The morning times., 1895-10-25
Prof. Fiske. Of Harvard, Lectures
j Hlllsrs Of Hisl'ry
HOW WE WERE DISCOVERED
Interesting Review of the Efforts of
MediaevaI Europe to Find the West
ern Passage-Existence OF n Con-
tinent Between Europe and the Land
of Spices, the Dream of Ancieuts.

ui>So'ey oi AuierlCd. 1 ne audience
was small In numbers, but large in intelli-
gence and appreciation. 1t filled the
lecture hall OF the institute and overflowed
INTO the recepsioI-room and central COR
ridor or the house. A number of Washing
toniaiis. distinguished in the world OF
thought, We're present.
The wall IN rear of the lecture platform
was hung with maps illustrating the con-
cept!ons OF the world held by various
Seogfaphers of the past. Prof. Fiske
referred TO these throughout his discourse.
with tie aid OF a teachers cue. Prof.
Fisl'e is big man in mind and body. lie
is very portiy, Eas ruddy complexion,
ciose-Gopped gray hair, with threat
OF badness at the crown, gray whiskers
and mustache and wears gold spcctacles.
Hetalks in aconyersationalstyie, and nearly
always keeps one hand behind him. He
keeps his black Prince Albert coat but
toned.
NEW LIGHT ON AN OLD SUBJECT.
His theme was an old one. but he threw
Oh Ii many new lights which made his
subject fresa and attractive. He detailed
TIE reasons for the strong desire in the
fifteenth century to reach the Indies 10y
Lac water route; showed why Columbus was
sbabbiiy treated by the Spanish monarchy,
and made clear how the Western World
Na'.iN " DI tdsIU GAtSA fto-
pucci.
In the thirteenth century Europe, highly
civilized Europe, was ignorant not only Of
America, hut also of the southern herni-
sphere. 1t was mainly for this reason that
our continent became 30 strangely confused
In the minds OF great men OF that day
with Asia. In the consideration OF this
matter ii was difficult 20 keep the view OF
the modern map, on which We so often
look, out OF our minds eye. Every school
book tells that America was discovered
while western passage to India was be-
ing searched for
From time immcmorial trade had been
maintained between Europe and the Orient
over three Traditional routes. Ore of these
was by way of the Black Sea and the river
Oxns. This route had made the glory OF
Byzantium. The second route, through
Syria and Persia. had made the greatness
of Palmyra Antioch a nd Babylon. and the
third route, through Egypt and the Red
Sea, had made the gra ndeur OF Alexandria.
After recUanting number of the luxu-
ries of the East. which were charged for
the wines. glassware and linens of Europe.
Prof. Fiskc, said that among the Eastern
articles or common use were dyewoutis or
Brazil woods, as they We're then called.
Woods of this character being early fnu nd
in South America, gave their name to the
majestic repdblic 10 the south. II was the
works or Clacdius Ptoiemy, the geugrap phcr.
which had exercised the greatest Influence
over the European mind.
CRUsADEs, OPENED THE EAST.
1t vas not until the period OF the cru
sades that Europe became anywise init
mate with the East. Frior To that time
the European merchants had accompa MED
their wares only so far as the gates or the
East. Following the last crusade came
-
rise OF the Mogul empire. 1t was not long
after that the worAs of Marco Polo ex-
cited general interest in the hitherto IN
Travelled lands. This writer had in
formed Europe that China was bounded by
an ocean, and this gave rise to much
speculation as to whether that rich Land
could not be reached by sailing west.
Roger Bacon was one OF The foremost
SPECTATORS along this line. He believed
in the spherical figure of the earth. Most
OF the thinkers of Europe at that time
did. They read Aristotle, and that great
Greek had demonstrated this theory. 1t
was Il grave mistake to say that the Chris
tian church as Il whole believed in the
theory that the earth was nat In the thir-
teenth and fourteenth centuries. In the
thirteenth century there was no intense pc
cuniary motive for reaching the East by
sailing to the West. But in the next the
growth of the Turkish power.
As soon as Constantinople had been
taken, the trade OF Genoa declined, and
the Venetian route through Syria was
threatened. In times of peace the Turks
were Ievying tariffs, and in times of war
they were slaughtering or irnprisoning the
NEW ROUTE had TO BE FOUND.
Thus 1t became a serious matter to find
another route TO the Land OF Sr.;es- The
century was the heroic age OF
Portugal Prince Henry, the navigator,
half English, and closely related to Henry
v, of England, had retired To st. Vincent
and was pushing explorations, hoping to
reach India by circumnayigating Africa
Henry was the first monarch to carry
European civilization into the waste coun-
tries of the earth. He was the first king
in whose mind fitted great schemes of
European colonization.
In I471 two Portuguese captains crossed
the equator by five degrees and finding
that the coast line continued to run south,
gave it up Toscanelli, the Florentine
astronomer. advised the King of Portugal
that the westward plan was practicable.
He drew map for Columbus. He, OF
course, did not calculate on continent
lying between Europe. and India. To |
have known that Japan was 1 600 mile
sail from Europe would have killed the
enterprize. The route would not then
have been practicable. Toscaneili pro-
jected the Eastern continent SO far to the
eastward that his map made Shanghai,
China, appear where San Francisco is
now known to be, and he drew Japan so
that it stood in what we know as the
Gulf Of Mexico.
ROUTE OF COLUMBUS.
west from oPalos, and late in bis voyage
veered to the south, fearing that he would
go north Of Japan. This is why he struck
the Bahamas. Columbus was badly treated
because his voyage was not success. He |
bad found something, Europe knew not |
what, but supposed it was some part of |
India, of very little speculative value; no |
gold, no spices Vasco da CANA had passed |
the Cape or Good Hope and had unlocked |
the combination He had reached the |