Junior Cycle History EU/WORLD : Impact of Colonisation: Source D

Letter from Amerigo Ve

Question

Source D

Letter from Amerigo Vespucci to his patron Lorenzo de Medici (1500).

We were absent thirteen months on this voyage, exposing ourselves to terrible dangers, and discovering a very large part of Asia, and a great many islands, most of them inhabited. According to the calculations I have several times made with the compass, we sailed about five thousand leagues…We discovered immense regions, saw a vast number of people all naked, and speaking various languages. On the land we saw many wild animals, various kinds of birds, and an infinite number of trees, all aromatic.

We brought home pearls in their growing state, and gold in the way of stones, one of emeralds, the other of amethyst, which was very hard, at least half a span long and three fingers thick. The sovereigns esteem them most highly, and have preserved them among their jewels…We brought many other stones which appeared beautiful to us, but all of these we did not bring a large quantity, as we were continually busy in our navigation, and did not stay long in any place.

When we arrived in Cadiz, we sold many slaves. Finding two hundred remaining to us…thirty-two having died at sea… However, we are satisfied with having saved our lives, and thank God that during the whole voyage, out of fifty-seven Christian men, which was our number, only two had died, having been killed by the Indians.
(Source: The Oxford Book of Exploration, p 327)

A.  Source D
(i) How far did Vespucci and his crew sail?  (2)
(ii) Mention two things they discovered.   (2)
(iii) Name two things they brought back.  (2)
(iv) Why did so many slaves die on the voyage?   (2)
(v) Why did rich patrons like de Medici sponsor voyages such as this?   (2)

Source D Letter from Amerigo Vespucci to his patron Lorenzo de Medici (1500) - Junior Cycle History - Question A - 2005

Worked Solution & Example Answer:Source D Letter from Amerigo Vespucci to his patron Lorenzo de Medici (1500) - Junior Cycle History - Question A - 2005

How far did Vespucci and his crew sail?

Mention two things they discovered.

Name two things they brought back.

Why did so many slaves die on the voyage?

Why did rich patrons like de Medici sponsor voyages such as this?

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