History of the United States of America, Vol. 1 of 6: From the Discovery of the Continent (Classic Reprint)

CHAPTER I. EARLY VOYAGES. FRENCH SETl'LEMENTS IN AMERICA. THE enterprise of Columbus, the most memorable maritime enterprise in the history of the world, formed between Europe and America the communication which will never cease. Nearly three centuries before tlle Christian era, Aristotle, following the lessons of the Pythagoreans, had taught that the earth is a sphere, and that the water which bounds Europe on the west washes the eastern shores of Asia. Instructed by him, the Spaniard Seneca believed that a ship, with a fair wind, could sail from Spain to the Indies in a few days. The opinion was revived in the middle ages by A verroes, the Arab commentator of Aristotle. Science and observation assisted to confirm it; and poets of ancient and of more recent times had foretold that empires beyond the ocean would one day be revealed to the daring navigator. The genial country of Dante and Buonarotti ga.ve birth to Christopher Columbus, by whom these lessons were so re

Table of Contents

CONTENTS OF THE FIRST VOLUME; THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA AS COLONIES; PART I; THE ENGLISH PEOPLE FOUND A NATION IN AMERICA; OHAPTER I; EARLY VOYAGES FRENOH SETTLEMENTS IN AHEBIOA; PA9B; Columbus, taught by Aristotle, discovers the New World 7; John Cabot discovers the western continent for England 10; Second and third voyages of Columbus 11; Sebastian Cabot and Vasco da Gama sail west and east 11; Death of Columbus Cabot enters the service of Spain 18; Portuguese voyage First voyages of the French • U; James Cartier discovers and ascends the St Lawrence lIS; Oartier at Quebec Voyage of Roberval 17; De III Roche attempts colonization Samuel Ohamplain at Quebec 18; A French colony at Port Royal, now Annapolis 19; Anival of Jesuit priests • 20; Of Franciscans Last years of Champlain • 21; OHAPTER IL; THB SPANIARDS IN FLORIDA AND ON