Life on board a ship in the 1600s was no joyous experience. In this episode, we look at what the crew, soldiers and passengers aboard the Batavia went through, as they made their way from the United Provinces to their first scheduled stop at the Cape of Good Hope: the southern tip of Africa.
WHAT A JOURNEY
A map of the established Portuguese route to India. VOC ship such as Batavia would follow the same route as far as the Cape of Good Hope. By WalrasiadTo be a pirate, one must first learn to talk like a pirateDutch ships in Table Bay. Tafelbaai – Aernout Smith, 1683. Part of the William Fehr Collection, Cape Town.Blueprint of VOC ship, such as Batavia, from mid-1600s. For specific section labels, check out this Source