A General History and Collection of Voyages and Travels — Volume 02: Arranged in Systematic Order: Forming a Complete History of the Origin and Progress of Navigation, Discovery, and Commerce, by Sea and Land, from the Earliest Ages to the Present Time
A General History and Collection of Voyages and Travels — Volume 02: Arranged in Systematic Order: Forming a Complete History of the Origin and Progress of Navigation, Discovery, and Commerce, by Sea and Land, from the Earliest Ages to the Present Time
Before maps of the world existed, there were only stories. This volume collects the earliest English pilgrimages to the Holy Land alongside the audacious voyages that would reshape the globe. Beginning with journeys from 1097 to 1107, Kerr traces the footsteps of nobles like Edgar Aethling, who walked into the chaos of sieges to reach Jerusalem, and the mysterious Lady Gutuere, whose illness halted an entire Christian army. From these sacred paths through war-torn territories, the narrative sails westward to the Canary Islands and Madeira, tracking the Portuguese explorers who braved uncharted waters to plant flags on unknown shores. This is not dry chronology but a living record of humanity's refusal to accept the horizon as a boundary. For anyone curious about where our modern world of global trade and interconnected continents actually began, Volume 2 captures the moment when European explorers stopped listening to fears of sea monsters and started listening only to the call of discovery.
About A General History and Collection of Voyages and Travels — Volume 02: Arranged in Systematic Order: Forming a Complete History of the Origin and Progress of Navigation, Discovery, and Commerce, by Sea and Land, from the Earliest Ages to the Present Time
Chapter Summaries
- XX
- Chronicles English pilgrimages to the Holy Land between 1097-1107, including the journey of Gutuere, Edgar Aethling's travels, and military expeditions during the Crusades. These accounts demonstrate early English involvement in Mediterranean affairs.
- XXI
- Recounts the romantic tale of Robert Machin's accidental discovery of Madeira while fleeing England with his beloved Anna d'Arfet. Though presented as historical fact, this account is likely legendary.
- XXII
- Details the gradual European discovery and conquest of the Canary Islands, from early French expeditions to Portuguese and Spanish claims. Shows the complex international politics surrounding new territories.
Key Themes
- The Age of Discovery
- The systematic exploration of unknown seas and lands represents humanity's drive to expand knowledge and commerce. The Portuguese pioneered scientific navigation under Don Henry's patronage.
- Cultural Encounter and Conquest
- European contact with indigenous peoples resulted in dramatic cultural transformation, often through violent conquest. The Spanish conquests of the Aztec and Inca empires exemplify this destructive encounter.
- Religious Motivation
- Christian missionary zeal provided moral justification for exploration and conquest. The desire to spread Christianity and combat Islam drove many expeditions, particularly Portuguese efforts in Africa and Asia.
Characters
- Robert Kerr(major)
- The compiler and editor of this collection of voyages and travels. A Fellow of the Royal Society of Edinburgh who systematically arranged historical accounts of navigation and discovery.
- Don Henry (Prince of Portugal)(protagonist)
- The visionary Portuguese prince who initiated systematic maritime exploration. Duke of Viseo and Grand Master of the Order of Christ, he established a school of navigation and funded numerous voyages of discovery.
- Christopher Columbus(major)
- Genoese navigator who discovered the New World while seeking a western route to India. Initially rejected by Portugal, he found support from the Spanish crown.
- Vasco da Gama(major)
- Portuguese navigator who successfully discovered the sea route to India around the Cape of Good Hope. His voyages established Portuguese dominance in the Indian Ocean.
- Ambrose Contarini(major)
- Venetian ambassador who undertook a perilous journey to Persia to negotiate with Uzun-Hassan. His detailed account provides valuable insights into 15th-century diplomacy and travel.
- Uzun-Hassan(major)
- Persian ruler of the Turkman Ak-koyunla dynasty who controlled much of western Persia. Sought European alliances against the Ottoman Empire.
