Unveiling the Rediscovered Islands 1

Image: At the foothills of Pico del Teide

Courtesy: https://www.lonelyplanet.com/spain/attractions/pico-del-teide/a/poi-sig/444919/360727

I am hopeful you are well and sound. My best advice for those who must spend a lot of time time in isolation is to engage in your favorite activities. In my case, it is research in matters that interest me.

As you know, I have launched new research, which focuses on the European discovery of the maritime route to the Indies. I am working on Part I of the study titled "The Little Age of Discovery: The Conquest of the Western Sea". Here I tell the story of the European ventures in the eastern Atlantic throughout the fourteenth century. 

The first two chapters are complete. Chapter 1, How Wide Spans the Ocean Sea, based on the report of Herodotus, defies the idea that Africa had been circumnavigated in antiquity. It also corrects the impression that Columbus was a lone wolf obsessed with a crazy idea to find the western maritime route to the Far East. This section is available on my site 

https://www.academia.edu/41214506/How_Wide_Spans_the_Ocean_Sea 

The Russian version was published in a literary magazine. 

Chapter 2, Beyond the Pillars of Hercules, explains why the opening of the bottleneck of the Gibraltar Strait ushered in a new age of discovery. This part is available 

https://www.academia.edu/42166248/Beyond_the_Pillars_of_Hercules

The Russian version is to be published until mid-May 2020. 

Meanwhile, I am writing Chapter 3 about the discovery, conquest, and colonization of the Canary Islands. The tragic story of the Guanches, the native residents, is unfolding on the backdrop of European expansion. 

 

Image: The Guanches depicted in a European late-sixteenth century book

Courtesy: 

https://ieslilapatrimoniojinamar.wordpress.com/canarias-prehispanica/

How Wide Spans the Ocean Sea

I decided to upload my fresh research from the third project: the European quest for the maritime route to India in the XVth century. See my site https://independent.academia.edu/BaizermanMichael/Papers

The article is titled "How Wide Spans the Ocean Sea". 

Herodotus recorded several naval accounts: however, are they trustworthy and, if positive, to what extent? The Phoenician ship replica attests to the seaworthiness of their vessels rather than to the details of the epic 2700-year-old voyage across Africa. For most intellectuals of the European Middle Ages, the ocean was a dangerous place. Only toward the close of the fifteenth century, some mapmakers endeavored to visualize the 'latitudinal' route connecting the remote West with the Far East. Columbus was a diehard prisoner of his ambition; he could not help manipulating his figures and engaged in wishful thinking to make his dream come true.

The research includes two parts: the first one reviews the nautical accounts of Herodotus and Hanno the Navigator, while the second one observes the scientific platform supporting Columbus' enterprise to the Indies. 

 

Image: The Phoenician ship replica

 Courtesy:

https://josephsmithfoundation.org/lehis-voyage-demonstrated-phoenicia-expedition/

How Wide Spans the Ocean Sea

Courtesy: John Carlton 

https://www.quora.com/Why-don%E2%80%99t-modern-civilian-cargo-ships-also-use-sails-in-addition-to-engine-power-to-reduce-fuel-consumption 

I am remodeling my old article titled "How Wide Spans the Ocean Sea".  It consists of two parts. The first section covers maritime explorations carried out during the VI and V centuries BCE; it was so vividly described by Herodotus. We refer to the Phoenician expedition which is reported to have circumnavigated Africa, as well as the exploits of Sataspes, Scylax of Caryanda, and Hanno the Navigator. 

  

The other segment collects the views of classical and medieval geographers concerning the prospect of crossing the Atlantic Ocean that was believed to separate Spain (or, in another version, Marocco) from China and Japan.  These scholars discuss such issues as the existence of a landmass in between or an unbroken expanse of the deep blue. Among them, we find Aristotle, Eratosthenes, Posidonius, Strabo, Seneca, Augustine, as well as Pierre d'Ailly, Henricus Martellus, Martin Behaim, and Christopher Columbus. 

This paper was originally part of my second book, The Enchanting Encounter with the East. However, since the keynote of this volume is the overland communication, I decided to take out this extract. It lay idle while I was investigating the initial topics of my third project, the search for the maritime access to India from Europe. A not long time ago, I decided to insert this extract. 

I can't publish it now as I need to do another research which entails unavoidable corrections. Hopefully, I will upload it soon.

Meanwhile, my site https://independent.academia.edu/BaizermanMichael has attracted over five hundred readers; the good news obliges me to start writing a query letter for my second book. 

This blog has been honored by more than 2800 visits. Special thanks to my American and Ukrainian readers. I would be thankful for any comments.