The Christopher Columbus Voyage Quiz

Christopher Columbus's Voyage

• Christopher Columbus and his crew set sail from the port of Palos in southern Spain on three ships:

Characteristics of the Ships

• Two ships, the Niña and Pinta, were tiny by today's standards but prized for their speed and maneuverability
• The Santa Maria was Columbus's flagship

Voyage Details

• Columbus and his crew sailed westward for many weeks, searching for a passage to China and India

Ship Choice and Sails

• Columbus chose the caravel, a small, lightweight, and highly maneuverable ship, for the perilous voyage
• The earlier Portuguese caravels used lateen sails, which allowed them to sail closer to the wind
• The advantage of the lateen-rigged caravels was that they enabled the Portuguese to explore the coast of sub-Saharan Africa
• The main advantage of the Spanish caravel was its agility and shallow draft, which made it suitable for exploration and trade

15th-Century Caravel Design

• The rudder was positioned at the back of the 15th-century caravels

Disadvantages of Small Caravels

• The main disadvantage of the small caravels like the Niña and Pinta was their limited cargo capacity