The year is 1593 and you have been summoned by the King of Portugal. Every year, he sends out a fleet of massive cargo ships to Portugal's colonies in India. Here the ships load up with pepper and luxury goods such as silks and spices to bring back to Europe where they are sold for a huge profit. The King wants you to captain the fleet from Portugal's capital, Lisbon, to the port of Goa in India. It is great honour to be asked, but the voyage is long and dangerous.   This ebook describes in detail life on a 16th century cargo ship: planning a voyage to India and back from Europe, who's who on board, how the ship is organised, navigation and sailing techniques, how to deal with pirates and storms, etc.    Each ebook in the 4-title Challenge series, suitable for children aged 8 to 12, is written in the style of a guide to living during an exciting time to history and completing an extraordinary task. Packed with superb illustrations, each title comes with a detailed timeline and glossary.   Created by Q-files.com, the great online illustrated encyclopedia: the comprehensive, in-depth, expert-verified educational resource for children aged 8-13.