How was life on a boat travelling to the Americas in the 1500s?

by [deleted]

Just wondering for a story I'm working on, if anyone has any relevant reference that would be great. Sorry if this question has already been asked.

Basically, what would the average seaman/passenger be doing all day long? And how long would such a travel last, say going from Lisbon to Brazil?

Thanks !

historianLA

I don't know how many people have tried to write about that. The sources for that type of activity are pretty thin. You'd almost need a personal journal or letter detailing what passengers were doing, and those don't preserve well. You might check out J.H. Parry's work. Spanish Seaborne Empire or Age of Reconnaissance