. The story of American democracy, political and industrial . icles, in a steady stream, from central Asia to theeastern shores of the Mediterranean; but in the fifteenthcentury the rise of Turkish barbarians in Asia Minor closedthis route. Europe, just then awaking from the long torporof the Middle Ages, and astir with new impulses, eagerlysought new trade routes into Asia. Portugal found one, tothe south, around Africa. Columbus, aided by the SpanishIsabella, tried a still bolder western road — and stumbled onAmerica in his path. 8 ENGLANDS RIVALS This discovery marked the close of the fifte
. The story of American democracy, political and industrial . icles, in a steady stream, from central Asia to theeastern shores of the Mediterranean; but in the fifteenthcentury the rise of Turkish barbarians in Asia Minor closedthis route. Europe, just then awaking from the long torporof the Middle Ages, and astir with new impulses, eagerlysought new trade routes into Asia. Portugal found one, tothe south, around Africa. Columbus, aided by the SpanishIsabella, tried a still bolder western road — and stumbled onAmerica in his path. 8 ENGLANDS RIVALS This discovery marked the close of the fifteenth next century in the New World was Spains. The storyof her conquests is a tale of heroic endeavor, marred by re-volting ferocity. The details, as an old Spanish chroniclersaid, are all horrid transactions, nothing pleasant in anyof them. Not till twenty years after the discovery didthe Spaniards advance to the mainland for settlement;but, once begun, her handfuls of adventurers swoopedswiftly north and south. By 1550, she held not only all. Columbus at the Court of Fekuinand and Isabella. From the painting byBrozik in the Metropolitan Museum in New York City. South America (save Portugals Brazil), but also all CentralAmerica, Mexico, the Californias far up the Pacific coast,and the Floridas. The gold from Mexico and Peru helpedto give Spain her proud place as the most powerful countryin Europe through most of the sixteenth century; and sheguarded her American possessions jealously. The Gulf ofMexico and the Caribbean were Spanish lakes, and thewhole Pacific was a closed sea. Frenchman or English-man, caught upon those waters, was given a grave beneaththem. FRANCE IN AMERICA 9 Nor was Spain content with even this huge empire onland and sea. She phmned grandly to occupy the Mississippivalley and the Appalachian slope in America, and Spainsto seize Holland and England in Europe. But, in ^^^^1588, she received a fatal check when the gallant English sea dogs destro
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