An Explorer’s Life
Life: What it was like to be an explorer
Think about the life of an explorer for just a second. Think about where you would like to explore, how long it will take, and how far you have to travel.
- Where would you like to explore, and how will you get there?
- What do you hope to find while you are exploring there?
- How long will your exploration last?
- What equipment and supplies will you need for this exploration?
Now, think a little more about this same exploration, but imagine doing it 100 years ago.
- Do you think the place you want to explore was already discovered 100 years ago?
- How would your travel planning to this place change if you went there 100 years ago?
- What would the conditions for the trip be like 100 years ago?
- How would the equipment and supplies be different if you were planning this trip 100 years ago?
What was life like sailing the open seas? It was certainly adventurous and some other things too.
The life of an explorer was not as exciting as it may sound. The use of technology and modern resources assists in making discoveries. When America was first explored, they did not have these modern resources. It took a special person to do this type of exploring.
Life on board an exploration ship was equal parts exciting and challenging.
To be an explorer, you needed special skills and abilities to perform this job. For example, explorer’s had to know how to make and read maps. They had to keep detailed records of their journey to and from their location — records crafted from observations, basic math, and calculations using the sun, moon, and stars. All this while living in very tight, and generally difficult conditions.
For hundreds of years, seafarers (or crew or sailors) shared many everyday experiences in their lives. Men working at sea had much to endure. They were cut off from normal life on shore for months and even years. They had to accept cramped conditions, disease, poor food, and low pay. Above all, they faced the daily dangers of the sea and the weather. Life on board an exploration ship was cramped, and it was really, really, wet. The crew sometimes had to sleep where the animals slept, and they could rarely take a bath or wash their clothes.
Meals were always rationed, which means everyone got the same amount each day. These meals consisted of dry bread, dried fruit, meat, and fish. All of which were important parts of crew diets. Ships were usually provisioned with these dried products, but many also carried live animals onboard like pigs, goats, and even cows, which they could kill and eat when necessary. Sailors also used to fish in their free time, but they really could not count that they would catch much since the ship was typically in motion.
There was no consistent way to get fresh water, except for what you brought with you or what the rain would provide. And there was definitely no air conditioning or consistent heat. Fires were not allowed on ships – can you think of the reason why? Crew members often became sick due to unhealthy eating habits. The crew was often cold and wet, rats carried diseases, and a poor diet caused malnutrition and specific illnesses such as scurvy – caused by a lack of vitamin C in the diet.
Typical jobs on board included cook, parson (or priest), surgeon, master gunner, boatswain (in charge of the sails), carpenter, and quartermaster. Other members of the crew would, of course, carry out all the duties, including keeping watch, handling sails, cleaning the decks, and other seafaring duties as needed.
Exploring the world is an opportunity for adventure.
Little Patriots