Around the World in a Hundred Years #11

Ferdinand Magellen was in charge of one of the most important sea exhibitions. he was the captain of the first boat to sail all the war around the world. He set out with 5 ships but 4 of them mutinied and turned back along the way. When he was only a few months away from home Magellen was killed by natives at an island they stopped at. His crew would continue without him and make it back home alive, but only barely

Around the World in a Hundred Years #10

This was about Vasco Nunez de Balboa (to make it easier on myself I will just call him Rocky) Shortly after Columbus returned from his third voyage to the new world, lots of people were crossing the ocean looking for fame and fortune. One of which was the fencing master Rocky. On his way there Rocky's ships crashed on some rocks near land. They were able to save all of their jewels at the cost of their slaves. Rocky became a settler and lived in the new world. Somehow he kept getting in debt and the rule of the island was that nobody who was in debt was aloud to leave the island. Randomly in 1509 a ship turned up on the island and Rocky sneaked on to the ship in order to get off the island. After they were far away from the shore Rocky came out from hiding and pretty much took charge of the ship. He kept exploring and then later settled again. He had some native Indians take him to "new water" and he claimed it as a new Ocean.

Around the World in a Hundred Years #9

     Perhaps you've heard of the man Juan Ponce de León. He is famously known for trying to find the fountain of youth. While on his wild goose chase of a search he discovered, claimed and named Florida. After not finding it for along time he took some people and resources and tried to settle in Florida but he was killed by the natives who didn't want him there.

Around the World in a Hundred Years #8

I just have a short post this time, my sister and friend are trying to kick me off the computor.
        Today we will learn about Amerigo Vepucci. Despite the fact that Christopher Columbus was the first to discover America. Amerigo Vespucci was the first to title it as a new continent and claimed the discovery of it by saying he had found it the year before Chrisopher Columbus. Because of that the new world would be named after him which is how the name America came about.

Around the World in a Hundred Years #6

This chapter is about Pedro Alvares Cabral.

     This was a pretty short chapter, basically what happened was that Pedro Alvares Cabral was going to Clicut similar to Vasco da Gama. On his way there he was blown off course and found Brazil. He then claimed it for Portugal.

Around the World in a Hundred Years #5

     This chapter was about an expedition organized by King Manuel the Fortunate, the king of Portugal. The king was looking for a man who would sail around the Cape of Good Hope and then up to the port of Calicut to acquire valuable spices and stuff like that. He found his man in Vasco da Gama. On June 8th 1497 Vasco da Gama set off on what was expected to be a 3 year trip. Many people gathered around to see him and his crew off on their expedition to gain great treasure for Portugal.
       Off Vasco de Gama went because of storms he was unable to make it around the cape until November 22. Three days after that he landed at Herdsman's Bay (Named by Bartholomew Diaz) and was greeted by many happy Native Americans. He and his crew were invited to dance with the natives and they took the offer. Vasco da Gama over stayed his welcome and as he left the natives tore down the stone marker he left there. After spending some time in Malindi, Africa Vasco da Gama set off again for Calicut on April 24, 1498. Just under a month later he dropped anchor in the Calicut port. He was not welcomed and his gifts to the king were not well recived. This didn't make Vasco da Gama and he decided that the only way to trade with the people of Calicut was to conquer it. And in 1502 that's just what he did. Just outside of Calicut he stopped a large passenger ship that was on its way back from Mecca. He took all the cargo and valubles on the ship, locked the passengers in the hold and set the boat on fire. Despite the cries for mercy Vasco da Gama showed no pity. He then had a few more displays of cruelty and sailed to a near by port called Cochin, made friendly relationships with them, filled his boat with treasures and went home.
      A few years later Vasco da Gama was appointed as viceroy to go and set India in order, but he died before he had a chance to return to India.

Around The World in a Hundred Years #3

            In this chapter we will delve into an adventure with the great Bartholomew Diaz. In the lovely month of August. In the, at the time, record breaking year of 1487 Bartholomew Diaz set off on his daring expedition with two ships called Caravels and a simple storage ship. As they were sailing along disaster struck, they were caught in the middle of a huge storm off the shore of Africa. Without anyway to tell where they are or where they are going the crew struggles to stay alive. After 13 days filled with terror, pain, anguish and desperation the storm subsides but not before it has taken the storage ship as payment. Diaz decided it was time to go home so with a little help from the sun and high tech location finders. He set off in the direction home only to find that he was on the wrong side of Africa! During the storm his ships had been blown all the way around the bottom of Africa! As Bartholomew Diaz went back around Africa to go home he was able to draw the bottom of Africa for mapping purposes.

Around the World in a Hundred Years #2

     This chapter was about Prince Henry the Navigator.

     Prince Henry was very passionate about making the unknown known. He went on a trip to Africa trying to figure out what the bottom part of Africa looked like. This led to him taking back slaves so it wasn't such a good thing. But his map did look better! For one of his expeditions he and a man called Master Jaime designed a new boat that had three triangular sails and could turn into the wind when they needed to come home.

Around the World in a Hundred Years. #1

I will be reading a book called "Around the World in a Hundred Years" and writing a little summery of each chapter.

     The first chapter was about maps and how for a long time they were very inaccurate. This was because they wasn't a very solid trustworthy way to know exactly what all the world looked like. And because maps weren't used for directions then the same way they are now. Instead they were more used as artwork.