The Project Gutenberg EBook of The Life of Columbus, by Arthur

293 Pages·2005·0.72 MB·English

The Project Gutenberg EBook of The Life of Columbus, by Arthur Helps
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Title: The Life of Columbus
Author: Arthur Helps
Release Date: March 12, 2005 [EBook #15336]
Language: English
Character set encoding: ASCII
*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE LIFE OF COLUMBUS ***
Produced by Don Kostuch
Transcribers Notes:
Several non-English proper names have been rendered
in ASCI, omitting the proper accents.
The following glossary provides references and
definitions of unfamiliar (to me) terms and names.
Adelantado
Governor or commander. Refers to Don Bartholomew
Columbus (brother of Christopher) in this volume.
Angelic Doctor:
Thomas Aquinas
Arroba
In Spanish-speaking countries, about 25 pounds.
In Portuguese-speaking countries, about 32 pounds.
Aught
Anything whatever.
Bartholomew Columbus
Brother of Christopher Columbus.
Cacique
Indian chief in the Spanish West Indies.
Ca da Mosto or Cadamosto
Alvise Ca' da Mosto, (1432-1488) Venetian explorer
and trader who wrote early accounts of western Africa.
Caonabo
Cacique (chief) who destroyed the first garrison at La
Navidad.
Cave of Adullam
About 13 miles west of Bethlehem where David
gathered together "every one that was in distress, and
every one that was in debt, and every one that was
discontented" (1 Sam. 22:2).
Cipango
Japan.
Compeer
Person of equal status; a peer.
Contumely
Contempt arising from arrogance; insolence.
Cosmography
Study of the universe, including geography and
astronomy.
Diego Columbus
Son of Columbus and Donna Felipa
Don Diego Columbus
Brother of Columbus
Donna Felipa Munnis Perestrelo
Wife of Christopher Columbus. Daughter of the first
governor of Porto Santo. Only issue was Diego.
Dragon's blood
Thick red liquid from a palm (Daemonorops draco) in
tropical Asia; formerly used in varnishes and lacquers.
Encomienda
A grant entitling Spaniards to land plus the Native American
inhabitants of that land. The land and its inhabitants.
Fernando Columbus
Son of Christopher Columbus and Beatrice.
Friesland
Located in Europe on the North Sea between the Scheldt and
Weser rivers. Now a province of the northern Netherlands.
Galliot
Light, swift galley.
Gyve
Shackle for the leg.
Las Casas
Bartlome de las Casas is the chief source of information
about the islands after Columbus arrived. Other
historians overlooked the Indian slave trade, begun by
Columbus; Las Casas denounced it as "among the most
unpardonable offenses ever committed against God and
mankind."
Machiavelli: Nicolo Machiavelli (1469-1527)
Political philosopher, author of The Prince, that focuses
on problems of a monarch and the foundation of
political authority and how to retain power, rather than
pursue ideals.
Maravedis
Spanish currency. One million Maravedis ( one cuentos)
in 1490 is equivalent to about £308 in 1860, or US$
48,000 in 2005.
Martyr, Peter
Peter Martyr d'Anghera wrote early accounts of
Columbus, Ojeda, Cortes, and other Spanish explorers.
An Italian humanist from Florence.
Served as tutor in the Spanish court and had direct
access to Columbus.
Author of De Orbe Novo describing the first European
contacts with native Americans.
Moors
Arabs
Provence
Province of southeast France bordering on the
Mediterranean.
Pinzon, Martin Alonzo
Chief shipowner of Palos. Accompanied Columbus as
a captain.
Paria, Gulf of
Between Trinidad and Venezuela.
Repartimiento
Spanish, from repartir, to divide.
Distribution of slaves or assessment of taxes.
Tagus
River on the Iberian Peninsula flowing westward
through central Portugal into the Atlantic.
Ultima Thule
Ancient name for northern-most region of the habitable
world.
End of Transcribers Notes

The Life of Columbus
GEORGE BELL & SONS,
LONDON: YORK STREET, COVENT GARDEN
NEW YORK: 66, FIFTH AVENUE, AND
BOMBAY: 53, ESPLANADE ROAD
CAMBRIDGE: DEIGHTON, BELL & CO.
THE LIFE OF
COLUMBUS
CHIEFLY BY
SIR ARTHUR HELPS K.C.B.
AUTHOR OF "THE SPANISH CONQUEST IN AMERICA"
"FRIENDS IN COUNCIL" ETC.
LONDON
GEORGE BELL AND SONS
1897