Technologys Impact on the Voyage of Christopher Columbus

Jack Cornetti
1617 Route 228
Cranberry Township, PA 16066
jcornetti@cwnchs.org
Cardinal Wuerl North Catholic Grade 11
Kushkushkee Trail
809 Words

Christopher Columbus was one of the most influential explorers and led some of the
greatest expeditions. At the time, a voyage to the Americas was a treacherous trip and could
potentially result in death. The equipment that was used at that time was weak and often
unreliable. If Christopher Columbus was able to use the technology and equipment we have
today, would he have changed his planning and the carrying out of his voyage? What
technological advances would have been most beneficial to him? I believe that his voyage would
have been much shorter and he would have been able to have a set destination.
In August of 1492, Columbus left Spain in the Santa Maria, with the Pinta and the Nia
alongside. After 36 days of sailing, Columbus and several crewmen set foot on an island in the
present day Bahamas, claiming it for Spain,(Biography). My analysis of this quote is that it
took Columbus several days of sailing to get to the new world. With the well-made, motorized
ships that we have now, he could easily make this voyage in less than seven days. During this
time, the Santa Maria was wrecked on a reef off the coast of Hispaniola,(Biography). In this
quote, one problem was stated that could have been avoided with modern technology. In the
dilemma, the ship became wrecked by reefs. This is now avoidable by sonar and boating
equipment that show how deep the water is. The other problem was that, due to a lack of maps,
Columbus didnt reach his destination which was Asia. Columbus ended up discovering a
massive land mass. Getting lost in the world is now very uncommon because of more detailed
and advanced maps, and the ability to use satellites with GPS (global positioning system). These
are just some ways how modern technology could have made Christopher Columbuss voyage
much safer, faster, and easier.
If Christopher Columbus had the knowledge we have today he most likely would have
changed his original voyage plans. Convinced his exploration had reached Asia, he set sail for

home with the two remaining ships,(Biography). This quote states that Columbuss destination
was Asia. He set sail to find a faster trade route to Asia to give his trade an advantage. Due to a
lack of detailed world maps, Columbus didnt reach his destination which was Asia. Columbus
ended up discovering a massive land mass. Getting lost in the world is now very uncommon
because of more detailed and advanced maps, and the ability to use satellites with GPS (global
positioning system). Columbus would have changed his plans if he had our technology. Not only
would it have been made simpler by him just reaching his destination, but the entire trip would
most likely have been pointless.
If the goal was to find a faster way to reach Asia for trade, than it would be much faster,
cheaper, and safer to stay on land or in the sky. Our modern land transportation methods include
trains, trucks, and flying with planes. Also, with more advanced agriculture, most of these spices
are now available in more places around the world rather than just Asia. One other problem that
would end up tarnishing the career of Christopher Columbus is that he is credited with bringing
the destruction of a native population. The natives were soon forced into slavery, and punished
with the loss of a limb or death if they did not collect enough gold (a portion of which Columbus
was allowed to keep for himself). Between the Europeans brutal treatment and their infectious
diseases, within decades, the Taino population was decimated, (Biography). With modern
technology, the spread of disease would have been stopped by modern medicine. Through
technological advances, we are able to study and learn more about medicine. If the medicine
present now was present back then, than the native people could have been saved.
In Conclusion, If Christopher Columbus had the technological advances that we have
today, his voyage would have been better. Columbus would have been able to reach reach his
destination faster by the advances made with modern boats. He would have been able to avoid

the destruction of one of his boats by using sonar. The original destination of Asia and mission
would have been achieved due to satellites and GPS. And the decimation of a native population
could have been saved been advances in medicine. Christophe Columbuss voyage to the new
world would have been safer, faster, efficient, and possibly unnecessary if the world had the
technology that we have now.

Works Citied
"Christopher Columbus." Bio.com. A&E Networks Television, n.d. Web. 26 Sept. 2016.