The minor voyages or Andalusian voyages were a series of voyages that were carried out in the "New World" by several Spanish sailors. Among them were characters such as Alonso de Ojeda, Vicente Yánez Pinzón, Diego de Lepe, among others
These trips, according to various historians, were made between the years 1499 and 1500. However, some consider that the minor trips include the trips that were carried out until 1510. Other few writings consider in this category the trips that were carried out until 1521.
Graphic representation of Alonso de Ojeda, main Spanish explorer of Andalusian travel
The minor trips were called that because their objective and scope was less than the great expeditions that took place in times before and after them. Unlike the great expeditions that had occurred so far, the minor trips were not financed by the kings but by private initiatives.
These trips were directed to a reduced area between Trinidad and the north coast of present-day Venezuela, although it was extended to other regions. This area had already been discovered by Christopher Columbus, but these trips served to advance the recognition of the geography of the region.
Although the initiative hoped to obtain generous economic returns, in this sense they were a great failure.
Andalusian travel documentation
Unlike the voyages of Columbus and other great expeditions, the documentation of the minor voyages is more scarce.
Despite this, the existing documents have been important to better understand the financing of the trips, the boats used, the crew and the dates of the events, among other issues.
Two chroniclers were relevant in the case of Andalusian travel. One was Bartolomé de Las Casas, who reported the events that occurred on Alonso de Ojeda's second trip.
Pedro Mártir de Anglería was another important chronicler of the minor trips, who carried out his work from informants who participated in said trips.
In addition to the stories and chronicles, many documents of the time, such as correspondence, orders and licenses, have been essential to recover information on the details of these trips.
Problems and situations with natives in Andalusian trips
Andalusian trips were marked by different situations that occurred between explorers and indigenous communities.
In the first place, communication problems with the natives was a constant that was difficult to overcome with the use of interpreters, many of whom were natives previously kidnapped or trained for such a function.
In the encounters with the natives, not only communication problems stood out. In some cases, the meetings were cordial and there were important exchanges of gifts. In others mistrust reigned.
Many of the activities carried out by some were incomprehensible to others. This was the case of the "acts of possession", in which the explorers claimed possession of the lands that they came to "discover" without the natives having any idea of what that meant.
Given the superiority of conditions and war resources of the Spanish explorers, the natives suffered the consequences of the approaches.
It was then a common practice to capture indigenous people as slaves for sale in Spanish or American territory, for their use as messengers or for other practices.
References
- Araguas IA (2005) Exploring, knowing: Interpreters and other mediators in Andalusian discovery and rescue trips. Studies on America: 16th-20th centuries.
- Guitierrez A. The 7/8 of the iceberg. The submerged of the discovery process of America by Europe 1492-1503. Magazine of History of America. nineteen ninety six; 121: 59-81.
- General History of America. Colonial period. Revista de Historia de América Produced by: Pan American Institute of Geography and History. 1975; 80: 202-222.
- Iciar AA (2005) Interpreters of the Indies. linguistic and cultural mediation in the voyages of exploration and conquest: Antilles, the Caribbean and the Gulf of Mexico (1492-1540). Doctoral thesis. Translation and Interpretation Department, University of Salamanca.
- Vigneras L. The Three Brothers Guerra of Triana and Their Five Voyages to the New World, 1498-1504. The Hispanic American Historical Review. 1972; 52 (4): 621-641.