In a couple of hundred pages Jacobs traces how the map was filled in, grouping the great voyages of 1492 to 1521 around one motive: the hunt for the Spice Islands to season Europe’s salt meat and Lenten fish. Columbus, the Portuguese navigators and Magellan sit within a longer story, with a chronological appendix of explorations.
A compact, lively overview from the folklorist known for English Fairy Tales. Download the free EPUB.