Christopher Columbus: The Explorer Quiz

Answer: King Ferdinand

While working aboard ships as a helper of the older men, Christopher heard tales from the men that they were leery of traveling too far, because most believed that the world was flat. Christopher was an educated and very curious boy. He desperately wanted to see that if he traveled the far ends of the Earth if he would indeed 'fall off', as most predicted. According to a diary that was inherited by his son, Fernando, Columbus wrote to King Ferdinand requesting work aboard his fleet.

In the letter he stated that he worked as a navigator for twenty-three years. Columbus was hoping to find someone to finance his travels to discover, if what he heard growing up, was true.

He also hoped to find riches beyond belief.

Answer: The study of the stars and waterways

All sailors or ship navigators of Columbus' time needed to know the waterways and the telling of direction and time by the stars. Today, with modern ship travel, everything is computerized or solar powered. However, in order for one to be a ship's captain, one must also know which water passages to travel, and they must also know how to find their way by the stars in the off chance that modern equipment should fail.

Answer: No

In 1471, Christopher arrived in Portugal to request the assistance of Portugal's King with his travels to discover the Far East. Most believe that is was Columbus' idea to travel to the Far East, however, as it is written in his diary, it was his brother Bartholomew's idea. Bartholomew worked as a designer of marine charts in Lisbon. Lisbon was discovered by Ulysses and the name Lisbon means the friendly bay.

Answer: 3000 maravedis

In 1487, Columbus assisted in the building of vessels for Duke Don Luis de la Cerda. Christopher had high hopes that he would be able to persuade the Duke to assist with financial backing of a trip to travel the seas to the far east. However, in 1487 such a venture was considered a large undertaking that would require many backers.

The Duke thought Columbus would have better luck traveling the seas if he had the sponsorship of a large nation, with much financial support. The Duke suggest that he try to gain favor with the Queen of Spain.

However, sponsorship would not be with Columbus during this time in Spain, because King Ferdinand was attempting to overtake the Moorship of Spain.

Answer: Prince Ferdinand of Aragon

Queen Isabella was born in the town of Madrigal de las Altas Torres, on April 22, 1451. She was born to the King of Castile, John II and his second wife, Isabella of Portugal. At the tender age of three, Isabella's father, The King of Castile, passed away.

The young Isabella was protected by her mother until her brother, King Henry IV, took her and his younger brother, Alfonso, to his court. The young Isabella disagreed with her brother, King Henry IV, because he was trying to arrange for her marriage.

He was interested in protecting the royal line, and according to historians, did not really care how his young sister felt about this. Arranged marriages were the way to go for that time period, and King Henry IV was one to abide by all of the formal rules. King Henry IV, had many offerings for Isabella's hand in marriage, but the young Princess was a bit of a rebel and told her brother that she would only marry Prince Ferdinand of Aragon. Queen Isabella, sought the help of her husband, Ferdinand, in seeking sponsorship from the court, for Columbus' travels to the Far East.

The Queen, although young, was very much interested in what Christopher had to say. She single-handedly convinced her husband, and the rest of her court, to financially back Columbus' exploration of sea travel.

Answer: August 2, 1492

On August 2, 1492, Columbus set sail from Palos, near Huelva, which is in the southern part of Spain. Queen Isabella's court granted him full command of three ships, The Nina, The Pinta, and The Santa Maria, along with a crew for each. Columbus was the Captain General for all three of his ships.

The Nina held eighteen crew members, The Pinta contained eighteen crew members, and The Santa Maria, with Columbus as head navigator contained a total of fifty-two crew members.

Answer: The Canary Islands

Columbus arrived at the Canary Islands within two to three days after he first set sail. He only intended to stop for food supplies, but remained there for approximately four weeks, because he had trouble with his ships, and had to repair them. Part of the delay came from lack of winds that was needed to help sail the ships to the Far East.

Some of the foods that were in abundance on the Islands included: beans, Gomera goat cheese, salted beef and pork, dry salt cod, water, wine, garlic, olive oil, almonds, chick peas, and sea biscuits. Once the crew was stocked with food, and the winds picked up, Columbus again set sail on September 6, 1492.

The Captain General was headed next for the Bahama Landfall (Hispaniola).

Answer: Santa Maria

According to Columbus historians, his voyage was bound for disaster because of a lack of equipment and a poor crew. Most of Columbus' crew consisted of convicts that were bound for death or had severe medical problems. The Court of Spain allowed these men to board ship and be active members of Columbus' crew.

When Columbus set sail in August of 1492, his stops were The Canary Islands, The Bahama Landfall (Hispaniola), Cuba (and all of the surrounding islands), The Azores, and then back to port at Palos.

As the previous question attests, Columbus made it to his first destination, The Canary Islands, and departed four weeks behind schedule. He and his crew landed on Hispaniola on October 12, 1492. Several days later, they again set sail for Cuba. Columbus landed on the Cuban Isle on November 22, 1492.

While there, and unbeknownst to Columbus, Martin Alonso Pinzon, the Captain of The Pinta, left The Nina and The Pinta to sail on a buoy to various islands in search of gold that the islands were said to contain by his native guides. During this time Columbus was heading for the island of La Navidad, which he named, and which means Christmas.

He arrived on the island on December 5, 1492. The Nina arrived the next day on December 6, 1492. While there, The Santa Maria ran aground on a reef bed on December 24, 1492, and sank the very next day. With what remained of the ship, Columbus supervised his crew members in building a fort. However, Columbus soon discovered that the small Nina could not hold all of the crew from The Santa Maria. Columbus did not like the idea of having to leave any of his crew on the island, but in order for him to finish his journey, he had no choice. Columbus, now in command of The Nina, set sail on January 2, 1493. He was heading east, around Hispaniola, when he spotted The Pinta on January 6, 1493. It was then that he found that Pinzon had left command of the ship, and headed to the surrounding islands, while he was stranded with his crew on, what is now called Christmas Island, in search of gold. However, Columbus' anger was short-lived when he realized that he now had another ship and could return to pick up his remaining crew, before heading back to Spain.

Answer: February 14, 1493

On February 14, 1493, The Nina and The Pinta were separated by a fierce storm that ripped through the Northern Atlantic Ocean. The ships were heading for the Island of Azores to make the necessary repairs, and to restock the ships for any food that would be necessary for the final leg of the voyage. Columbus, having searched for The Pinta and Captain Pinzon, and having found no signs of the captain or the crew, continued for the Port of Palos.

However, before heading to Palos, he spotted the Island of Santa Maria, and settled there for two days.

He then charted his course for Lisbon and arrived there on March 4, 1493. Columbus and his crew rested on Lisbon for an overnight stay. On March 5, 1493, they headed back to the Port of Palos. They arrived there on March 15, 1493, and Columbus was then proclaimed a hero.

He then had to explain to Queen Isabella, and her Court, how he lost The Pinta and its captain and The Santa Maria. However, unbeknownst to Columbus, Pinzon had missed the Azores and arrived in the Port of Bayona in Northern Spain.

While there, Pinzon had The Pinta repaired, and the ship headed towards the Port of Palos. The Pinta arrived just hours after The Nina at port. Pinzon believed that he would be proclaimed a hero, and he was shocked to discover that Columbus and his crew had survived the voyage. He was even more surprised to find that Columbus had arrived a few hours before he did. However, if historians are correct, he was very disappointed and very upset that he, being a native of Spain, was not declared its hero. However, no one knew that Pinzon was a sickly man when he set out on this voyage with Columbus. Pinzon died a few days after he had arrived back in Spain.

Answer: Yes

For this voyage Captain General Columbus, Captain Vincente Yanez Pinzon, and Captain Martin Alonso Pinzon each received 2000 maravedis per month for their part of this journey. While able seamen aboard the three ships each received 1000 maravedis per month. Ordinary seaman and ship boys received 666 maravedis per month.

The entire payroll that was paid for by Queen Isabella and her Court totaled 250,180 maravedis per month. The grand total for the seven months of sea exploration cost the country of Spain 1,751,260 maravedis. Today, the equivalent of a maravedis is roughly five or ten cents a day. All of this information can be found at www.newadvent.org/cathen/04140a.html, www.castellobanfi.com/features/story_3.html, www.1.minn.net/~keithp/cctl.html and www.ibiblio.org. Thanks for taking this quiz.