I think Columbus was a myth, who was he anyway? No - the Basques are centred around the Biarritz area in SW France and the W end of the Pyrennese and there were heavily trading ports along the North of spain - Bay of Biscay. Well, Latins can be a bit shirty. I think he knocked around with Henry the Navigator down in Sagres, the South West tip of Portugal, one can picture them standing there looking out at the Atlantic, knowing they were on the edge of continental Europe. I've seen a massive compass rose recently found (1960's) in a fort near Sagres (Cape St Vincent) about 500 years old supposedly - its about 60 ft diameter, laid out on the ground. Wonder what they'd make of Satellite Nav Systems? The Basques didn't reveal their source of Cod, but they were seen by the Brits in large numbers on the New England and New Foundland banks - and the Brits didn't go shouting it about either. Look up the book called simply 'Cod' - a great story. If you like that sort of stuff, and want to know why New York was nearly New Amsterdam, read 'Nathaniel Nutmeg' Giles Milton - but be prepared for some rather gruesome tales - life was hard and men cruel - hey, whats changed?
Clive '88 Syncro Transporter
----- Original Message ----- From: "mike" <mwmiller@cwnet.com> To: "Clive Smith" <clive.harman-smith@ntlworld.com>; <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com> Sent: Saturday, July 13, 2002 2:47 AM Subject: Re: Running on Tap Water
> Thought he was Italian? And also thought Basque country was land bound, no > ports, never heard they were sailors? The northern Europeans had come over > but Basques? > > > > > From: Clive Smith <clive.harman-smith@NTLWORLD.COM> > > Reply-To: Clive Smith <clive.harman-smith@NTLWORLD.COM> > > Date: Fri, 12 Jul 2002 22:52:34 +0100 > > To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM > > Subject: Re: Running on Tap Water > > > >>> By the way, Columbus didn't break any of the laws of phyiscs. He stumbled > > upon a new continent. > > > > No he didn't! The Spanish, the English and particularly the Basques had been > > up and down the coast and into its inlets years and years before Columbus > > claimed it as New World. The Basques particularly had been fishing the > > Newfoundland coast in fleets and bringing salt cod back to Europe (without > > revealing their fishing grounds) for nobody knows how long, but ages before > > Columbus. Just Spanish arrogance... > > > > Clive > > '88 Syncro Armada > > > > |
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