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Columbus Trivia
It's Columbus Day.
Would it be appropriate to compile a list of Columbus trivia? I'll start off: 1. Cristobol Colon (Christopher Columbus) was once married to the daughter of the governor of the Canary Islands. There are rumors that he converted to Catholicism from Judaism. He was a pioneer in the art of practical celestial navigation. 2. European seamen were well aware of "land to the west" for centuries before Colubus "discovered" America. Cod from the waters off Newfoundland was a common staple at fish markets in several European ports. 3. The Catholic Church suppressed knowledge of the western lands because they were not mentioned in the Bible. There was a fear that people would question the absolute authority of the Bible (and thereby the Church) if it became common knowledge that the earth was not accurately described in the scriptures. This explains why the lands to the west were commonly discussed by the Norse (Vinland Sagas, etc) who were latecomers to Christianity, but not officially acknowledged in areas that had been more directly subjugated by Rome. 4. To get permission to sail to a land that the super authority, the church, denied even existed, Cristobol petitioned to make an expedition to China, (an officially recognized locale). He pitched a religious as well as a commercial angle, but it is rather evident that he knew full well he would not be landing in China. First fact in evidence: Columbus promised to "claim" locales where he landed for the Spanish Crown. (The Emporer of China would, of course, have some objection the the Spanish potentates laying claim to Formosa). Second fact in evidence: Columbus negotiated a deal to be named "The Admiral of the Western Sea." (This would give him a share in any prizes or booty wrested from the area.) Spain would not have sought a naval war with China, particulary in the late 15th cnetury. Additional fact in evidence, Colon promised to convert the godless savages to Catholicism. There were no "godless savages" in China. 5. In 1492, most people did not believe the world was flat, and Columbus was not obsessed with "proving" it to be round. There's five to get the ball rolling. Anybody else got a tidbit to contribute? |
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Columbus Trivia
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Columbus Trivia
Chuck, you sound like a frustrated history Prof. What is the source
of these pearls if I may ask? There's a huge body of literature on Columbus. I must have read 100 Columbus books over the last 35-40 years. Those points I listed above are among the issues that the majority of the authors and researchers agree upon. A good place to start is "The Four Voyages of Christopher Columbus," detailing all four of his voyages to the west. One of the difficulties with getting a good handle on Columbus is that when those of us who are middle aged today were kids, we were taught a lot of bogus information about him. I remember an illustration in my grade school history book, showing Columbus holding up an orange and trying to convice a group of scholars that the world was round. We were even taught that Columbus made his voyage to the west to "prove the world was round and that it would be possible to reach land by sailing over the horizon to the west". What a hoot! But the teachers didn't know any better, and taught us what they thought they knew. |
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Columbus Trivia
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Columbus Trivia
On Tue, 14 Oct 2003 23:33:40 -0400, Wayne.B
wrote: On 13 Oct 2003 16:33:36 GMT, (Gould 0738) wrote: But the teachers didn't know any better, and taught us what they thought they knew. ====================================== Yes, like a lot of other things. I've always been offended at the thought of how much our grade school years were wasted. I think we spent a whole school year just on long division. I spent 12 years in Catholic School. That explains a lot.  )No one, in any job interview I've ever had, has asked me to recite the succesion of Popes. Bummer. ....carry on. noah To email me, please remove the "FISH" from the net. |
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#7
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Columbus Trivia
Ok how about some early trivia about Columbus
1a. Born in Genoa 1451, the son of a wool merchant and weaver. 2a. in 1476 swims ashore when his ship sank in a battle off Portugal. 3a. Joins his brother Bartholomew in 1476 a cartographer in Lisbon. 4a. Makes multiple voyages as far as Iceland and Guinea 1477-1482. 5a. Moves to Spain in 1485. I still think we should celebrate Leaf Erikson day instead. Jack "noah" wrote in message ... On 13 Oct 2003 04:53:49 GMT, (Gould 0738) wrote: It's Columbus Day. Would it be appropriate to compile a list of Columbus trivia? I'll start off: 1. Cristobol Colon (Christopher Columbus) was once married to the daughter of the governor of the Canary Islands. There are rumors that he converted to Catholicism from Judaism. He was a pioneer in the art of practical celestial navigation. 2. European seamen were well aware of "land to the west" for centuries before Colubus "discovered" America. Cod from the waters off Newfoundland was a common staple at fish markets in several European ports. 3. The Catholic Church suppressed knowledge of the western lands because they were not mentioned in the Bible. There was a fear that people would question the absolute authority of the Bible (and thereby the Church) if it became common knowledge that the earth was not accurately described in the scriptures. This explains why the lands to the west were commonly discussed by the Norse (Vinland Sagas, etc) who were latecomers to Christianity, but not officially acknowledged in areas that had been more directly subjugated by Rome. 4. To get permission to sail to a land that the super authority, the church, denied even existed, Cristobol petitioned to make an expedition to China, (an officially recognized locale). He pitched a religious as well as a commercial angle, but it is rather evident that he knew full well he would not be landing in China. First fact in evidence: Columbus promised to "claim" locales where he landed for the Spanish Crown. (The Emporer of China would, of course, have some objection the the Spanish potentates laying claim to Formosa). Second fact in evidence: Columbus negotiated a deal to be named "The Admiral of the Western Sea." (This would give him a share in any prizes or booty wrested from the area.) Spain would not have sought a naval war with China, particulary in the late 15th cnetury. Additional fact in evidence, Colon promised to convert the godless savages to Catholicism. There were no "godless savages" in China. 5. In 1492, most people did not believe the world was flat, and Columbus was not obsessed with "proving" it to be round. There's five to get the ball rolling. Anybody else got a tidbit to contribute? Very interesting subject. 6. Cristo (as he was known to his friends) was returned to Spain in chains (after his second voyage), for mismanagement of the new colony. It seems that everyone he left behind to obtain gold was killed by the natives. 7. CC has never been shown to have used celestial navigation to "find" America, in fact, his surviving logs show a strict reliance upon Dead Reckoning. He recorded extensive compass headings and canting speed calculations in the log. Watch officers were required to report these details. 8. We still do not know "for a fact" where he landed. http://www1.minn.net/~keithp/cclandfl.htm Have fun with this. Maybe some of our "Southern Captains" can offer some insight. Keep in mind that Colombus' "league" was shorter than the modern league. 9. The arrival of Columbus is credited with the death of 80% to 90% of the indiginous population of the area, through the introduction of venerial disease, influenza, and armed violence. Some "tribes" were exterminated completely. 10. One of the arguments used by Columbus to secure the support of the Catholic monarchy of Spain was to prevent the spread of Islam to the "East" (China). It is probable that he had no idea where he landed, was opportunistic once he got there, and died not knowing how far Cuba was from China. ...carry on. noah To email me, please remove the "FISH" from the net. |
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Columbus Trivia
noah wrote:
On 13 Oct 2003 04:53:49 GMT, (Gould 0738) wrote: It's Columbus Day. Would it be appropriate to compile a list of Columbus trivia? I'll start off: 1. Cristobol Colon (Christopher Columbus) was once married to the daughter of the governor of the Canary Islands. There are rumors that he converted to Catholicism from Judaism. He was a pioneer in the art of practical celestial navigation. 2. European seamen were well aware of "land to the west" for centuries before Colubus "discovered" America. Cod from the waters off Newfoundland was a common staple at fish markets in several European ports. 3. The Catholic Church suppressed knowledge of the western lands because they were not mentioned in the Bible. There was a fear that people would question the absolute authority of the Bible (and thereby the Church) if it became common knowledge that the earth was not accurately described in the scriptures. This explains why the lands to the west were commonly discussed by the Norse (Vinland Sagas, etc) who were latecomers to Christianity, but not officially acknowledged in areas that had been more directly subjugated by Rome. 4. To get permission to sail to a land that the super authority, the church, denied even existed, Cristobol petitioned to make an expedition to China, (an officially recognized locale). He pitched a religious as well as a commercial angle, but it is rather evident that he knew full well he would not be landing in China. First fact in evidence: Columbus promised to "claim" locales where he landed for the Spanish Crown. (The Emporer of China would, of course, have some objection the the Spanish potentates laying claim to Formosa). Second fact in evidence: Columbus negotiated a deal to be named "The Admiral of the Western Sea." (This would give him a share in any prizes or booty wrested from the area.) Spain would not have sought a naval war with China, particulary in the late 15th cnetury. Additional fact in evidence, Colon promised to convert the godless savages to Catholicism. There were no "godless savages" in China. 5. In 1492, most people did not believe the world was flat, and Columbus was not obsessed with "proving" it to be round. There's five to get the ball rolling. Anybody else got a tidbit to contribute? Very interesting subject. 6. Cristo (as he was known to his friends) was returned to Spain in chains (after his second voyage), for mismanagement of the new colony. It seems that everyone he left behind to obtain gold was killed by the natives. 7. CC has never been shown to have used celestial navigation to "find" America, in fact, his surviving logs show a strict reliance upon Dead Reckoning. He recorded extensive compass headings and canting speed calculations in the log. Watch officers were required to report these details. 8. We still do not know "for a fact" where he landed. http://www1.minn.net/~keithp/cclandfl.htm Have fun with this. Maybe some of our "Southern Captains" can offer some insight. Keep in mind that Colombus' "league" was shorter than the modern league. 9. The arrival of Columbus is credited with the death of 80% to 90% of the indiginous population of the area, through the introduction of venerial disease, influenza, and armed violence. Some "tribes" were exterminated completely. 10. One of the arguments used by Columbus to secure the support of the Catholic monarchy of Spain was to prevent the spread of Islam to the "East" (China). It is probable that he had no idea where he landed, was opportunistic once he got there, and died not knowing how far Cuba was from China. ...carry on. noah To email me, please remove the "FISH" from the net. Well, not to lower the level of discussion, but... Columbus Day typically is celebrated as a holiday among many of the international unions in the United States, so I don't have to make my usual Monday morning trek into the District of Columbia. Naturally, I'm a great fan of this Columbus fellow, for whatever the heck he did! Seriously, one of my favorite books about the "aftermath" of Columbus is Seeds of Change, which discusses the explorer's role in introducing European fauna and flora to the "New World," and vice versa. It's published by the Smithsonian, that well-known leftist organization of museums and knowledge. -- __________________________________________________ __________ Email sent to will never reach me. |
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Columbus Trivia
"Gould 0738" wrote in message ... It's Columbus Day. Would it be appropriate to compile a list of Columbus trivia? I'll start off: 1. Cristobol Colon (Christopher Columbus) was once married to the daughter of the governor of the Canary Islands. There are rumors that he converted to Catholicism from Judaism. He was a pioneer in the art of practical celestial navigation. 2. European seamen were well aware of "land to the west" for centuries before Colubus "discovered" America. Cod from the waters off Newfoundland was a common staple at fish markets in several European ports. 3. The Catholic Church suppressed knowledge of the western lands because they were not mentioned in the Bible. There was a fear that people would question the absolute authority of the Bible (and thereby the Church) if it became common knowledge that the earth was not accurately described in the scriptures. This explains why the lands to the west were commonly discussed by the Norse (Vinland Sagas, etc) who were latecomers to Christianity, but not officially acknowledged in areas that had been more directly subjugated by Rome. 4. To get permission to sail to a land that the super authority, the church, denied even existed, Cristobol petitioned to make an expedition to China, (an officially recognized locale). He pitched a religious as well as a commercial angle, but it is rather evident that he knew full well he would not be landing in China. First fact in evidence: Columbus promised to "claim" locales where he landed for the Spanish Crown. (The Emporer of China would, of course, have some objection the the Spanish potentates laying claim to Formosa). Second fact in evidence: Columbus negotiated a deal to be named "The Admiral of the Western Sea." (This would give him a share in any prizes or booty wrested from the area.) Spain would not have sought a naval war with China, particulary in the late 15th cnetury. Additional fact in evidence, Colon promised to convert the godless savages to Catholicism. There were no "godless savages" in China. 5. In 1492, most people did not believe the world was flat, and Columbus was not obsessed with "proving" it to be round. There's five to get the ball rolling. Anybody else got a tidbit to contribute? 6. Dirk Pitt found his body in the New World, preserved by his indian buddies.  |
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Columbus Trivia
Columbus made his fourth voyage from Spain to the Americas in 1502. He was
such a sure navigator by then that the 3500-mile voyage took a mere 21 days. But he did not arrive happy. At Santo Domingo on June 29 Columbus requested entry into the harbor for his five ships, and he urged the governor to detain a 30-ship fleet ready to sail to Spain. He warned a terrible storm was brewing. The governor and his retinue mocked Columbus as a phony fortune-teller. Not only did the governor order the fleet to sail but denied Columbus entry into the harbor. "May God take you!' fumed Columbus. That was always his strongest curse. Once again Columbus was thwarted by dull, proud people. He was no gypsy fortune-teller but the sea captain supreme. The mix of oily swells from the southeast, abnormal tide, heaviness in the air, aching arthritis, wispy cirrus clouds streaming high overhead, and a magnificent crimson sunset meant only one thing: a savage hurricane was coming from the north or east! Denied the harbor, Columbus anchored his ships off the southwest shore of the island with protection from north and west. If anchors broke loose the winds would drive them out to sea, not into shore. The 30 ships of the fleet sailed east, then north through the Mona Passage. Barely underway into the Atlantic the gold-laden fleet was hammered by ferocious winds. Within hours 20 ships sank with all hands. Nine others were driven ashore and battered to bits. One ship of the fleet survived. A fortune in gold, 29 ships and 500 men were lost. Columbus, with every anchor of his five caravels down, bitterly wrote in his journal during the raging hurricane: 'What man ever born, not excepting Job, would not have died of despair when in such weather - seeking safety for son, brother shipmates and self - was forbidden the land and the harbors that he, by God's will and sweating blood, had won for Spain!' But once again the master of the sea prevailed. Columbus lost not one ship from the deadly storm, not one man… from http://www.heroesofhistory.com/page12.html "Calif Bill" wrote in message ink.net... "Gould 0738" wrote in message ... It's Columbus Day. Would it be appropriate to compile a list of Columbus trivia? I'll start off: 1. Cristobol Colon (Christopher Columbus) was once married to the daughter of the governor of the Canary Islands. There are rumors that he converted to Catholicism from Judaism. He was a pioneer in the art of practical celestial navigation. 2. European seamen were well aware of "land to the west" for centuries before Colubus "discovered" America. Cod from the waters off Newfoundland was a common staple at fish markets in several European ports. 3. The Catholic Church suppressed knowledge of the western lands because they were not mentioned in the Bible. There was a fear that people would question the absolute authority of the Bible (and thereby the Church) if it became common knowledge that the earth was not accurately described in the scriptures. This explains why the lands to the west were commonly discussed by the Norse (Vinland Sagas, etc) who were latecomers to Christianity, but not officially acknowledged in areas that had been more directly subjugated by Rome. 4. To get permission to sail to a land that the super authority, the church, denied even existed, Cristobol petitioned to make an expedition to China, (an officially recognized locale). He pitched a religious as well as a commercial angle, but it is rather evident that he knew full well he would not be landing in China. First fact in evidence: Columbus promised to "claim" locales where he landed for the Spanish Crown. (The Emporer of China would, of course, have some objection the the Spanish potentates laying claim to Formosa). Second fact in evidence: Columbus negotiated a deal to be named "The Admiral of the Western Sea." (This would give him a share in any prizes or booty wrested from the area.) Spain would not have sought a naval war with China, particulary in the late 15th cnetury. Additional fact in evidence, Colon promised to convert the godless savages to Catholicism. There were no "godless savages" in China. 5. In 1492, most people did not believe the world was flat, and Columbus was not obsessed with "proving" it to be round. There's five to get the ball rolling. Anybody else got a tidbit to contribute? 6. Dirk Pitt found his body in the New World, preserved by his indian buddies. |
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