Christopher Columbus and the Participation of the Jews in the Spanish and Portuguese Discoveries

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.