life as a sailor

By Justin Habersat
  • Nov 17, 1400

    caravel

    caravel
    The caravel (also spelled carvel) is a light sailing ship that that was developed by the Portuguese in the late 1400's, and was used for the next 300 years. The Portuguese developed this ship to help them explore the African coast.
  • Jul 4, 1441

    caravel ship

    caravel ship
    In one of their caravels, the Portuguese transport around 200 slaves from Africa to Portugal.
  • Sep 22, 1492

    what the sailors got for payment

    what the sailors got for payment
    The crew of the Santa María was paid the standard wage for a merchant ship on a yearlong voyage. Since the King and Queen of Spain were sponsoring the expedition, the crews were paid in gold.
  • Apr 21, 1500

    songs at sea

    songs at sea
    They sang songs while at sea. they sang songs that had to do with women and sadness at sea. Also about liquor and the sailors life. Some more were about the Tales of the Sea, Sailors, Ships and Watermen
  • May 16, 1500

    other punishments while on ship

    other punishments while on ship
    Seamen could be 'tarred and feathered', tied to a rope, swung overboard and ducked or 'keel-hauled'.
  • Sep 13, 1500

    where they slept

    where they slept
    The high-ranking members of the expedition, such as Captain Cook and Joseph Banks, had their own private cabins. But for others on the voyage the sailors slept mainly on the deck but really anywhere they could sleep.
  • Dec 17, 1500

    superstitions that sailors had while on board the ship

    superstitions that sailors had while on board the ship
    No bananas on board the ship cause they have long been thought to bring bad luck especially to ships. No women cause they would distract the sailors from their work.
  • Apr 29, 1515

    type of punishment the sailors had.

    type of punishment the sailors had.
    If a sailor did not do his work in a timely fashion, did not do it properly, or made mutinous comments, he was punished. Punishment usually consisted of flogging or whipping with a rope.
    The number of flogs depended on the master and the crime.
  • Sep 20, 1519

    Ferdinand Magellan

    Ferdinand Magellan
    The circumnavigation expedition of Ferdinand Magellan sets out from San Lucar de Barameda. In December 1520, Magellan discovered the ocean which he named the Pacific. Magellan died in the Philipines, 27 April 1521. Only one of the five ships to set out returned to Spain, on 8 September 1522.
  • Feb 11, 1555

    diseases seamen got while at sea

    diseases seamen got while at sea
    A disease is Scurvy. Scurvy was caused by a lack of vitamin C in the diet. Not everyone recognised the discovery made by Sir Richard Hawkins in the late 16th century that daily doses of orange or lemon juice could prevent this terrible disease which rotted the skin and gums and caused teeth to fall out.