought was another island. He named it La Florida (Land of Flowers, and for the Easter festival Pascua Florida.) He is the first explorer to actually set foot on the continent of North America.

Did You know?

Ponce de Leon is synonymous with the Fountain of Youth. Legends of the vitality-restoring

waters were told long before his time. As the story goes, it was said that Ponce de Leon was in search of the Fountain of Youth; however,

this is unlikely because the search for gold and expansion of the Spanish Empire were far more important than a search for a legend. In fact, these stories of him searching for the fountain

weren’t associated with Ponce de Leon till after his death in 1521.

Ferdinand Magellan

Inspired by a friend who was both astrologer and cartographer, Magellan determined he could circumnavigate the globe..

Spurned by his native Portugal, he gained funding and patronage from Spain.

He set out to accomplish Columbus’ goal, to reach the Indies and China by sailing West

Magellan’s Voyage

Although the voyage is attributed to Magellan, he did not succeed in the circumnavigating globe. He was killed on the island of Mactan.

Obstacles & Problems

Finding many places along the coast that looked like sea passages that were just bays and inletsRunning out of food and supplies. He thought he had supplies for two years. His suppliers in Spain fraudulently gave him six months worth. (He and the crew ate fresh fish and game, rats and wormy biscuits, even, oxhide bindings, and drank water contaminated with rat urine.

Combating the mutiny of three out of his five ships. To quell it, he had to kill the captain of one of the ships, then block passage of the other two.Meeting greedy natives who swarmed over his ships and took everything that wasn’t nailed down.Navigating through one of the most treacherous passages of rock-lined water in the world: the strait named for him.

Magellan and his crew suffered all of the following as he searched

for a western sea passage around South America:

Magellan’s DeathOn an island in the Philippines, a native chieftain pretended to be Christian to enlist Magellan’s aid to fight a neighboring chieftain.

Once on the island, Magellan was attacked by the chief and his men. He was repeatedly wounded by natives armed with poisoned arrows, spears and scimitars. He could have retreated and saved himself, but covered his fleeing men, fighting while the rest rowed back to the ships.

Concluding the Voyage

One by one the ships fell apart.

The Portuguese imprisoned some of the men in islands near Spain

Only 18 of the 250 men landed back at Seville.

The total time of the voyage was 12 days less than three years.

As penitence, the 18 survivors walked barefoot carrying candles to the shrine of the Virgin Mary.