Technologys Impact on the Voyage of Christopher Columbus

Sophia Wiest
Email: swiest@cwnchs.org
Cardinal Wuerl North Catholic High School
1617 PA-228, Cranberry Twp, PA 16066
724-285-7460
Grade: 11
Kushkushkee Trail
Word Count: 1053

When the world was first created there were no phones, computers, cameras, televisions,
or anything like the technology we have today. Our world has evolved from where we started
from. We went from having too little, to having too much. The Enlightenment period, which was
around the 18th century, started the evolution of technology. Columbus was born in the late
1400s, which was also around the time of the Renaissance. At that time, they had very little
technology. Columbus was only two hundred years late from being exposed to better technology
that was created during the Enlightenment period. He was never exposed to the advanced
technology that is available today. If Columbus was exposed to the GPS navigation system, had a
better or larger ship, and better appliances, his trip would have been more successful
Christopher Columbus was born in 1451 in Genoa, Italy (Biography 1). Christopher
Columbus started sailing at a young age, but his first big voyage was in 1492 (History 1). He
sailed with about ninety men, two caravels, and a flag ship (History 1). His ships were named the
Nina, Pinta, and the Santa Maria (History 1). Columbus went to King Ferdinand and Queen
Isabella to fund his trip. The king and queen found his idea intriguing and in the end, provided
the money to make his voyage possible. After leaving port and sailing, Columbus and his crew
spotted land, which he believed was in the Indies. Columbus named his land San Salvador and
met a group of people called the Tainos who greeted them (History 1). When Columbus left San
Salvador, he took some of the Taino people with him as his guides. On his voyage Columbus
also stopped at Hispaniola, Cuba and the Dominican Republic, where they found gold (History
1). Columbus died in 1506, believing that he explored Asia. When Columbus died, he had told
his men to treat the Indians well. His men did not honor his word, and killed many of the people
or used them as slaves. The question is whether Christopher Columbuss voyage was successful
or not, despite his lack of technology. Columbus discovered land, but he was very inaccurate

about where he was. If he had the technology that we have today, he would have been much
more successful (History 1).
The first invention that would have helped Columbus on his voyage is a GPS, or global
positioning system. He only had a compass and the stars to chart, these two tools are not
accurate. If Columbus had a GPS, he would have known where he was leaving from and where
he was sailing to. He would not just be traveling in one direction, hoping to see land. He would
have known which direction he was going at all times and if he was near any land. Additionally,
the GPS would have helped Columbus with the time because back then there were no watches or
clocks. People would base time off of the sun or use other methods of telling time. These systems
Columbus used were not accurate. The GPS would have had a massive impact on his entire
voyage, and it would have given him the knowledge of where he was. If Columbus had a GPS,
he would have known that he was not actually in Asia.
The next invention that could have helped Columbus voyage would have been to have a
bigger and more improved ship. Instead of taking three smaller ships, he could have taken one
ship, which would have carried all his crew and their supplies. Furthermore, all his crew
members could have had their own room so that they would not have been so packed together.
All of the accommodating qualities you would find on a cruise ship today would have aided
Columbus greatly. This would have minimized the amount of chaos on the ship, people would
have had jobs to complete, and people would have had their own space. Columbuss crew would
have limited to no work on board, and they would not have to worry about the ship getting
damaged. All their issues would have been resolved and no one would have to worry about
anything going wrong. Also, this new and improved ship would have gears and propellers that
would work so his crew would not have to. This could have impacted Columbus trip greatly and

he would have been vastly more successful and more efficient of getting from one place to the
other. This is yet another aspect that could have had a vast impact on his trip. There is a
numerous amount of technologies that could have impacted his voyage.
The last technology that would have helped Columbus on his voyage would be better
appliances such as a refrigerator. With this technology, food would not spoil and expire as
quickly. The refrigerator would keep food cold so the food would not spoil as quickly, compared
to being out in the sun. This type of technology would also limit the number of diseases people
would get, and those who got food poisoning. More people would have been less likely to get
sick and less likely to die. Another type of appliance that would have helped Columbus would be
a stove and oven. Columbus also would have had a healthier and stronger crew because of this.
Their food was less likely to be poisoned or spoiled. Columbus and his crew would have the
nutrition that they needed to be healthy.. Columbus also had a lower chance of losing crew
members because of the food being cooked by the stove or oven. Columbus and his crew would
have limited to no worries with this bigger and more improved ship.
Columbuss voyage could have been lengthened tremendously with the advantage of the
technology available today, compared to the technology then. Just by the three technologies
Mentioned, Columbus could have gone farther than he did. Columbus would know where he was
going, and he would have known that he did not discover Asia. Columbus would have gone to
the place he was traveling to efficiently and faster. Columbus and his crew would have had better
food, and they would have been stronger. If Columbus was not born in the time period he was
then he would have been more successful than he turned out to be.

Work Cited
Christopher Columbus Biography." Bio.com. A&E Networks Television, 2 Oct. 2015. Web. 25
Sept. 2016.
History.com Staff. "Christopher Columbus." History.com. A&E Television Networks, 2009.
Web. 26 Sept. 2016