We have now reached what is called the Sixth Century it is the years that start with the number 15.
It is inevitable in English, but confusing. Right about the start of the Sixth Century Martin Luther
was living, but was still unknown. In a few years, however, he became very popular because of his ideas
that he had written down about Christianity.
He wanted to have a church which was free from the Pope and the Pope’s rule. His enemies were against it
but could not find a single solid reason to be. Luther called the Pope ‘pig-faced’ and many other names
too, most of which were even more insulting to the Pope!

The Mongols were, at this time harassing Eastern Europe compelling the inhabitants there to be in constant
terror of them. However, the Great Khan died and all the noblemen hurried back to the capitol in order to
elect his successor. The Turks, in the meantime, had taken over the Byzantine Empire. Columbus, a Genoan
sailor, married the daughter of a Portuguese sailor who served with The Navigator. He then studied the maps
of his father-in-law, and decided to find a sea route to the Spice Islands. He sent his brother to try to
get help from the King of England, but he got caught by pirates on the sea. When he got released and got
the attention of the new king, Henry Tudor, it was too late; the Portuguese King had already consented to
sponsor Columbus. Columbus then got  his three ships: The Nina, The Pinta and one other ship which was to be his flag ship. This ship's name Columbus changed to Santa Maria meaning 'Saint Mary', in this ship and with the other two Columbus sailed to what we call Cuba and back to Portugal. Columbus, however, was not the only one to go to this 'new world', Cabot, a famous English sailor, journeyed from England to Newfoundland, then to Virginia, then back to England. Vasco de Gama sailed around the Cape of Good Hope and down the coast of Africa, crossed the Indian Ocean to Calicut, then followed his route back to Spain. Magellan started out from Portugal with three ships, being Portuguese himself. He went down to the coast of Brazil and followed it down to the tip of Chile. He sailed across the Pacific Ocean to the East Indies. He then left there and kept on sailing toward the Cape of Good Hope he reached it and arrived in Portugal. Only then did become known that not only had Magellan lost two of his ships, he had lost his life.

Sir Richard