The discovery of a new world and its significance. America's Discovery Day: Who Really Discovered the New World
Until now, the world's leading historians are puzzling over whose foot was the first to set foot on the lands of the New World. The question remains debatable... First of all, it should be decided what should be considered a discovery? If the first visit by Europeans to a new mainland, then this happened half a millennium before Christopher Columbus. The Normans, however, did not attach any significant importance to their discovery. The thing is, the same can be said about Columbus. The discovery of the mainland at the end of the Middle Ages was of particular importance. The thing is that it was from these time immemorial that the global colonization of the lands of the New World by Europeans and its subsequent study began. At the same time, uncertainty cannot be overcome, because it is worth considering that in the first two expeditions, Christopher Columbus paid much more attention to the islands adjacent to the future America. Only in the summer of 1498 did he first find himself in the firmament of South America.
Columbus and his exploits
A year earlier, members of the English expedition reached the shores of North America. It was headed by the well-known Briton John Cabot, who was Italian by birth. He, however, again, did not attach any significant importance to the discovery and confidently declared that he was able to open the "Kingdom of the Great Khan of China." This uncertainty was the reason why it was decided to repeat the voyage in the spring of next year. The “stick in the wheel” was the almost completely absent economic benefit, which to a large extent cooled the excited British. scientific achievement was realized and connected with the expansion of the existing horizons of knowledge. There is also a place to be a total misunderstanding of the essence of what has been achieved. Logically, when the truth was first revealed. At the same time, a new name came to the fore - Amerigo Vespucci.
At the same time, one should not forget what Christopher Columbus did, because it is not for nothing that his feat is forever entered on the pages of history. It was he who obtained the evidence, which later, of course, had to be clarified, that the planet has a spherical appearance, and not flat, as previously assumed.
It is no coincidence that he thought about going to trip around the world and tried to make it. An extremely important aspect is also the fact that in his imagination, which began to work actively thanks to numerous travels, Columbus developed a model that the Earth is not flat, but spherical, but, nevertheless, closed. All these space formulas were unprecedented and amazing. The discovery also helped turn the oceans not into barriers, which they were previously considered, but into grandiose links that connect all the continents of the world and all the peoples of the planet. Conditions gradually began to take shape, thanks to which a single all-terrestrial civilization developed. In subsequent centuries, everything that was available only developed and was debugged.
Consequences
It should be noted famous fact: almost simultaneously with the entry of Columbus to the shores of South America, and Cabot - North, a flotilla sent from Portugal, under the command of the legendary Vasco da Gama, was able to reach India for the first time by sea. Decades later, the Spanish conquistador Vasco Balboa with a military detachment, overcoming mountain slopes and dense thickets, crossed the Isthmus of Panama. He became the first European to visit the shores of the then unknown " South Sea". The World Ocean then, somehow immediately, almost at once, submitted to man. First of all, due to the appearance of a navigation device that allows you to navigate, even if you are on the high seas. Do not forget about geographical maps oceans and lands. Even though the instruments and maps were far from perfect, it made it possible to take the first steps, set specific goals and pave the way to them. All this was so fast that the then humanity did not have time to follow the pace at which the planet was developing.
Vespucci and the New World
Amerigo Vespucci made his discoveries, of course, not immediately. He was a very experienced helmsman and made great progress in cartography, studied navigation, and in last years During his life he was the chief pilot of Castile (his main task was to check the knowledge of ship helmsmen, control how well maps are created, and report to the government on all important geographical discoveries). Nevertheless, it was he who managed to become a member of one of the first expeditions, which went to the then unknown " southern mainland" (Then South America have not yet come up with a name, so they managed with such an analogue). Perhaps he was the first to realize the essence of what he and his colleagues managed to achieve. In other words, he was able to make a discovery of a theoretical nature, and Christopher Columbus mastered new lands from a practical point of view. During the time of Amerigo, a letter appeared, allegedly written by him, which stated that he had visited the southern mainland in 1497. If you believe this version, then he visited the same place as Columbus a year earlier, but, alas, no documentation confirming this was found. It is extremely likely that this did not happen, in principle, never. Amerigo's non-involvement in such misunderstandings, of course, remains beyond any doubt of the sensible public. He never claimed the laurels of a discoverer and did not try to establish himself in his priority.
Here the factor of the popularization of knowledge present in almost everything and the dissemination of printed publications. In particular, it is worth mentioning a small pamphlet that was widely distributed in 1503 in Italy and France, a pamphlet called "The New World". The preface said that it was translated from Italian into Latin, so that all people could know what a huge number of discoveries were being made at that time. The book enjoyed extremely wide recognition among the then readers. It is written in a lively and interesting language, and, most importantly, everything that it says is the purest truth. It was there, in the form of a letter to Vespucci, that it was said that in the summer of 1501 there was a voyage that was entrusted by the Portuguese king. The expedition passed through the stormy Atlantic and got as close as possible to the shores of the Unknown Land. It was called, at the same time, not at all Asia, but the New World.
A little later, another message was also published about the exploits of the voyages of Amerigo Vespucci. In the end, a unique collection appeared, which included the stories of many authors. It was said there about the voyages of Columbus, and about the accomplishments of Vasco da Gama and many other travelers. The compiler of this work came up with an extremely catchy title, which at the moment could intrigue any reader: "The New World and new countries discovered by Alberico Vespucci from Florence." Thousands of readers could decide for themselves that the New World, like other states, was discovered by Alberico (Amerigo) Vespucci. Despite the content of the book, many people were sure for a long time that all discoveries are the achievement of one Vespucci. In addition, those descriptions that Amerigo himself made looked extremely convincing and had an interesting lively language, which, undoubtedly, only cemented his role as a discoverer.
National holiday
Despite all of the above, it was Columbus Day that was enshrined in the US constitution as a state and nationwide one. It is celebrated every year on the second Monday in October. Despite the fact that Columbus himself lived and died in the belief that he managed to discover new road to India and Asia, and not at all to North and South America, he managed to completely turn history around and imprint his name forever. Because the United States was founded by English colonizers and not by Columbus himself or his followers, America's Discovery Day was not celebrated in the United States for many years. The first to celebrate the holiday every year were Italian immigrants, since Christopher Columbus was Italian by origin. At the same time, the main version, of course, says that he was born in Italy, but some scientists argue that this location could be Greece, Portugal or Spain. He mastered the art of navigation in Portugal, but it was Spain that sponsored that very historical expedition to the lands of the New World.
Franklin Roosevelt, President of the United States, was the first commander in chief to proclaim Columbus Day a national holiday, and Congress, in turn, reinforced the fact that the holiday must be celebrated on the second Monday of October in order to make it part of the weekend for the entire population of the state. In New York, Denver and many American cities, magnificent festivities take place on this day. People independently organize sports events, fireworks, arrange fairs.
Do not be naive to assume that all residents of the United States, without exception, enjoy Columbus Day. Everyone at this moment forgets about the indigenous population of the Indians. In their opinion, it is the Spanish discoverer who is the messenger who brought with him all the misfortunes: the Europeans brought illness, poverty, death to the continent, and everyone who was lucky enough to stay alive was driven into reservations. In addition, on the eve of Columbus Day in Denver, the Indians every year hold their traditional protest procession against this holiday. They are sure that in this way the Americans mock their heritage and grief, because riots can almost never be avoided. That is why, in Berkeley, California, Columbus Day was quickly replaced with Indigenous Day, in honor of the nationality that lived on the islands where Christopher Columbus landed. IN South Dakota this holiday is called American Indian Day, and in Alabama, Columbus Day falls on Indian Heritage Day. In Hawaii, this holiday was called simply - Discovery Day of America.
During this national holiday all federal government offices are closed, as are most banks. Schools are usually open on this day, but there are exceptions. The same applies to most businesses. The event, among other things, is celebrated in a number of other states. For example, in the Bahamas it is Opening Day, and in Spain it is the Holiday of Hispanic Peoples. Most of States of South America associate Columbus Day with Race Day.
Conclusion: Secret knowledge
Finally, I would just like to ask a rhetorical question, and perhaps give you food for thought. Until now, scientists cannot come to a common denominator when it comes to secret knowledge Christopher Columbus. Just think how you can explain his "iron" confidence that there is far beyond uncharted ocean maybe there is a land abounding in riches? How did he get the idea to try to find western way to the shores of India? The fact that the discovery of America took place at the end of the 15th century is a fact that has become the property of world history. Therefore, it is likely that Columbus, who so persistently and so confidently sought equipment for his treacherous expedition to the lands on the other side of the Atlantic, already knew the experience of navigators who visited the coasts of these unknown lands. Then, of course, there were legends about the discovery of uncharted land by the Vikings, but, alas, there was no more intelligible evidence. But, perhaps, he just got them, because, again, according to legend, he visited Greenland, near Newfoundland.
Many stories that could shed light on the motives of the expedition to the shores of America are not documented, because, in fact, all we know is word of mouth retelling. Until now, significant events from the biography of the discoverer remain unknown or unsupported by the baggage of facts, therefore it is up to you to decide whether Columbus really did what covered himself with imperishable glory forever.
Nikolay Ofitserov
The era of the Middle Ages, as we have seen, is rich in many turning and dramatic events. Among them, it is necessary to note those that occurred at the end of the 15th - beginning of the 16th century. This is a series of major geographical discoveries that expanded the horizons of the then known world.
Consider who made the discoveries and who took advantage of them. 1.
Looking for a new route to India
In 1492, Kings Isabella and Ferdinand, who had just completed the reconquest of Spain from the Arabs (Reconquista), sent an expedition under the command of Christopher Columbus to search for a western sea route to India.
Europeans considered India a country of untold riches - gold, precious stones, silk fabrics, etc. Spices and incense brought from these lands were also highly valued. However, to get from Europe to India by land, it was necessary to go through many countries, overcome deserts and mountains. It was difficult and dangerous journey. Therefore, the idea of opening new sea routes to the cherished country seemed very tempting to enterprising European sailors. Among them was Christopher Columbus (1451-1506).
For several years he appealed to the rulers of Portugal and Spain with a request to allocate funds for an expedition to India. Finally, Queen Isabella decided to support the persistent Genoese (Columbus came from this Italian city). Three caravels (Santa Maria, Nina and Pinta) with a crew of about 100 people were equipped for the expedition.
In October 1492, two months after the start of the voyage, Columbus' caravels reached the ground ( modern island San Salvador and the coasts of Cuba and Haiti). Navigators believed that the coast of India was in front of them, and, accordingly, they called local residents Indians. But it turned out that this was a continent unknown to them, later called America. This is how medieval Europeans discovered the New World. Superiority in this belonged to the Spaniards and the Portuguese.
Dates and events
1492 - the first expedition of Columbus.
1493-1504 - Columbus made three more expeditions to the lands he discovered in Central America.
1497-1498 - Opening of the sea route to India by the Portuguese expedition of Vasco da Gama.
1519-1522 - the first round-the-world trip of the Spanish expedition under the command of Ferdinand Magellan.
These and other events connected with the discovery and development of territories by Europeans in America, Africa, Asia, were called the Great Geographical Discoveries. 2.
Peoples of pre-Columbian America
What were American lands discovered by Columbus and his followers? Who inhabited this part of the continent? The most significant footprint in history Central America left behind the Mayan and Aztec civilizations.
The Maya civilization originated before our era. And in the first millennium of our era on the Yucatan Peninsula, where this people lived, there were several city-states. Most of the population was engaged in agriculture, growing corn, various vegetables, cotton, etc.
As the finds of modern archaeologists have shown, in Mayan cities there were majestic temples and palaces, decorated with sculptures and paintings. The achievements of this civilization impress modern man. The Maya were distinguished by deep knowledge of astronomy and mathematics, used a very accurate solar calendar (the year had 365 days), and had hieroglyphic writing. They deified the forces of nature, worshiped the gods of the Sun and Moon, fire and rain, as well as gods personified by animals (for example, the jaguar).
Maya city-states
Territories of States: G~~| Aztec shsh incas
At the end of the X century. Largest cities Maya were destroyed and abandoned by the inhabitants. Historians speculate various reasons for this - like natural phenomena(earthquake, climate change) and conquest.
The Aztec tribes settled in the 12th century. in the territory modern Mexico. Two centuries later, they created a powerful state with the capital Tenochtitlan. The Aztecs lived in communities in which grown men were farmers and warriors. Captured during the frequent campaigns of conquest, prisoners turned into slaves. The supreme power belonged to the leaders (at first they were elected, later the title of leader began to be inherited). The priests were very influential. Historians count more than a thousand gods in the Aztec pantheon. The religious rites of the Aztecs were often cruel, they legalized human sacrifice.
The largest state formation in South America was the power of the Incas, which developed in the XII-XIII centuries. centered on the city of Cusco. It was headed by the Great Inca, who was considered the embodiment of God on earth and had unlimited power. The Incas were engaged in agriculture and cattle breeding (for example, they tamed the llama). They did not know how to produce iron, but they mined and skillfully processed gold and silver. Other crafts also developed - the production of fabrics, ceramics. The Incas did not have a written language, they used the quipu knot writing (threads of different colors with knots were tied to the cord, the combination of which had a certain meaning). The basis of the religious beliefs of the Incas was the cult of the Sun.
After the discoveries of Columbus and his followers, the conquest of America by Europeans began, primarily by the Spaniards and the Portuguese.
Who, after all, swam across the ocean before and discovered the New World?
What does the word "opened" mean? First of all, that someone discovered something unknown before him. Geographic discoveries have a slightly different meaning. After all, people have lived in America and Australia for a long time, as in Europe. And what European sailors finally crossed and reached distant shores, means only that for themselves, for their civilization, they discovered lands unknown to them.
Who was the first to swim across the ocean?
Meanwhile, in the Chinese chronicles there were records that as early as seven centuries ago, Chinese sailors visited the distant coast, which today is called California. And five centuries before the birth of the glorious Columbus, Scandinavian sailors, who already knew well, not only visited, but also settled on the shores of North America. Going in search of new lands, they discovered Iceland, then Greenland and finally the North American continent. True, Europeans did not know about Chinese voyages. And they forgot about the exploits of the Vikings. So Columbus with his officers and crews was really the first to open the way through the Sea of Darkness and reached the shores of the New World. The first ... but from Europeans.
In 1897, two Norwegians, George Garbo and Gabriel Samuelsen, living in New York, decided on an unheard-of record. They stated that at a simple fishing boat they will cross on oars. A crowd of reporters and onlookers gathered on the shore. They were escorted to death. Having loaded food, water and gear, two "abnormal suicides", as the newspapermen dubbed them, pushed off the pier and leaned on the oars ...
They are, in general, lucky. Throughout their journey, the Atlantic did not particularly show its absurd character. But in modern world sensations are short-lived. And when, almost two months later, a boat with two exhausted travelers was in the waters of Ireland and France, at the point of departure about them ...
Forgot. A stunning record did not work out in the Old World either. The names of daredevils did not adorn the pages of newspapers for long.
Otherwise, the Atlantic marathon of two Englishmen, John Ridgway and Chay Blythe, took place in 1966. Strictly speaking, it was almost a repetition of the previous, forgotten one. The crew, also consisting of two people, is about the same boat and a close route. But the Atlantic is the Atlantic. For ninety days, the brave champions battled storms. And when the shore of Europe rose before them from the water, glory awaited them!
After Ridgway and Blythe, there were many other daredevils who wished to repeat their record.
Following the British, the French also set off into the waters of the Atlantic. Six people alone and two by two struggled with heavy ocean waves. Some are more fortunate, some less so. Some who, having not reached the intended finish line, did not return from swimming. The national hero of the country in France was Gerard d'Aboville, who conquered not only the Atlantic, but also the Pacific Ocean.
Women could not give up the palm to men. And the Englishwoman Sylvia Cook was the first (albeit with an experienced companion John Fairfax) to cross.
For such an odyssey in different countries there were many daredevils with different destinies. People set sail in boats, on multi-oared "galleys", crossed the oceans on balloons. They even sailed on rafts - everyone remembers the ethnographic journeys of the international crew under the command of Thor Heyerdahl on the Kon-Tiki balsa raft, and then on the Ra ...
Although it sounds somewhat paradoxical, the discovery of the New World marked the appearance of the Old. Five centuries have passed since then, but old light is a concept that is still used today. What value was put into it before? What does it mean today?
Definition of the term
The Old World is that part of the land that was known to Europeans before the discovery of the American continent. The division was conditional and was based on the position of the lands relative to the sea. Merchants and travelers believed that there were three parts of the world: Europe, Asia, Africa. Europe lies in the north, Africa in the south, and Asia in the east. Subsequently, when the data on the geographical division of the continents became more accurate and complete, they found out that only Africa was a separate continent. However, the ingrained views were not so easily defeated, and all 3 continued to be traditionally mentioned separately.
Sometimes the name Afro-Eurasia is used to define the territorial array of the Old World. In fact, this is the largest continental mass - a supercontinent. It is home to approximately 85 percent of the world's population.
A period of time
When talking about the Old World, they often mean more than just a certain geographical location. These words carry information about a specific historical period, culture and the discoveries made then. We are talking about the Renaissance, when the medieval asceticism and theocentrism were replaced by the ideas of natural philosophy and experimental science.
The attitude of a person to the world around him is changing. Gradually, from the plaything of a whole host of gods, who have the power to dispose of human life according to their whims and whims, a person begins to feel like the master of his earthly home. He strives for new knowledge, which leads to a number of discoveries. Attempts are made to explain the structure of the surrounding world with the help of mechanics. Measuring devices are being improved, including navigational ones. It is already possible to trace the origin of such natural sciences as physics, chemistry, biology and astronomy, which come to replace alchemy and astrology.
The changes that took place then gradually paved the way for the expansion of the frontiers known world. They served as a prerequisite for the discovery of new lands. Courageous travelers went to uncharted lands, and their stories inspired even more daring and risky ventures.
The historical journey of Christopher Columbus
In August 1492, three well-equipped ships under the command of Christopher Columbus set sail from the harbor of Palos for India. It was a year, but the famous discoverer himself never knew that he had discovered a continent previously unknown to Europeans. He was sincerely sure that he had made all four of his expeditions to India.
The journey from the Old World to the new lands took three months. Unfortunately, it was neither cloudless, nor romantic, nor disinterested. The admiral hardly kept the subordinate sailors from rebellion on the first voyage, and the main driving force for the discovery of new territories was greed, the lust for power and vanity. These ancient vices, brought from the Old World, subsequently brought much suffering and grief to the inhabitants of the American continent and nearby islands.
He didn't get what he wanted either. Going on his first voyage, he prudently tried to protect himself and secure his future. He insisted on the conclusion of a formal agreement, according to which he received a title of nobility, the title of admiral and viceroy of the newly discovered lands, as well as a percentage of the income received from the above lands. And although the year of the discovery of America was supposed to be a ticket to a secure future for the discoverer, after a while Columbus fell out of favor and died in poverty without receiving the promise.
The New World Appears
Meanwhile, ties between Europe and the New World grew stronger. Trade was established, the development of lands lying in the depths of the mainland began, claims were formed various countries on these lands, the era of colonization began. And with the advent of the concept of "New World", the terminology began to use the stable expression "Old World". After all, before the discovery of America, the need for this simply did not arise.
Interestingly, the traditional division into the Old and New Worlds has remained unchanged. At the same time, Oceania and Antarctica, unknown during the Middle Ages, are not taken into account today.
For decades, the New World has been associated with the new and a better life. American continent was in which thousands of immigrants sought to get. But in their memory they kept their native places. The Old World is traditions, origins and roots. Prestigious education, exciting cultural travel, historical monuments- this is still associated today with European countries, with the countries of the Old World.
Wine lists replace geographical
If in the field of geography terminology, including the division of continents into the New and Old Worlds, is already a relatively rare phenomenon, then among winemakers such definitions are still in high esteem. There are stable expressions: "wine of the Old World" and "wine of the New World". The difference between these drinks is not only in the place where the grapes grow and the location of the winery. They are rooted in the same differences that are characteristic of the continents.
Thus, the wines of the Old World, mostly produced in France, Italy, Spain, Germany and Austria, are distinguished by their traditional taste and delicate elegant bouquet. And the wines of the New World, which are famous for Chile, Argentina, Australia and New Zealand, brighter, with obvious fruity notes, but somewhat losing in finesse.
Old World in the modern sense
Today, the term "Old World" is mainly applied to states located in Europe. In the vast majority of cases, neither Asia nor even Africa is taken into account. So, depending on the context, the expression "Old World" can include either as many as three parts of the world, or only European states.
The Portuguese navigator Bartolomeu Dias (1450-1500) was the first to point out the direct sea route from Europe to In 1488 he sailed to the southern edge of Africa. Two of his ships were caught in a violent storm. Strong wind drove the ships onto the rocks. But Diash managed to turn away from the coast and go out to the open sea. For several days he sailed east, but the African coast was not visible. Dias realized that he had circled Africa and went into Indian Ocean! The rock on which the ships almost crashed was the southern tip of Africa. Dias called it the Cape of Storms. But the king of Portugal ordered the rock to be renamed cape. Good Hope. Thanks to Bartolomeu Dias, an exit to the Indian Ocean was found, and a section of the previously unknown coast of Africa over 2.5 thousand km long was mapped.
The Great Journey of Christopher Columbus
The successes of the Portuguese aroused interest in sea expeditions in the neighboring one. The great cartographer and navigator (1451-1506) was the first to propose to reach the shores of India along the Atlantic Ocean by the western route. It took him 16 years to obtain permission and funds for this voyage.
The Spanish government gave him three caravels (the most large displacement 280 tons), and in August 1492 the expedition led by Columbus set sail, and in October of the same year reached Bahamas thus discovering America. However, Columbus never found out about this, and until the end of his days he was sure that the mainland he had discovered was India.
Columbus called the local inhabitants (natives) Indians. This name has survived to this day.
Columbus sailed four times to the shores of America, and each time new territories discovered by him appeared on the map. Subsequently, a stream of immigrants from Europe poured into it. Thus, Spanish settlements arose on the islands and coast of Central America.
In honor of Christopher Columbus, the country of Colombia in South America is named, a river in North America, administrative District in the United States, in which the capital city of Washington is located.
New World - Amerigo Land
The travels of the Florentine navigator Amerigo Vespucci (1454-1512) were important for understanding the essence of the discovery of Christopher Columbus. On commercial business, he several times went by sea to the shores of America (1499-1504). Comparing information from Spanish and Portuguese sailors with his data, Vespucci came to the conclusion that the lands discovered by Columbus were not Asia or India at all, but a new huge continent unknown to Europeans. Amerigo Vespucci proposed to call this part of the land the New World. Later it was renamed and named in honor of Vespucci "Land of Amerigo", or "America" (by the way, without the knowledge of Vespucci himself), and this name came into use. In 1538 it appeared on the Mercator map.
Vasco da Gama and the opening of the sea route to India
Upon learning of the discovery of "Western India" by Columbus, the Portuguese hurried to find an eastern route. As a result, the navigator Vasco da Gama (1469-1524) circled Africa on four ships and reached the shores of real India in 1498.
Look at the map on p. 50. Judging by the chosen route, the expedition was led by an intelligent, courageous and resolute person who knew navigation very well. The ships managed to avoid two main troubles for sailors: a strong Benguela current and a storm head wind. His ships turned east at the parallel of Cape Agulhas, and then followed north along east coast Africa to Mozambique. IN port city Mombasa (this is modern Kenya), the expedition members were warily met by dissatisfied eastern merchants, who sensed competitors in them. But no matter how much they were annoyed, they were unable to change anything.
The local ruler gave the travelers a good pilot, who in just 23 days led the Portuguese caravels to the Indian shores. Thus, Vasco da Gama's expedition safely crossed the Indian Ocean and reached the city of Calicut, a port in southern India. The Portuguese trade for the first time was not particularly successful. The local rich were distrustful of strangers and were in no hurry to take their goods. However, the Portuguese managed to buy spices, fabrics and jewelry from the local market - a little bit of everything. After that they went back to .
The way back was difficult: the daredevils had to fight off the pirates, the crew of the ships were mowed down by illness and bad luck. Of the 168 people, only 55 returned to their homeland. The rest died on the way. Nevertheless, the expedition fulfilled its mission: the sea route to India was found. Opening it to Europeans is one of greatest events in the development of geography, as well as in the history of world trade. From that moment until the construction of the Suez Canal (1869), the main trade of European countries with states and China did not go through the Mediterranean, but through Atlantic Ocean- past the Cape of Good Hope.
