Discovering America Podcast

Starting with a little background history concerning the exploits on pacific side of Mexico to the bottom part of California, this episode begins the voyage of Juan Rodriguez Cabrillo and his two ships, the San Salvador and the Victoria, sailing off from the Puerto de Navidad on June 27, 1542.

Columbus thought he had discovered a passage to the orient and so the maps of the day showed his discoveries as islands. It would be the voyage of Vespucci sailing down the eastern side of South America that would cause so much interest. The map makers labeled the land we know as Brazil with the name "Mundus Novus" or "New World". With the refinements of charts and maps the New World took on the name "America".

The fourth voyage to the west did not turn out to be of any great importance. Being left behind by the captain, Vespucci and the men that remained would catch birds with their hands and build a fortress. The fifth and sixth voyages of Vespucci were not intended to be expeditions of discovery, nope.. load those ships with gold and pearls.

This voyage would change how the world was viewed, Mundus Novus or "New World" but, who cares, where is that passage to the orient?

If you would like to read the letters of Vespucci you can find them at: http://mith.umd.edu/eada/html/display.php?docs=vespucci_letters.xml

Three ships commanded by Juan de Ojeda along with the great pilot Juan de La Cosa and Amerigo Vespucci would sail off for parts unknown, well not quite. Please join me for what is considered the second voyage of Vespucci.

How could I talk about the discovery of America without involving this man, Amerigo Vespucci? His history relies so much on two letters written to a friend. He mentions a book that would cover the accounts of his voyages, a book never written? Or just never published and remains in someone's deep dark cellar? You can find the letter describing his first voyage at http://www.fordham.edu/halsall/mod/1497vespucci-america.asp

Why should the Spanish have all the fun? Other European Nations started exploring to the west to rediscover the lands in that direction. The passage to the orient would be the prize.

The voyages by Ayllon, Gomez and Verrazzano made it possible to map, describe inhabitants and certain features along the eastern coast of the North America continent. The Europeans now had a great basis of knowledge but, still no passage to the orient was discovered.

After setting up winter quarters, building the ships was the next priority. O wait, maybe not, what about the Indian tribes massing an army preparing to attack the Spanish. One tribe points the finger at another when all is said and done, the Spanish end up siding with Guachoya tribe. With that complete all is well, not so fast, the Quigaltam tribe across the Mississippi will have the last word. Now it's a race to get away from them. Get me home..

Moscoso is now the new commander of the expedition of Florida. The journey west does not turn up any of the riches that this whole endeavor was supposed to accomplish. Evidence to back up the rumor of other Spanish farther west was not found. So to backtrack through the country just traveled seemed the best alternative. Homeward bound..