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 .9*1 
 
THE 
 
 DISCOVERY OF AMERICA 
 
 
 THE CONQUEST OF THE MOORS 
 
 BY THE SPANIARDS. 
 
 PUBLISHED 
 
 125 Park Avenue, between 41st and 426. Sts., 
 NEW YORK CITY. 
 Printed by the Birnie Paper Company. 
 Springfield, Mass. 
 
 AN OUT-GROWTH OF 
 
PREFACE. 
 
 That the general public, and especially the young of our land 
 may possess in condensed form, and become thoroughly familiar 
 with the causes which lead to the discovery of America by Chris- 
 topher Columbus in 1492, out of which grew the revival and final 
 establishment of the Heliocentric system, and also the Government 
 of the United States, proves the incentive for the publication of 
 this work. 
 
 Entered according to Act of Congress, in the year 1883. 
 
THE DISCOVERY OF AMERICA. 
 
 The discovery of America by Christopher Columbus, was an 
 out-growth of the conquest of the Moors, by the Spaniards. 
 
 The Moors, commanded by Arabian officers, expelled the 
 Visigoths from Andalusia, south Spain, in the year 711, and 
 established the Kingdom of Cordova, which they held until the 
 year 1236. During the eighth century they also founded Granada, 
 which at first, constituted a part of the Kingdom of Cordova. 
 
 Under the administration of the Mohammedan Emirs, Cordova 
 became the seat of learning and refinement. Great encouragement 
 was given to the study of Mathematics, Chemistry and the Physical 
 Sciences ; the works of Aristotle, Hippocrates and Ptolemy Syntax, 
 were translated into Arabic, and became the authority of Saracen 
 Astronomy, and of Medicine. 
 
 In its days of prosperity Cordova contained orer two hundred 
 
 5 
 
thousand houses, and a population of over one million. The palaces 
 of the Khalif were built of marble and stone, with polished marble 
 balconies overhanging orange gardens and bowers of roses; with 
 court-yards containing winding paths, ornamented with fountains of 
 quick-silver and cascades of water. 
 
 The interiors of the palaces were magnificently decorated, the 
 furniture was of citron and sandal wood, inlaid with gold, silver, 
 mother-of-pearl, Malachite and lapis-lazuli. 
 
 In the year 1236, King Alhama made Granada the capitol of 
 his new Kingdom of Granada, encompassing tfoe city by a massive 
 wall, surmounted by over one thousand towers. 
 
 The Vaga embraced several miles of land, upon which was 
 raised the various products for the sustenance of the people. 
 
 Upon one of the hills, on the outskirts of the city, was erected 
 the celebrated Alhambra, as a warriors' castle and palace of the 
 Moorish kings, which was capable of containing a garrison of forty 
 thousand men. 
 
 The palaces, mosques and other private and public buildings 
 were finished in stone, the floors were laid in mosaic and variegated 
 marbles, the side walls were of porcelain tiles, laid in various colors, 
 ornamented with medallions of fruits, flowers and heraldic devices ; 
 they were also stuccoed and ornamented with arabesques of the most 
 elegant and intricate designs, characteristic of this cultivated and 
 refined Mohammedan people. The ceilings were decorated in fret 
 work, with panels and heavy moulded cornices painted in white and 
 
 6 
 
gold, and frescoed in bright and beautiful colors. The architecture 
 of the whole city was exquisite and refined. 
 
 The beauties of Granada were likened unto a marble vase of 
 pure gems, overflowing with dew-drops, sparkling in the rays of the 
 morning sun. 
 
 The Moors were a cultivated people, living in Asiatic luxury, 
 within an atmosphere of scholarly attainment and exquisite refine- 
 ment, speaking the highest order of mellow and entrancing Arabic, 
 extremely fond of dress, and possessing an enduring passion for 
 ornaments. 
 
 The armor of the Moorish cavaliers was encrusted with gold 
 and silver, chased in elegant designs ■ the sheaths of the cimeters 
 were richly enamelled, and the blades of Damascus steel were 
 elaborately emblazoned, and their belts were inlaid with ornamental 
 figures in enamel. 
 
 The Arabian steeds of the Moorish Chivalry were gorgeously 
 caparisoned in rich velvets of various colors, ornamented with gold 
 and silver, and interwoven with silken braid. 
 
 The women of Granada lived in the height of luxury and 
 magnificence, they wore anklets, bracelets, ear-rings and girdles of 
 gold, wrought with exquisite art and delicacy, studded with 
 diamonds, rubies, emeralds and other precious gems ; their long and 
 luxuriant hair flowed in tresses beautifully decorated with precious 
 stones, neatly set in golden filagree ; their features were of classic 
 mould ; they were finely formed and fully developed, and their 
 
 7 
 
physical beauty was entrancing; they were graceful in their manners, 
 facinating in their conversation, and their bright sparkling eyes, and 
 teeth of pearly whiteness glittering through ruby lips, gave to their 
 countenances an expression of sweet, sympathetic and enduring love. 
 
 The Moors and Spaniards took great delight in waging partisan 
 war upon each other. 
 
 The attack made by Abul Hassen, December 26th, 1481, upon 
 the fortress of Zahara, and the taking of its people prisoners, 
 resulted in the Marquis of Cadiz' storming and taking at the dead 
 of night, the Moorish castle and city of Alhama. 
 
 Upon the Spanish troops rallying to defend Alhama from being 
 reconquered, the news reaching King Ferdinand, he made immediate 
 preparations and hastened on to take charge of the army, and 
 Isabella followed after him and soon joined him at Cordova. 
 
 Ferdinand and Isabella had long awaited a pretext for inaugura- 
 ting a Christian war of extermination against the Mohammedan 
 Moors and the wealthy Jews residing in the Moorish kingdom. 
 
 The marriage of Ferdinand and Isabella consolidated the Span- 
 ish Empire, and destroyed the factions, which enabled them to bring 
 into the field of war the troops of Castile and Aragon and their 
 dependencies, for the prosecution of their Christian faith. 
 
 Christopher Columbus was born about the year 1435, m tne clt Y 
 of Genoa, Italy, and followed the life of a mariner. Hearing of the 
 discoveries made by Marco Polo, a Venetian, during his journey 
 
 eastward, overland, in the twelfth century ; in eastern and central 
 
 8 
 
Asia, and his navigation on the Pacific Ocean, and along the shores 
 of India, and of the discoveries made in Africa by the Portugese 
 King Henry, coupled with his correspondence with Toscanelli, 
 a learned cosmographer, led Columbus to believe the earth a sphere. 
 
 He formed the conclusion that if Marco Polo reached India, 
 the Kingdom of the Grand Khan of Tartary, by traveling eastward, 
 he could certainly reach the opposite coast of India, by sailing 
 westward. Columbus supposed he would first reach the Island of 
 Zapango, (Japan), which island Marco Polo had placed opposite 
 China, five hundred leagues out in the ocean, and about fifteen 
 hundred miles from the Indian coast. 
 
 It was the zeal, born of earnest and unswerving purpose, which 
 reflected Columbus' true character and greatness. Imbued with the 
 belief that he was God's chosen instrument to prove the sphericity 
 of the earth he constantly importuned the Governments of his day 
 for needed assistance, until wearying from repeated rebuff, he visited 
 Spain, and was informed by the Duke of Medina Celi that Isabella, 
 Queen of Spain, had requested him to visit her at Cordova. 
 
 On his arrival at Cordova he found the Queen, surrounded by 
 prelates and officers of the army, so engaged that she could not give 
 him an audience and he became the guest of Alonzo de Quintanilla. 
 
 At about this time the elder Sultana, Ayxa, became very jealous 
 
 of Zoraya, or the " Morning Star," the young and favorite sultana 
 
 of the king, Abul Hassen, fearing lest her son, Boabdela, would be 
 
 superceded by the offspring of Zoraya. 
 
 10 
 
The ill-feeling existing between the Sultanas led to the form- 
 ation of two factions, and terminated in a rebellion during which 
 the streets of Granada flowed with the blood of the Moors. 
 
 Ferdinand encouraged the feud, on behalf of Ayxa, and Abul 
 Hassen and his young family were expelled from Granada, and 
 Boabdela was proclaimed king. 
 
 Large numbers of troops were now summoned to the seat of 
 war, and vigorous preparations were made for the prosecution of the 
 same, and owing to the internal feuds of the Moors and the imbecil- 
 ity of Boabdela, Ferdinand was enabled to attack their castles, one 
 by one, and by the use of gunpowder and heavy Lombards, the 
 Moorish castles, cities and vagas fell to the conquering Spaniards. 
 
 Columbus, after waiting seven years, and suffering great 
 disappointments succeeded in having his theory discussed at a 
 meeting of prelates and learned men, at the convent of St. Stephens, 
 at Salamanca, but his theory of the world's being a sphere was 
 condemned. 
 
 They ridiculed the theory of antipodes, with their heads 
 hanging downwards, it being contrary to the belief of their 
 theologians and philosophers, and in violation of their sacred scrip- 
 tures. They argued that if the world was round, then a yessel 
 attempting to make the ascent of the sphere would fall off into space. 
 
 They also argued that the earth was a flat surface, bordered by 
 
 the waters of the sea, on the yielding support of which rested the 
 
 crystalline dome of the sky, and the sun, moon and planets, were 
 
 1 1 
 
a subordinate nature, their use being to give light to man who was 
 elevated to supreme important e. The Patristic Geography had 
 governed the Christian church for twelve centuries, and was its 
 authority for rejecting the theory of the sphericity of the earth. 
 
 Columbus defended his theory nobly and with religious fervor, 
 but the derision was unfavorable to him. 
 
 The ancient philosophers and astronomers introduced various 
 theories regarding the sphericity of the earth and the manner of its 
 revolution. The Heliocentric theory, taught by Pythagoras, about 
 five hundred and fifty years, B. C, placed the sun as the centre 
 round which, with the other planets, the earth revolved, in circular or- 
 bits, each supposed to rotate on its axis as it revolved round the sun. 
 
 This theory was accepted by Aristarchus of Samos, about three 
 hundred and fifty years. B. C, and was superceded by the Geocen- 
 tric system of Ptolemy, about one hundred and fifty years, A. D., 
 which system placed the earth in the centre, fixed in space, the sun 
 and the other planets revolving round it, thus giving the earth the 
 position of superiority. This theory was accepted by a large portion 
 of the inhabitants of the earth for fourteen centuries. 
 
 No advancement was made -toward establishing the theories of 
 the ancients, or the Geography of the earth, or the science of 
 Astronomy, until the advent of Columbus and his discovery of 
 America in 1492, and the circumnavigation of the earth by Magellen 
 in 15 21, which proved its sphericity, and whose circumference is 
 about tweQty-five thousand miles. 
 
 1 2 
 
The chains which bound Physical Science and Astronomy for 
 thousands of years, were, through his fearless spirit and intrepid 
 action, not only rent asunder, through the discovery of America, 
 which proved the sphericity of the earth, but it opened the way for 
 the introduction of the Heliocentric system. 
 
 This system was awakened into life by Copernicus in the 
 sixteenth century, and was adopted by Kepler, who introduced the 
 principle of Gravity without discovering its practical application. 
 
 Copernicus and Kepler labored under the same difficulty as the 
 ancient astronomers, they having no telescope to assist them in 
 proving the truths of their theories. Thus the theory of revolution 
 and attraction of Gravitation was left for Galileo and Sir Isaac 
 Newton to demonstrate their truths. 
 
 In the year 1609, Lippershey, a Dutchman, made a small 
 telescope. Galileo hearing of it and realizing the importance it 
 would be to him in discovering the solar system, made one of a 
 magnifying power of three, and finally succeeded in making one 
 that magnified thirty times, with which, in 1610 he discovered the 
 four satelites of Jupiter revolving in orbits round that planet, and 
 also that Venus in her motion round the sun, showed phases like the 
 moon. Further observation showed him that the earth and each of 
 the planets rotated on its axis as it revolved in an eliptical orbit round 
 the sun, which was the centre and attractive force of the system. 
 
 Such important discoveries made by Galileo, and those that 
 
 followed soon after, fully supported the system of Copernicus. 
 
 J 3 
 
Sir Isaac Newton is < rowncd with the honor of demonstrating 
 the theory of the attraction of (Cavitation, and his name became 
 immortalized by the production of his great work, " Principia," in 
 the year 1686. 
 
 We will now return to Columbus, and his efforts to obtain aid 
 for the purpose of carrying out his theories and convictions. 
 
 The King and Queen, despite the decision of the learned men 
 at Salamanca, saw the advantage to be derived from the discovery of 
 a new and direct route to the Indies, and if successful the gain 
 would be incalculable, as the Kingdom of the Grand Khan of 
 Tartary was supposed to abound in gold, silver and precious stones, 
 and to contain inexhaustible wealth, which would inure to the 
 
 benefit of Spain. 
 
 They also saw that such a discovery would add to the glory ot 
 their reign, and their country, and aid in the extension of their 
 Christian faith, and fearing that Columbus might seek the assistance 
 of some other government, they promised him that his project 
 should receive attention as soon as the Moors were conquered and 
 expelled from Granada. 
 
 Columbus, disappointed, left the Court of Spain, with the 
 intention of laying his project before the King of France. On his 
 way thence, arriving at the gate of the Convent of Santa Maria de 
 Rabida, he asked for bread and water for himself and his child, he 
 there met the prior, Juan Parez, to whom he stated his project. 
 The prior became interested in his theory, and introduced him to 
 
 14 
 
Martin Alonzo Pinzon, a wealthy navigator, who upon hearing 
 Columbus* explanation, became convinced of his ability to accom- 
 plish the voyage, and offered to bear one-eighth of the expense of 
 such an expedition. 
 
 Columbus was urged to remain at Palos, whilst the prior, who 
 at one time had been the Queen's Confessor, should see her. 
 
 The prior's representations to the Queen induced her to invite 
 Columbus to appear at court, and she sent him twenty thousand 
 maravedus, a sum equivalent to about $60, to renovate his wardrobe 
 and to defray his traveling expenses. 
 
 Columbus arrived at the court at the time the surrender of 
 Granada was being consummated. Boabdela, the last of the 
 Moorish kings, gave up the keys of the Alhambra to Ferdinand and 
 Isabella, and thus after a war of nearly 800 J ears, the Mohammedan 
 Moors surrendered to the Christian Spaniards, amidst great rejoic- 
 ings and festivities. But the greatest soul of all amid the throng was 
 Columbus, impatiently waiting for an opportunity to offer to Spain 
 a much greater conquest than all the Moorish possessions in Europe, 
 Africa or Asia. 
 
 Granada being conquered and the Moors expelled, the time had 
 now arrived when the plans of Columbus, according to promise, 
 must receive attention, but when the conditions under which he 
 would undertake the expedition came to be discussed, his demands 
 for titles and privileges were princely, and in the eyes of the Court, 
 so extravagant that his terms and propositions were refused, and as 
 
 16 
 
Columbus would not waver, and would not listen to any other terms, 
 he left the Court with the intention of visiting the King of France. 
 
 St. Angel and Alonzo Quintanilla described to the Queen the 
 great wealth that would flow to Spain through the discovery of India 
 at the small outlay of 15000 Florins (Columbus having agreed to 
 furnish one-eighth of the money), and would far exceed the dis- 
 coveries made by other nations, and would open between Spain and 
 •India, a commerce of great value to the church and to Spain, and 
 if not successful the loss would be nominal. 
 
 They also plead the cause of Columbus with such zeal that the 
 enthusiastic and generous spirit of Isabella was aroused. The King 
 coldly attempted to dissuade her from the idea, which caused 
 Isabella to exclaim, " I undertake the enterprise for my own crown 
 of Castile, and will pledge my jewels to raise the necessary funds." 
 
 The funds, about fifteen thousand Florins, were advanced by 
 St. Angel, receiver of the ecclesiastical revenues of Aragon, and 
 were afterwards repaid out of the first gold brought by Columbus 
 from the new world. 
 
 Columbus had proceeded about six miles from Granada, when 
 he was overtaken by a messenger from the Queen requesting him to 
 return. Upon his appearing again at Court, the kind reception he 
 received from the Queen atoned for past neglect. 
 
 An agreement was then drawn up by the Royal Secretary, 
 which the King and Queen signed on the 17th of April, 1492, 
 whereby it was stipulated that Columbus should have the office of 
 
 17 
 
Admiral in all lands and countries which he might discover, that he 
 and his descendents were to receive the title of u Don," and 
 that he was to be Viceroy and Governor General of such lands and 
 countries, and have one-tenth of the net profits arising from gold 
 and silver and all articles of merchandize, in whatever manner 
 obtained. He had the further privilege of furnishing one-eighth 
 the cost of the expedition, and if he did so, he was to receive one- 
 eighth of the profits. This latter condition Columbus fulfilled, 
 through the assistance of Martin Alonzo Pinzon. 
 
 A ro>al order was given, directing the authorities of Palos to 
 furnish and equip two caravels. This order was disobeyed. Horror 
 and dismay filled the minds of the sailors as they felt it would be 
 certain death to enter the mysteries of the sea, and they refused to 
 embark on the expedition. 
 
 Martin Alonzo Pinzon and his two brothers, seeing the difficulty 
 attending the procuring of the vessels and crews, came forward and 
 furnished one vessel and crew thoroughly equipped and ready for 
 sea. This induced others to consent to go, and they then succeeded 
 in obtaining the other two vessels, and all were ready for sea on the 
 first day of August, 1492. 
 
 The Santa Maria was commanded by Columbus, the Pinta by 
 Martin Alonzo Pinzon, (with his brother Francisco Martin, as pilot), 
 and the Nina by Vincente Yanez Pinzon. 
 
 The fleet consisted of the three small vessels just named, two 
 
 being without decks, of fifty tons each, and the other being of eighty 
 
 18 
 
tons burden. In all there were one hundred and twenty men on 
 the expedition, of whom ninety were sailors. 
 
 When the squadron was ready to sail, Columbus, his officers and 
 crews confessed to Juan Parez, and partook of the sacrament. 
 
 On Friday morning, August 3d, 1492, the expedition sailed 
 from Palos. 
 
 Columbus and his companions proceeded on their voyage of 
 discovery, meeting with many disappointments and hardships, and 
 as they entered into unknown regions fear and trembling overcame 
 all except Columbus. The strength given to him came from his 
 great faith, he felt that he was under the protection and guidance of 
 the Almighty. 
 
 Columbus was so sanguine that he should reach India, that he 
 carried with him a letter from Ferdinand, King of Spain, to the 
 Grand Khan of Tartary. 
 
 On the 13th of September he was startled to find that the 
 needle of his compass varied between five and six degrees to the 
 northwest and no longer pointed to the pole. This phenomenon of 
 magnetic declination produced great alarm among the mariners, for 
 without the guide of their compass, what was to become of them in 
 a vast and trackless ocean ? Columbus invented a plausible theory 
 about the attraction of the polar star, which quieted the pilot's fears. 
 
 Columbus suppressed the mutinous tendency of the crews with 
 extraordinary tact, and afterwards upon great flights of birds hover- 
 ing about their vessels, they became reconciled and felt they must 
 
 *9 
 
be near land. On the night of the nth of October, Columbus 
 beheld a moving light which was seen several times, but at last dis- 
 appeared. This light was probably upon Waiting's Island. 
 
 On the morning of October 12th, 1492, land was discovered, 
 and all hearts were filled with joy and gladness. Columbus fell 
 upon his knees and thanked his Maker that He had given him the 
 strength and fortitude which enabled him to overcome all obstacles, 
 and that he had blessed him with success in discovering what he 
 thought to be India, the Kingdom of the Grand Khan. 
 
 A.s they approached the land, the air was soft and balmy, and 
 the breez.es ladened with sweet fragrance, perfumed the transparent 
 atmosphere. 
 
 The island on which they landed was one of the Bahama group 
 and Columbus named it San Salvador. Its inhabitants were nude, 
 finely and beautifully formed, graceful in their manners, and strange 
 and interesting in their habits. -They were apparently an amiable, 
 innocent and happy people, who at first thought that Columbus' 
 fleet of vessels were large birds, and that their sails were wings, and 
 that Columbus and his crews had descended from the skies. 
 
 Thus the conquest of the Moors by the Spaniards, led Queen 
 Isabella to furnish seven-eighths of the funds required to fit out the 
 expedition of Columbus, which resulted in his discovery, on Friday, 
 the 12th day oi October, 1492, of what he supposed to be a portion 
 of the continent of India, (hence he denominated the natives 
 - Indians"), when in reality his discovery was that of America. 
 
SUPPLEMENT. 
 
 At an expense of 15000 florins, Columbus gave to the world America, out 01 
 which has grown the United States, whose population exceeds 55,000,000, which 
 with its yearly influx of from three to four hundred thousand imigrants, coupled 
 with its native increase, invites the prediction, that during the next twenty years, 
 her population will approximate one hundred million. 
 
 Its Constitution, which declares that " We the people of the United States, 
 «'in order to forma more perfect union, establish justice, insure domestic tran- 
 "(juility, provide for the common defence, promote the general welfare, and 
 " secure the blessings of liberty to ourselves and our posterity, do ordain and 
 ** establish this constitution for the United States of America. " is the base stone 
 upon which our republican form of government was reared, and has been 
 perpetuated. 
 
 To insure the faithful implanting and exercise of such constitutional provis- 
 ions, George Washington, " the father of his country" was selected and 
 inaugurated first President of these United States, on the 30th of April, I/.S9, 
 while standing on the balcony in front of the Senate Chamber, in the Old Court 
 House in Wall Street, fronting Broad Street, the site now occupied by the Sub- 
 Treasury, in full view of the multitude on the streets, roofs and in the windows 
 of neighboring buildings. The balcony where Washington stood was supported 
 by lofty columns, and upon the conclusion of the reading of the oath of office, 
 Washington, with his hand resting upon the Bible, audibly responded, " I swear, 
 so help me God." This declaration was the signal for, " l ong live George 
 Washington, President of the United States." A flag was hoisted amid the 
 plaudits of the people, and the boom of cannon. Thus began the life of a 
 government which to-day has no equal on earth. 
 
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