John Roos’ Blog

Christopher Columbus still is honored for “discovering” America, even though it is widely known that he actually did not make this discovery. And comparatively little is known of the men who actually paved the way for his adventures. Or about the man for whom the New World was named, Amerigo Vespucci.

Lester provides a fresh account of this discovery in his new book, The Fourth Part of the World. This book is built around maps, and is brilliantly laid out, with maps and graphics inserted at just the right point in the text.

Lester particularly focuses on the 1507 book, Introduction to Cosmography, which included a map developed by Martin Waldseemuller and Matthias Ringmann. How this map was created, and then lost for centuries. And how it was rediscovered. Lester uses features of this book/map to dissect the discovery process. The drive to explore and stretch the boundaries of knowledge.

What were the factors that motivated men like Columbus? And we see how Introduction to Cosmography and the Waldseemuller map first (and, as it turned out, permanently) gave the discovery of this “fourth part of the world” to Amerigo Vespucci, and provided the name “America.”

Lester introduces us to other scholars, adventurers, mapmakers, and politicians, many of whom are obscure but who deserve recognition for their contributions. Whose stories need to be told.

As an historic and global perspective emerges, we see the role played by men like Marco Polo, Roger Bacon, and Plutarch. The importance of the search for the mythical Prester John. The mystery of the Mongols. The concern for the expected and imminent second coming of Christ. The role of the fall of Constantinople to Moslems. The impact of the rediscovery of works by Ptolemy and other men writing in antiquity. Wave upon wave of amazement, uncertainty, questions, and speculation as more of the globe was discovered, or just discussed. Things we take for granted today but which stretched and challenged the minds of men from our distant past.

In this well-researched, well-written book, Lester achieves something rare and important, covering centuries of information with great clarity. He tells fascinating stories yet maintains scholarly accuracy. Highly recommended.

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