Other editions of book Christopher Columbus and the Participation of the Jews in the Spanish and Portuguese Discoveries - Scholar's Choice Edition

Meyer Kayserling (1829-1905) was a leading Jewish scholar who wrote Christopher Columbus and the Participation of the Jews in the Spanish and Portuguese Discoveries by request of the Spanish government in honor of the 400th anniversary of the discovery of America. An assortment of fascinating individuals feature in the book, including the astronomer Abraham Zacuto and the jurist Luis de Santangel. Christopher Columbus himself is thought to be of Jewish descent, and many Jews provided support for Columbus' voyages in the fields of technology, funding, and personnel. The astrolabe, compass, quadrant, map, and other navigational instruments were closely tied to the efforts of Jewish scientists, while the funds for the voyages were often provided by Jewish and Marrano sponsors.

“An interesting contribution to the Columbian literature of the period.” - The Book Buyer: A Monthly Review of American and Foreign Literature “Will be new territory to most readers ... the author has fulfilled his hope of furnishing a ‘contribution to the history of the discovery of America and to the history of the Jews.’” - The Review of Reviews “A book of high literary and historical value ... written in an interesting style.” - The Literary World The curious relationship which Columbus' discovery has with the Jews in Portugal and Spain, is the subject of Dr. Meyer Kayserling’s 1894 book “Christopher Columbus and the Participation of the Jews in the Spanish and Portuguese Discoveries.” Dr. Kayserling's book fairly teems with new discoveries of facts in the history of the Jews of Spain and Portugal and their participation in the work of the discoverers of those nations. The book, under consideration is admirably translated by Professor Charles Gross (1857-1909) of Harvard. As for the characteristics of the work itself, it would be presumptuous to praise Dr. Kayserling's writings. His profound scholarship, historical acumen, conscientious love of accuracy and truth, and vigorous style, are well known to all students of Jewish literature. Meyer Kayserling (1829 – 1905) was a rabbi and historian, who studied the history and literature of the Jews of the Iberian Peninsula. As Kayserling notes there is some evidence that Columbus himself was of Spanish-Jewish origins; Kayserling gives a full review of this evidence. The forced contributions of the Jews, historians have made note of before this, but Dr. Kayserling, who has carefully studied the records in Spain, produces much new evidence relating to individual Jews, who by their teachings or personal exertions were of singular help to Columbus. The work is distinguished for its impartiality. Kayserling writes: "FEW mortals have been honored by posterity as much as Christopher Columbus. The question whether the Jews assisted in these discoveries has already heretofore been propounded, but it has never before been carefully investigated. Entrusted with this honorable but difficult mission, I determined to visit Spain in order to complete my collection of material by exploring the Spanish archives and libraries. Such documents as I found there, I transcribed. They have been used with care in the text. I trust that I have succeeded in making a contribution to the history of the discovery of America and to the history of the Jews, to whom America has been a land of refuge, a land of freedom and of equality." The present work forms a valuable addition to Jewish history, to Spanish history, and to the history of American discovery, and no library devoted to either of these subjects can afford to be without it.

Meyer Kayserling (1829 – 1905) was a rabbi and historian, who studied the history and literature of the Jews of the Iberian Peninsula.In 1894 a translation of Kayserling's book on Christopher Columbus and Spanish Jews was published--- "Christopher Columbus and the Participation of the Jews in the Spanish and Portuguese Discoveries" (translated by Charles Gross [1857-1909]).The curious relationship which Columbus' discovery has with the Jews in Portugal and Spain, is the subject of this book. As Kayserling notes there is some evidence that Columbus himself was of Spanish-Jewish origins; Kayseling gives a full review of this evidence. The forced contributions of the Jews, historians have made note of before this, but Dr. Kayserling, who has carefully studied the records in Spain, produces much new evidence relating to individual Jews, who by their teachings or personal exertions were of singular help to Columbus. The work is distinguished for its impartiality.Kayserling writes: "FEW mortals have been honored by posterity as much as Christopher Columbus. The question whether the Jews assisted in these discoveries has already heretofore been propounded, but it has never before been carefully investigated. Entrusted with this honorable but difficult mission, I determined to visit Spain in order to complete my collection of material by exploring the Spanish archives and libraries. Such documents as I found there, I transcribed. They have been used with care in the text. I trust that I have succeeded in making a contribution to the history of the discovery of America and to the history of the Jews, to whom America has been a land of refuge, a land of freedom and of equality."ContentsCHAPTER I.THE EARLIEST PARTICIPATION OF THE JEWS IN THE NAVAL AFFAIRS OF SPAIN AND PORTUGAL—JEHUDA CRESQUES, OR JAIME RIBES—JoAo II. AND HIS ASTRONOMICAL JUNTA.CHAPTER II.COLUMBUS IN LISBON, AND HIS RELATIONS TO THE JEWS OF THAT CITY—His SCIENTIFIC EQUIPMENT — His NEGOTIATIONS WITH KING JOAO—JOSEPH VECINHO—THE PORTUGUESE EXPEDITION TO INDIA; ABRAHAM OF BEJA AND JOSEPH ZAPATEIRO—COLUMBUS IN SPAIN.CHAPTER III.COLUMBUS IN SPAIN—POLITICAL CONDITION OF ARAGON AND CASTILE—FERDINAND AND ISABELLA—ABRAHAM SENIOR— STATUS AND POLITICAL INFLUENCE OF JEWS AND MARRANOS —THE INQUISITION AND ITS VICTIMS.CHAPTER IV.COLUMBUS'S FIRST APPEARANCE AT THE SPANISH COURT—THE JUNTA OF CORDOVA AND THE CONFERENCE AT SALAMANCA —ABRAHAM ZACUTO—ISAAC ABRAVANEL.CHAPTER V.Columbus In Santa Fe—The Fall Of Granada—The Position OF THE SANTANGELS; THEIR PERSECUTION BY THE Inquisition—Luis De Santangel's Interposition In Favor Of Columbus—The Queen's Jewels, And Santangel's Loan For The Equipment Of The Expedition.CHAPTER VI.EXPULSION OF THE JEWS FROM SPAIN—AGREEMENT OF SANTA Fé—EXODUS OF THE JEWS—COLUMBUS'S PREPARATIONS AND DEPARTURE—PARTICIPATION OF THE JEWS IN THE EXPEDITION—GUANAHANI—LUIS DE TORRES—INDIANS AND ISRAELITES.CHAPTER VII.COLUMBUS'S RETURN—His LETTERS TO SANTANGEL AND SANCHEZ—PREPARATIONS FOR THE SECOND EXPEDITION; THE MONEY OF THE JEWS UTILIZED—THE SECOND VOYAGE— PORTUGUESE DISCOVERIES—VASCO DA GAMA AND ABRAHAM ZACUTO—GASPAR DA GAMA—FRANCISCO D'ALBUQUERQUE AND HUCEFE, OR ALEXANDER D'ATAYDE.CHAPTER VIII.COLUMBUS'S DOWNFALL—ROYAL FAVORS GRANTED TO LUIS DE SANTANGEL—DEATH OF SANTANGEL AND OF GABRIEL SANCHEZ; THEIR DESCENDANTS — EARLIEST SETTLEMENTS OF MARRANOS IN ESPANOLA AND IN THE PORTUGUESE COLONIES—THE INQUISITION AND ITS VICTIMS IN THE COLONIES.

Few mortals have been honored by posterity as much as Christopher Columbus, though during his life-time the discoverer of a New World received little credit for his achievements. Monuments of Columbus have been erected in Genoa, proud to call him her son; in Barcelona, where after his first voyage to America the Spanish sovereigns received him with great rejoicing and with princely honors; in Valladolid, where he died; in Seville, Madrid, Huelva, New York, San Domingo, and in many other cities of I taly, Spain, and A merica. His praises have been sung in odes and ballads, and his name has been glorified by dramatist and novelist. And in our day, four hundred years after the discovery of A merica, his achievements have been most worthily commemorated by the academies and learned societies of all nations. To honor his name Spain has just held the great Exposicidn Historico-E uropea in Madrid ;and America has just closed the Chicago Exhibition, which attracted millions of visitors. The Church has canonized him.(Typographical errors above are due to OCR software and don't occur in the book.)About the Publisher Forgotten Books is a publisher of historical writings, such as: Philosophy, Classics, Science, Religion, History, Folklore and Mythology.Forgotten Books' Classic Reprint Series utilizes the latest technology to regenerate facsimiles of historically important writings. Careful attention has been made to accurately preserve the original format of each page whilst digitally enhancing the aged text. Read books online for free at

This work has been selected by scholars as being culturally important, and is part of the knowledge base of civilization as we know it. This work was reproduced from the original artifact, and remains as true to the original work as possible. Therefore, you will see the original copyright references, library stamps (as most of these works have been housed in our most important libraries around the world), and other notations in the work. This work is in the public domain in the United States of America, and possibly other nations. Within the United States, you may freely copy and distribute this work, as no entity (individual or corporate) has a copyright on the body of the work.As a reproduction of a historical artifact, this work may contain missing or blurred pages, poor pictures, errant marks, etc. Scholars believe, and we concur, that this work is important enough to be preserved, reproduced, and made generally available to the public. We appreciate your support of the preservation process, and thank you for being an important part of keeping this knowledge alive and relevant.

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can usually download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1894 edition. Excerpt: ... XVII. The Jews And Columbus's Second Voyage. [This and the four preceding documents, App. XIII.-XVI., are taken from Arch, de Indias P" I-I-I§.; Documentos inéditos de Indias, XXI. 418 sa.] El Rey E La Reyna. Fern. Nunez Coronel. Nos habernos sabidos y parece por cierta pesquisa, que al tiempo que por nuestro mandado salieron de nuestros Reynos los judíos, quedaron en vuestro poder fasta XI marcos de plata de Abraham Aven Rubi, los quales pertenecen á nos, por haber sacado de moneda y cosas vedades de nuestros Reynos el dicho Abraham Aven Rubi: por ende Nos vos mandamos que dedes é entreguedes los dichos XI marcos de plata á Bernaldino de Lerma, contino de n" casa, al qual mandamos que los reciba á la cibdad de Sevilla á Francisco Pinelo, para paguar los gastos del Armada que mandamos facer á las Indias. De Barcelona á XXIII de Mayo de XCIII años. Yo el Rey. Yo la Reyna. XVIII. Queen Juana And The Marranos Of Española (1511). [Arch, de Indias, lib. I, fol. 120; Coleccion de Documentos inéditos. Seg. seria (Madrid, 1890), V. 307 sf.] D. Juana por las gracias de Dios Reyna de Castilla, de Leon . . . delas Yndias yslas e tierra firme del mar oceano . . . Por quanto yo he seydo ynformado que en la ysla española y las otras yslas yndias e tierra firme del mar oceano sean pasado se pasan destas partes muchos yjos e nyetosde quemados a causa deles estar proydido e de begado por leyes e prematicas destos Reynos que no puedan tener ny usar nyngunos oficios Reales ny publicos por los poder aver y usar alia deziendo no estenderse en esas dichas yslas e tierra firme la dicha prematica e provycion e vedamiento, e porque muy merced e voluntad es por lo que a mi toca et atañe...

This work has been selected by scholars as being culturally important, and is part of the knowledge base of civilization as we know it. This work was reproduced from the original artifact, and remains as true to the original work as possible. Therefore, you will see the original copyright references, library stamps (as most of these works have been housed in our most important libraries around the world), and other notations in the work.This work is in the public domain in the United States of America, and possibly other nations. Within the United States, you may freely copy and distribute this work, as no entity (individual or corporate) has a copyright on the body of the work.As a reproduction of a historical artifact, this work may contain missing or blurred pages, poor pictures, errant marks, etc. Scholars believe, and we concur, that this work is important enough to be preserved, reproduced, and made generally available to the public. We appreciate your support of the preservation process, and thank you for being an important part of keeping this knowledge alive and relevant.

This work has been selected by scholars as being culturally important and is part of the knowledge base of civilization as we know it.This work is in the public domain in the United States of America, and possibly other nations. Within the United States, you may freely copy and distribute this work, as no entity (individual or corporate) has a copyright on the body of the work.Scholars believe, and we concur, that this work is important enough to be preserved, reproduced, and made generally available to the public. To ensure a quality reading experience, this work has been proofread and republished using a format that seamlessly blends the original graphical elements with text in an easy-to-read typeface.We appreciate your support of the preservation process, and thank you for being an important part of keeping this knowledge alive and relevant.

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