10 Questions
Which three ships did Christopher Columbus and his crew set sail on from the port of Palos in southern Spain?
la Santa Clara (Niña), la Pinta and la Santa Gallega (Santa Maria)
Which two ships were tiny by today’s standards and prized for their speed and maneuverability?
la Santa Clara (Niña) and la Pinta
Which ship was Columbus's flagship?
la Santa Maria
How long did Columbus and his crew sail westward searching for a passage to China and India?
35 days
Which type of ship did Columbus choose for the perilous voyage?
caravel
Which type of sails were used on the earlier Portuguese caravels?
Lateen sails
What was the advantage of the lateen-rigged caravels in the Portuguese voyages to sub-Saharan Africa?
They could easily return to shore against the wind
What was the main advantage of the Spanish caravel?
Compact size
Where was the rudder positioned in the 15th-century caravels?
In the rear center of the ship
What was the main disadvantage of the small caravels like the Niña and Pinta?
Uncomfortable living conditions
Study Notes
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
Test your knowledge on Christopher Columbus's historic voyage in this quiz! Learn about the three ships that set sail from Spain in 1492 and discover interesting facts about their sizes and capabilities. Challenge yourself with questions about Columbus's flagship, the Santa Maria, and the smaller vessels, the Niña and Pinta. How much do you really know about this famous expedition?
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