Exploration timeline in the 1500s

By rombehan
  • May 16, 1546

    Two weeks out at sea

    Two weeks ago we left home. We were told that the ships were ahead of their time. Mainly because the were easier to steer faster and that their would be less work for the crew to do because they were smaller. They forgot to mention all the bad things. There was no room below deck for any of us so we slept on the deck with absolutly no protection from weather.
  • Jun 12, 1546

    Job on the ship

    I hardly get any sleep and when I do I am either uncomftorable sleeping on the ship deck or I can't sleep from the storms. Then on top of that I get to wake up to pump the sea water out of the ship, scrub the decks, and on some days move the sail or mend the sails and ropes.
  • Aug 25, 1546

    Port Diu

    Port Diu
    Even though port Diu was heavealy protected, the Portuguese defeated a large Muslim fleet in the Arabian Sea off the northwest coast of India, near Diu in 1509.
  • Nov 25, 1546

    Port Hormuz

    Port Hormuz
    Port Hormuz was established in 1507. They year after Columbus died, in 1507 the portuguese took over port Hormuz. It was partly Arab and mostly Persian.
  • Dec 18, 1546

    Disease on the ship

    All the talk on board is about who is going to get sick next. Spots started to appear on our skin. Upper and lover gums of our men swelled and bleed so much that they could not eat anything. Many died,
  • Jan 3, 1547

    Food supplies

    At first we had freash food and water that was the best quality that you could get on a ship. But after two weeks all of it was gone and we were left hard biscuits, ox hide, and fish hat we had to share with the rats and maggots. The water was no longer clear but yellow and it smelled revoulting.
  • Feb 17, 1547

    Port Goa

    Port Goa
    It was one of Indias major trade centers. It"s a small state on the west coast of India. The portugese called Goa the seat of Catholic churches. The Portuguese headquarters trading empire was established in 1510 at Goa.
  • Apr 26, 1547

    Port Kochi

    Port Kochi
    It was established 1502. It is part of some water-bound regions. It was also mainly for fishing and was granted to the Portuguese in 1503.
  • Sep 20, 1547

    Port Guangzhou

    Port Guangzhou
    Was established in 1513. Portuguese ships arived here in 1517 and the chinese saw their behavior as crude, barbaric and that they were thieves. They were later expelled from Ganugzhou.
  • Oct 16, 1547

    Returning home

    We finally completed our voage and captain says that we will be home in three months. Three months left and all we have is 3 ships and 35 men and only 5 of them are completly healthy. We replenished our food supplies but the freash food will be gone in 3 weeks. Then we will be back to eating biscuits and fish. I would say that our conditions are horrid but I am hoping that the journey will be worth it when we return.