In our last episode, we discussed how the two Native American empires, the Aztecs and the Incas, were completely defeated by the Europeans shortly after the Europeans landed in the Americas. Though they didn’t go extinct, it’s not an exaggeration to say that their empires were demolished. The question is, how come? 一 You must know that the ratio between…
March 10, 2025
In our last episode, we talked about how Columbus, a great figure in history, quietly passed away, like a fallen autumn leaf. 一 In my opinion, Columbus was both lucky and unlucky. Unlucky in the sense that he didn’t accomplish most of what he pursued throughout his life: no wealth, no route to Asia, no title of Admiral of the…
March 5, 2025
In our last episode, we talked about how Columbus brought back the good news after his first voyage to the west: not far from Europe, lies “India”. The Spanish royals and commoners were suspicious, though. The gold and the Indians that Columbus brought back with him just didn’t seem to be from the legendary India. But India or not, there…
March 5, 2025
In our last episode, we talked about how, after much lobbying effort, Columbus finally convinced the Spanish monarchs to sponsor his plan to sail west in search of Asia. 一In 1492, Columbus signed the “Capitulations of Santa Fe” with the Spanish Monarchs, in which King Ferdinand and Queen Isabelle agreed that, should he succeed, Columbus would be granted the Title…
February 27, 2025
In our last episode, we talked about how explorers, especially the Portuguese, started the Age of Discovery for Europe. They sailed along the west coast of Africa and discovered a new maritime route to Asia by sailing around the southern tip of Africa. 一 At the same time, some Europeans were exploring another possibility—the vast Atlantic Ocean to the west….
February 27, 2025
