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The Worlds of the Renaissance: Projects - Dawn Schlepko

Journal of a Voyage

Scenario:

You are among the elite group of people chosen to venture back in time to improve the lives of the ancients. Your job is to investigate the situation and give advice and/or provide some solutions to problems that may arise.

You step into your time travel machine with only some guidelines and an idea of where/when in history you will land.

Look out! The machine is starting up! After a few fearful minutes of trembling, shaking, and spinning, you are back in time.

Date and place:

Sometime in the 1490’s on one of Christopher Columbus’ ships during one of his four voyages.

*Note: You may choose a ship and a voyage for this activity. It is advisable to pick one with enough information to fulfill the demands of your guidelines.

Guidelines:

You have 30 days on the ship to satisfy the following requests in order to make your return trip to 20th C. America.

Task #1:

You must make at least 10 journal entries pertaining to the occurrences on your voyage.*

Include in each journal entry:

  1. Date (and name of ship in first entry)

  2. One factual event based on your research. i.e. ship problems, crew issues, food staples, storms

  3. Your 20th C. feelings as they relate to the events of the day

  4. Each entry must be at least half of a page, typed and double spaced.

  5. Your final entry must be a "farewell" to the voyage. Summarize by stating what you think it must have been like to live during that time without the knowledge and materials of the world today.

*Note: The order of your entries does not need to correspond to the actual order of events as they happened on that voyage. You will only use the stories/examples you find as background information.

Sample journal entry:

October 8, 1492: Sitting here late at night, for I do not know the exact time, I notice the wind is picking up a bit. I wonder if that will help the Pinta reach her destination any sooner. As I lay awake thinking of today’s events, the darkness is overwhelming me and the silence is becoming excrutiating! No television, no radio, no light...what is one to do but sleep from sunset to sunrise? Some of the men on board the ship have told me to just listen for the sound of the cannon firing and I will know there has been a sighting of land. What a welcome noise that would be right now!

Task #2:

Three problems arise! You must devise sensible solutions and answers to the questions posed by these problems.

PROBLEM #1: Upon your arrival back in time, there is some important information you must obtain in order for this mission to be successful. Answer the following questions to solve your first problem. (Type all responses)

  1. What is the name of the ship?
  2. On which of the 4 voyages did you land?
  3. What are the dates of this voyage?
  4. What is the goal/destination of this voyage?
  5. Do you have any idea of the number of crew members or the types of supplies on the ship?
  6. Are there any other pertinent details about the ship and/or the voyage that you have discovered?

PROBLEM #2: You have been asked for advice! The captain is concerned that he might not have the right type of crewmen on board his ship. Since you are a well learned individual from the 20th century, the captain wishes to employ your vast knowledge for any future voyages. You are asked to counsel him on 4 - 6 types of tradesmen or citizens in Renaissance times you think should be a part of any purposeful voyage to make the journey, landing, and possible colonization run smoothly.

1) Name 4 - 6 types of tradesmen you would include on a successful voyage. You may also choose an actual citizen of the era that could add greatly to another journey across the ocean. After you have chosen the worthy individuals, type 1-2 paragraphs for each one to explain why you picked him/her and how they would be useful.

i.e. Thomas More - useful for his ideas of how the ideal society should work. He could share his ideas to help start a new colony using his book, Utopia, for guidance.

PROBLEM #3: Crew members have expressed concern about various health issues while on the voyage and during future colonization. Make a list of at least 5 and at most 10 commandments that they should follow while at sea and on land to maintain good health. Use your knowledge of everyday life in America - i.e. how to prevent heart disease, the harm of tobacco use, etc. Type your commandments or print legibly on paper or posterboard. Use your creativity for this one!

Once your tasks have been successfully completed (and handed in to your teacher) you can make your own voyage back home to the 20th century.

WORKS CITED

Cohen, J.M. trans. and ed. The Four Voyages of Christopher Columbus. Baltimore, MD: Penguin Books, 1969.

Fuson, Robert H., trans. The Log of Christopher Columbus. Camden, Maine: International Marine Publishing Co., 1987.


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