Ocean was then called, with all sorts of terrors. There were believed to be shifting whirlpools and irresistible currents. Parts of the ocean, it was thought, were no more than one fathom deep, and were the home of evil spirits; and if by chance a vessel could pass beyond, its crew was certain to become the sport of monsters of the deep. These fables were believed not only by untraveled

landsmen but by veteran sailors.

But now the Portuguese capes. They had even

had passed in succession many crossed the equator without being burned up. Their voyages had much to do with freeing men's minds from the terrors of the sea. After the voyage of Diaz in 1487 they were sure of a water route to India; but some people thought that route would be too long for much use.

QUESTIONS AND REFERENCES

Review Questions. - Who were the Norsemen? What conquests did they make? Who discovered Greenland and why was it so named? Give a brief account of the Greenland settlements, including their relation to the Holy See. Why did Leif sail to Greenland in the year 1000? What discovery was made on the voyage? Describe the voyage of Karlsefni and Snorri in 1005. What lands did they find? Why did the Norsemen abandon Wineland?

QUESTIONS AND REFERENCES

9

Where did Italian merchants usually go to get goods from the far East? What commodities were in demand among Europeans? What did Marco Polo do? Describe the missionary labors of the Franciscans in China. How was their work undone? What effect did the fall of Constantinople have upon the trade between Europe and Asia? Examine the trade routes on the map. Besides putting an end to the Asiatic trade, in what manner did the fall of Constantinople affect Italian seamen?

What did Prince Henry establish on Cape St. Vincent? Which of the Portuguese captains first sailed a ship around the Cape of Good Hope? Give the name of the Portuguese explorer who first arrived in India and also the date of that event. What was thought of the Atlantic Ocean before the Portuguese began their explorations? What was the effect on people generally of those discoveries?

References. Charles H. McCarthy, Columbus and his Predecessors, pp. 17-81; Arthur Middleton Reeves, The Finding of Wineland the Good; R. H. Major, Prince Henry the Navigator.

CHAPTER II

THE DISCOVERY OF AMERICA BY COLUMBUS

War with the Moors.

While the Portuguese were ing that unknown parts of the ocean could be saile safety, and while they were exploring the west co.

THE BOY COLUMBUS TALKING

WITH SAILORS

Africa, Spain was tering

the last stages of a lo
bloody struggle th the
This war gave the Spanish
ereigns little time to note
activity of Portugal, but
did find time to cons
ect submitted to them,
eigner living in their co
This stranger was
Columbus.

Boyhood of Colu
Christopher Columbus
est navigator of all
born in the year 1451,

Italy. By occupation

།.

p

were simple weavers as he him

self was and as were many of his kinsmen. He re such an education as was then given to the sons

1 From the time of his birth until he came to mature years almost eve important event in the career of Christopher Columbus has been a battl ground for historians. Many different dates have been assigned birth. The rank of his family has been disputed, and neither nor the extent of his education has been shown with any degree tainty. There is also some doubt as to the resting place of his rem

THE PLAN OF COLUMBUS

11

in some way unknown to us he not only mastered the science of navigation, but learned Latin, and in that language read many works on geography.

Columbus in Portugal. In the year 1476 Columbus arrived in Portugal, and there married Felipa Moniz, a relative of one of Prince Henry's navigators. While living hat country, he made a careful study of many important ems of geography, and kept a record of his own obDions as well as those of others. The notes made in ooks show that he was a remarkable student and Fr. I was especially interested in the problem of a froute to India.

But 148 Columbus left Portugal. Before quitting country, however, he had applied to King John for in carrying out his plan to reach the East by sailing vard. The king rejected the proposal of Columbus,

bed to one of his own captains any islands or did that he might discover in the Atlantic. After ilure of his captain, King John urged Columbus to Portugal and undertake for him a voyage of

of his Grand Project. It is often said that the Friving at the East by sailing westward was first to Columbus by a letter of Toscanelli, a celetronomer of Florencé in Italy. As to this, it

he said that Columbus himself had brought -together-ar more convincing body of knowledge than i found in the Toscanelli letters. To Columbus, then, lo credit of having collected all the geographical formation of his time and of having applied it to the problem of reaching eastern Asia by a new route.

anish Friends of Columbus. When Columbus arin Spain, he was, at least to persons of influence, an stranger. Among his early friends in that country.

was the Dominican friar, Diego de Deza (dē-a'go dā da'thah), Bishop of Palencia. Other friends were Antonio de Marchena (mar-cha'nah) and Cardinal Pero Gonzales de Mendoza (pa'ro gōn-thah'less da men-dō'thah). The latter it was who persuaded King Ferdinand and Queen Isabella to listen to the proposals of Columbus. Among the priests, the bishops, and the archbishops of Spain he found his best and most influential friends.

At La Rabida. At first the proposal of Columbus was rejected by the Spanish sovereigns. After this failure, and a still later one, Columbus resolved to leave Spain

and to try his fortunes in France.1 He set out at once for the nearest seaport. With his little son, Diego, he made his way on foot. Night found the tired travelers before a monastery. A knock at its hospitable door brought the porter, and a bed for himself

of whom Columbus asked food and his little boy. The Prior, Father Juan Perez (hwahn pa'reth), asked who he was and whence he came. This time the sailor explained his project to a sympathetic mind. At Palos (pah'lōss), not far from the monastery of La Rabida (rah'be-dah), - for here it was that Columbus had sought rest, - dwelt a young man who was believed to have some knowledge of astronomy. With him and the Prior the stranger discussed his project of reaching the

1 When persuaded that it was useless to remain longer in Spain, Columbus sent his brother Bartholomew to England. Little is known of that mission, but on his way back Bartholomew heard of his brother's discovery of the Indies.