Today, crossing the Atlantic from Spain will take around eight hours by plane or around a week by boat. In the 16th centur y, crossing the Atlantic was an adventure that lasted several months. In addition to overcrowding, poor hygiene and a lack of food; passengers faced diseases such as scur vy and typhus, as well as storms and pirate attacks. Passengers paid a high price for a ticket and risked their lives to arrive safely. Crossing the Atlantic in the past versus the present 20 Read the comic and answer the questions. What does it show? Name five things that happened on voyages to America in the Modern Age. Were the passengers comfortable? Explain. 21 COMMUNICATION. Compare and evaluate. What is travel to America like today? What has changed since the 15th century? Do technological advances improve our lives? Why do you think thousands of people travelled from Spain to America in the Modern Age if it was so dangerous? 22 UNDERSTAND OTHERS. Think and answer. Imagine you are a sailor at the beginning of the 16th century. Why would you choose to set off on a voyage to America? Imagine you are a passenger. How would you feel before boarding the ship? O T H E R P O I N T S O F V I E W We boarded a ship in Sevilla. Finally the food arrived: cake and dried meat. Gigantic waves and strong winds rocked the ship. I hope we survive... Everything was full. A goat tried to eat our things. The captain gave orders while the crew did their jobs. Finally, some peace and quiet... Land! After 89 days we have arrived in La Española. A typhus epidemic has started on the ship. Some people have already died. Yuck! The water is green. 146
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