HERMANN TRAPPMAN

"The only thing that distinguished a ship from hell itself was that at least the people on board could eventually hope to leave."

At least 20% of those who made up the crews of Spanish ships were foreigners. Of that number,

50% were Portuguese,

25% were Italians, and

25% were Flemings or Germans.

Spain's Men of the Sea by Pablo E. Perez-Mallaina, John-Hopkin's University Press.

Hermann, a German Conquistador, becomes a "Human Being."

written & performed by Hermann Trappman

Contrary to common belief, the Spanish expeditions of the 16th Century were not entirely made up of Spaniards. Although strict rules existed to govern the number of foreignrs, Spain's main concern was that the soldiers were Roman Catholics. So men from Catholic countires all over "Christiandom" joined these early expeditions to seek their fortunes.

Hermann's a mercenary soldier, a landsqueknect, who joined the Kings army as a boy in Germany. He was with the army that sacked Rome in 1528 and then he turned to seek his fortune in the New World. In the end it is his experience living with the Calusa people ater being shipwrecked in South Florida in 1549 that changed his life forever.

Time: 1 hour

Fee: $150.00 per performance

Travel Time and Expenses extra, over 60 miles.

CONTACT

NATURAL

HISTORY

LECTURES

• SCARS OF CHANGE - How Florida was formed over the millenia.

• FLORIDA'S PREHISTORIC CRITTERS - Florida Paleo-animals.

• OBSCURED BY TIME - Impressions of Florida's ancient past and people.

• THE MYSTERY OF PLANTS - Florida's paleo-botony.

NOTE: All programs include hands-on items such as rocks, fossils, reproduction artifacts, and plants.

Please call (727) 321-7845 or CONTACT for details.