Portugal and the origins of “the West”

1492? How about 1415 CE?

Columbus and the quest for a ‘Jewish safe haven’

Notes on Catholicism and the Spanish Empire

There will a lot more to say about this as Project 500 Years goes forward. I should…

Key developments of 1522 (and notes on the Portuguese Empire)

1695: Sketchy English pirate loots Mughal treasure ship, rapes & abuses passengers.

Key developments of 1520

China’s rise and the changing nature of global power

The “innovation” of transoceanic empires with cannons

Columbus in Context

Christopher Columbus was born in the bustling north-Italian port city of Genoa in 1451 CE, just a couple of years before the…