Exploration

Overview

uring the Renaissance, interests in exploration were sparked by the discovery of ancient classical texts. The geography books by renowned explorers such as Strabo and Ptolemy gave inspiration to Renaissance explorers. Accounts of travels, such as those of Marco Polo and Masudi and Ibn Battuta fascinated the people of this time.

Many false rumors were rife among ignorant or superstitious seamen: tales of two-headed monsters and cannibals in Africa, and that at the end of the world the ocean fell into an abyss.

However, during the Renaissance, many merchants were desperately searching for ways to reach the orient to purchase fine goods, and numerous states were determined to do so as to gain economic power. The usual land route to the East war blocked by the Turks who were taking over Constantinopole.

The view of the world was stinted during the Renaissance: It was common belief that one couldn’t round Africa’s southern tip to reach the East, and the Americans were unknown about.

It was the Portuguese explorers who pioneered the sea farthing quests: in the 1400's they had started exploring Africa’s coast. They had also gained land in northwest Africa. Prince Henry the Navigator, a Portuguese, established a center for navigation, cartography and exploration.

Portugal would eventually dominate the sea routes to Asia via Africa and Eurasia, and the Spanish were the explorers of the Americas and Atlantic and Pacific oceans. These two countries specialized in sea farthing, and each boasts an array of famous explorers and conquistadors.

Most sea travel was done in vessels called caravels; these sturdy ships were renowned for reliable and easy maneuverability. The caravel had sails, unlike old ships, which were powered by oarsmen. It was about 30 meters long, and weighed between 50 and 100 tons. A compass was used to keep in course, and astrolabes were used to calculate star positions at any given time. To calculate their latitude, seamen used a quadrant or astrolabe to ascertain the angle between the Pole Star, or the Sun, and the horizon. A lead, which was lowered into the seawater, was used to measure the sea depth. A cross-staff was used to measure celestial heights.

Crews, (between 40 and 50 men) on board expeditions usually consisted of volunteering recruits, and often imprisoned criminals as well. If an expedition lasted a long time, they ran the risk of dying of scurvy, which was a disease caused by malnutrition (i.e. not consuming enough fresh food).

Crews could either sleep on the deck or in the stores amongst the ballast (gravel that was used to balance and stabilize the ship).