Book contents
- Frontmatter
- Contents
- CHAP. I COLUMBUS
- CHAP. II COLUMBUS AND AMERIGO VESPUCCI
- CHAP. III EARLY DISCOVERIES IN AMERICA
- CHAP. IV SPANISH DISCOVERIES, AND FIRST CIRCUMNAVIGATION OF THE EARTH
- CHAP. V FERNANDO CORTEZ
- CHAP. VI CONQUEST OF PERU
- CHAP. VII CONQUESTS OF THE SPANIARDS
- CHAP. VIII CONQUESTS OF THE PORTUGUESE
- CHAP. IX FERDINAND MENDEZ PINTO
- CHAP. X VOYAGES TO THE NORTH
- CHAP. XI VOYAGES TO THE NORTH
- CHAP. XII VOYAGES TO THE NORTH
- CHAP. XIII SETTLEMENTS IN THE EAST
- CHAP. XIV SETTLEMENTS IN NORTH AMERICA
- CHAP. XV ESTABLISHMENTS IN AFRICA
- CHAP. XVI VOYAGES TO THE SOUTH SEA
- CHAP. XVII VOYAGES TO THE SOUTH SEA
- CHAP. XVIII VOYAGES IN THE PACIFIC, AND DISCOVERY OF AUSTRALIA
- CHAP. XIX EXPEDITIONS OF THE BUCCANEERS IN THE SOUTH SEAS
- CHAP. XX VOYAGES OF PRIVATEERS AND OTHERS TO THE SOUTH SEA
- CHAP. XXI DISCOVERIES OF THE RUSSIANS
- CHAP. XXII DISCOVERIES OF THE RUSSIANS
CHAP. III - EARLY DISCOVERIES IN AMERICA
Published online by Cambridge University Press: 05 October 2010
- Frontmatter
- Contents
- CHAP. I COLUMBUS
- CHAP. II COLUMBUS AND AMERIGO VESPUCCI
- CHAP. III EARLY DISCOVERIES IN AMERICA
- CHAP. IV SPANISH DISCOVERIES, AND FIRST CIRCUMNAVIGATION OF THE EARTH
- CHAP. V FERNANDO CORTEZ
- CHAP. VI CONQUEST OF PERU
- CHAP. VII CONQUESTS OF THE SPANIARDS
- CHAP. VIII CONQUESTS OF THE PORTUGUESE
- CHAP. IX FERDINAND MENDEZ PINTO
- CHAP. X VOYAGES TO THE NORTH
- CHAP. XI VOYAGES TO THE NORTH
- CHAP. XII VOYAGES TO THE NORTH
- CHAP. XIII SETTLEMENTS IN THE EAST
- CHAP. XIV SETTLEMENTS IN NORTH AMERICA
- CHAP. XV ESTABLISHMENTS IN AFRICA
- CHAP. XVI VOYAGES TO THE SOUTH SEA
- CHAP. XVII VOYAGES TO THE SOUTH SEA
- CHAP. XVIII VOYAGES IN THE PACIFIC, AND DISCOVERY OF AUSTRALIA
- CHAP. XIX EXPEDITIONS OF THE BUCCANEERS IN THE SOUTH SEAS
- CHAP. XX VOYAGES OF PRIVATEERS AND OTHERS TO THE SOUTH SEA
- CHAP. XXI DISCOVERIES OF THE RUSSIANS
- CHAP. XXII DISCOVERIES OF THE RUSSIANS
Summary
The discovery of America filled mankind with astonishment, and awakened the lively curiosity of the learned. Countries of such vast extent, and which had remained so long unknown, held out attractions to the most active propensities—the love of novelty and of gain. The ardour of hope is so much nourished by imagination, and this faculty had such full scope to expand itself in the imperfectly descried regions of the New World, that we need not be surprised at the alacrity and perseverance with which expeditions were fitted out to undertake the dangerous voyage across the Atlantic, and pursue the tracks of ill-requited discovery.
Yet, notwithstanding the multitude of adventurers who pressed forward in this new career of fame or fortune, the eminence of Columbus remained unobscured by rivalry; or rather, the lustre of his fame was rendered still more conspicuous by the boldness of navigators, who had almost all been his companions or disciples. Among the most distinguished of these was Vincent Yanez Pinzon, who had accompanied the admiral in his first voyage of discovery. His spirit of enterprise was roused by the intelligence that the continent was discovered; and as great confidence was reposed in his ability and experience, he found no difficulty in equipping four caravels, and in inducing some of those who had visited the coast of Paria with Columbus to embark as pilots in the expedition.
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- The History of Maritime and Inland Discovery , pp. 29 - 41Publisher: Cambridge University PressPrint publication year: 2010