Into the Great Wide Open

8 days ago

I am not solicitous to examine particularly everything here, which indeed could not be done in fifty years, because my desire is to make all possible discoveries, and return to your Highnesses, if it please our Lord, in April.
-Christopher Columbus

In one of my recent works of fiction (Long Distances), I alluded to the voyages that navigators used to make during the middle ages. There was no GPS onboard those ships, it was pure geometrical wiliness and nerves of steel what got you across those waters. I mentioned a few of the tools they used such as the compass, log, sextant, etc. This part of the story was inspired by a visit to a museum where I came across samples of navigation instruments used during the age of discovery.

An hourglass! I wonder how you program that thing ;)

I remember standing in front of the display and trying to imagine how in the world I would steer a ship with those instruments then successfully navigate the immense oceans back and forth without sinking the whole 'vaina', as they say in the Caribbean (or the whole shebang as we say here in the deep south of BC). Images of ships hitting the rocks and everybody jumping overboard screaming came to mind. Yet, in spite of the technical challenges, these ancient mariners were so skillful in navigating the oceans and seas even during stormy weather and nighttime conditions. Not to mention the sea monsters! 🐉

The Vikings are said to be magnificent seamen. It is believed they made the trek to the American continent many times before Columbus, but for whatever reason, their voyages did not lead to mass movement of people across the ocean, and the only records left are misty sagas. Perhaps they did not have the required technology to make the trip safe and affordable for their citizens.

And so history had to wait for that other figure that looms large over the historical landscape of the American continent and beyond.

I should not proceed by land to the East, as is customary, but by a Westerly route, in which direction we have hitherto no certain evidence that any one has gone.
-Christopher Columbus