and reshipped to Alexandria for the Mediterranean. Europe, in the interest of trade, called for an all-sea route to the Indies.

4. The work of "Prince Henry the Navigator"; Bartholomew Diaz.- Prince Henry of Portugal, commonly known as "Prince Henry the Navigator," undertook to find the required route. For forty years (1420-1460) his captains were exploring the seemingly endless western coast of Africa, endeavoring to discover a way round that mysterious continent into the waters of the Indian Ocean. Year after year the Portuguese ships crept down that coast, but found no passage to the East. The problem was unsolved when Henry died, but nearly thirty years later success was practically gained. Bartholomew Diaz (1487) succeeded in doubling the formidable Cape of Storms. Then it was seen that at last the way to the Indies was almost as good as opened; for that reason the Cape of Storms received the auspicious name of the Cape of Good Hope. But the length of the new route was a serious drawback, since every bale of goods shipped from the East would have to make a voyage of at least twelve thousand miles in order to reach the European market. The question arose, might it not be possible to find a better way?

5. Columbus proposes a new and shorter route to the Indies. Christopher Columbus, a native of Genoa, was ready to answer that question. He was an experienced mariner, and believed that he could discover a far shorter and more direct all-water route to the much-coveted Indies. The leading geographers of that day regarded the earth as a globe. Columbus held the same idea, but he considered the globe to be much smaller than it actually is. It embraced, as he supposed, but one ocean - the Atlantic-which surrounded the three continents of Europe, Asia, and Africa. These three continents, with their outlying islands, he believed constituted all the land there was. He imagined that the Indies faced Europe at a distance of less than four thousand miles. His plan for reaching the far East was very simple; he would

THE WORLD AS KNOWN SHORTLY BEFORE AND SHORTLY AFTER THE SAILING OF COLUMBUS.

Light arrows show voyages made up to 1492; (light track, Da Gama's voyage, 1497). Dark arrows, voyages of Columbus and Cabot.

White crosses, countries of which something was known before 1492.

White area, including western coast of Africa, the world as known shortly before the sailing of Columbus.

make for the Canaries, and then sail nearly due west, until he touched the coast of Asia. Such a route would have an immense advantage over the circuitous and dangerous voyage around Africa, for it would be almost a straight line, and would save something like eight thousand miles.

6. Columbus fits out vessels for the voyage; objects of the undertaking. After years of vain solicitation, Columbus succeeded in getting the assistance of Ferdinand and Isabella of Spain. He fitted out three small vessels for the voyage; of this little fleet he was to be admiral. To guide him on his course he had the compass, an improved astrolabe, or instrument for determining the position of a ship at sea by taking observations of the sun and stars, and his carefully drawn charts.10 In this great and original undertaking Columbus was not seeking to find new lands, but a new way to reach old lands. His three chief objects were: 1. To open direct trade with the Indies. 2. To carry the Catholic faith to the nations of the far East. 3. To gain for himself fame and fortune."

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7. Columbus sails; the voyage; he discovers land and returns to Spain. - Columbus sailed from Palos, Spain, August 3, 1492. He made directly for the Canary Islands 12 which he supposed to be in a line with Japan. The route to those islands was well known. He reached them August 12, and stopped more than three weeks to refit his vessels. On September 6 he set out on his ever memorable voyage across the "Sea of Darkness." He believed himself, as he said, “an agent chosen by Heaven to accomplish a grand design.' Day after day passed, but no land was sighted, and the sailors, losing heart, cried out to Columbus: "Are there no graves in Spain, that you should bring us here to perish ? ” 14 They were terrified at the variation of the compass, and still later, becoming desperate, they threatened to turn the ship back; but Columbus compelled them to keep on their way, and on October 12, land was sighted. It was the low, sandy shore of a small island.16 Here he planted the royal standard of Spain,

or the Holy Redeemer

named the island San Salvador and took possession of it for Ferdinand and Isabella. The naked natives crowded round the Spaniards shouting "Come and see the men who have come from heaven." Going south Columbus discovered Cuba, which he believed to be a part of the mainland of Asia. Having left a garrison to hold a small fort on the coast of San Domingo or Hayti, he set sail for Spain (January, 1493). He was certain that he had found the Indies, and as he had reached them by sailing west, they received the name of the West Indies. For a like reason he called the natives of these islands Indians.

8. Letter of Columbus; arrival in Spain; reception at court; the Pope divides the earth.. Forced to put into Lisbon, Columbus there wrote to the royal treasurer of Spain describing his discoveries." In his letter he declared that he had "accomplished a task to which the power of mortal man had never before attained." At Palos all the people, forming a solemn procession, came out to receive him, and when he arrived at the royal court at Barcelona the King and Queen stood up to give him welcome.18

News of the wonderful discovery was at once sent to the Pope. He received the messenger with joy. As "lord of

the world" he proceeded to divide the newly discovered heathen lands. between Spain and Portugal, the two great exploring powers. 19 Taking a map of the globe, he drew a line from pole to pole a hundred leagues west of the Azores and of the Cape Verd Islands.20 All lands found west of that line, not belonging to some Christian prince, he granted to Spain; it he recognized as belonging to

all similar lands east of Portugal. Thus by a stroke of the pen through a map of the