An illustrated history of the New world : containing a general history of all the various nations, states, and republics of the western continent ..and a complete history of the United States to the present time .. . CHAPTER n. DISCOVERY OF COLUMBUS. HE history of the world does not aiTordan epoch more important to mankindthan the discovery of America by Co-lumbus, in 1492. It formed, as is wellknown, an era that gave a new andmore adventurous direction to the ambi-tion of European nations ; and whilethe consequent passion of enterprisesent bold spirits to the vast regions ofthe newly-found wo
An illustrated history of the New world : containing a general history of all the various nations, states, and republics of the western continent ..and a complete history of the United States to the present time .. . CHAPTER n. DISCOVERY OF COLUMBUS. HE history of the world does not aiTordan epoch more important to mankindthan the discovery of America by Co-lumbus, in 1492. It formed, as is wellknown, an era that gave a new andmore adventurous direction to the ambi-tion of European nations ; and whilethe consequent passion of enterprisesent bold spirits to the vast regions ofthe newly-found world,—and simulta-neously, by an almost equally great discovery,—that of sailing roundA-frica to the Eastern Indies,—fresh explorations enriched the sci-3nces,—and, from that period, geography, astronomy, and naviga-tion became more practically and more usefully known. A most remarkable coincidence of events distinguishes the period 2]. 22 DISCOVEIIY OF COLUMBUS. which followed the application of the magnet to the mariners compass, and the age which immediately commenced after the discoveryof America and of the East Indies by sea. During this epoch,gunpowder and the art of printing were both invented ; ancientjearning, the arts and sciences, were revived ; a powerful and sue-cessful resistance to the papal authority was declared; and thebalance of power among princes became a leading policy in Europe. To Portugal and to her sovereign, King John I., is due the honourof being the first nation and prince in Europe to undertake greatdiscoveries. Some adventurers from Spain fell in previously withthe Canaries ; but this discovery was not considered a national enter-prise ; although the pope, in his assumed divine right to all thecountries in the world, granted, in perpetuity, these FortunateIslands, as they were called, wiih their infidel inhabitants as slaves,to Louis de la Cerda, of the royal family of Castile, who tran
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