The voyage of Christopher Columbus in 1492 is one of the most significant journeys ever made by man. It led directly to the colonization of America by Europeans, something that has had an enormous impact on the modern world. But who was Columbus? How did a relatively poor Genoese seaman persuade the monarchs of Spain, one of Europe's mightiest nations, to back a scheme based on a totally inaccurate assessment of the size of the world? How did Columbus, who was not a trained navigator, manage to make his way across the ...
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The voyage of Christopher Columbus in 1492 is one of the most significant journeys ever made by man. It led directly to the colonization of America by Europeans, something that has had an enormous impact on the modern world. But who was Columbus? How did a relatively poor Genoese seaman persuade the monarchs of Spain, one of Europe's mightiest nations, to back a scheme based on a totally inaccurate assessment of the size of the world? How did Columbus, who was not a trained navigator, manage to make his way across the Atlantic Ocean and return safely to Spain? Where did he make his first landfall in the New World? To answer these questions it was necessary to have an all-round understanding of 15th-century navigation. The theory was understood, but no one had really tested the principles for hundreds of years. Without practical evidence it was impossible fully to judge the ability of Columbus as a navigator and seaman. The distinguished navigator, Robin Knox-Johnston, therefore decided to follow his course. An astrolabe replaced the sextant and even the compass on his boat "Suhaili" had its corrector magnets removed before the voyage started. This is an account of the voyage. It offers insights into the kind of ocean crossing that Columbus experienced. As the journey progressed, the sea began to yield some of its secrets, the Sargasso weed revealed some of its myriad of colours, birds were seen on uncharted flight paths and a curious alteration in the sea swell caused by islands out of sight over the horizon was noticed. Using an astrolabe and a primitive method of judging speed and ocean currents, the author gives an indication of where Columbus may have landed in the New World. The return to Europe was a near-disaster. Sailing into the Atlantic in November, "Suhaili" ran into an appalling storm, during which she was thrown over four times, losing her masts in the process. Although disabled, the boat continued its passage across 1600 miles of stormy ocean under a makeshift jury rig.
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Seller's Description:
Fine in Fine jacket. Dustwrapper, pp.208, colour and bw ills. The author recreates the journey of Columbus attempting to cross the Atlantic using only navigational aids available in 1492, and discover where he may have made landfall in the New World. Fine in wrapper Size: 8vo-over 7¾"-9¾" tall.
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Seller's Description:
Very Good. Very Good Jacket. Size: 19 to 25 cm tall, Octavo, (8vo); Posted within 1 working day. 1st class tracked post to the UK, Airmail tracked worldwide. Robust recyclable packaging.
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Seller's Description:
Very Good. 1st edition. 8vo, 208 pages, illustrated. Former library copy, very good condition hardback, usual stamps on the inside, in very good condition sleeved dust jacket.39614.
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Seller's Description:
Very good in very good dust jacket. First Edition. A hardback First Edition in Very Good condition, in a similar dustjacket. This book is in stock now, in our UK premises. Photos of our books are available on request (the pictures you see on Alibris are NOT our own).
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Very good. All orders are dispatched within 1 working day from our UK warehouse. Established in 2004, we are dedicated to recycling unwanted books on behalf of a number of UK charities who benefit from added revenue through the sale of their books plus huge savings in waste disposal. No quibble refund if not completely satisfied.
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Very good. Simply Brit – welcome to our online used book store, where affordability meets great quality. Dive into a world of captivating reads without breaking the bank. We take pride in offering a wide selection of used books, from classics to hidden gems, ensuring there's something for every literary palate. All orders are shipped within 24 hours and our lightning fast-delivery within 48 hours coupled with our prompt customer service ensures a smooth journey from ordering to delivery. Discover the joy of reading with us, your trusted source for affordable books that do not compromise on quality.
