5. Sketches on american history

I. Early explorations

MIND THE PRONUNCIATION OF THE FOLLOWING DIFFICULT WORDS:

accidental [,@ksi#dent{l] случайный

flourishing [#fl[riSiN] процветающий, преуспевающий

craftsmanship [#kra:ft sm{nSip] мастерство;

route[ru:t] путь; маршрут;

Portuguese[,pO:tju#gi:z] португальский

seafarer[#si:,fE{r{] мореплаватель

indentured[in#dEntS{d] обусловленный договором

об отдаче в ученичество

2)обусловленный договором серви тута

worship[#w{:Sip] вероисповедание ;

исповедовать

(религию)

borderland[#bO:d{,l@nd] пограничная

полоса;

окраинная зона

consequences[#kOnsikw{nsis] последствия

feast. [fi:st] пир

fortress [#fO:tris] крепость

to swear loyalty [ swE{ #lOi{lti] клясться в верности

resentment [ri#zEntm{nt] недовольство

chest[tSest] ящик с крышкой на петлях

retreating [ri#trit] отступать

The term New World- newly discovered and settled is used in contrast with Old World- meaning the then known world of written historical records and literatures. In the period immediately after Columbus' acci­dental discovery, the major influences on the American continents were European, and for the people in Europe, America was a New World. For the people who lived in America at the time, however, it was the only world in their memory.

Before Columbus, the most noted discoverer of America, ar­rived in the New World, several flourishing civilizations had ex­isted there for centuries. By the time Columbus reached the New World in 1492, the American civilizations had reached a level of culture which included personal wealth, fine buildings, expert craftsmanship, and religions which structured the daily lives of the people.

The Vikings, people who lived in northern Europe more than a thousand years ago, sailed not only to other parts of Europe. The Viking trips did not lead to any European settlement of America - travel to a new land beyond the ocean was slow and dangerous; people who did travel were more interested in trade with Asia.

Starting in the 1400's the people of Portugal began to ex­plore the oceans. They thought they might be able to find a sea route to Asia. In time, Portu­guese sailors did find a route to Asia - they sailed all the way around Africa to reach India.

Christopher Columbus, an Italian sea captain, who had sailed to many European and African ports, believed that Asia could be reached by sailing west from Europe across the Atlantic. He needed money for ships and sailors, but the rulers in Italy and Portugal refused to pay. Then he tried the rulers of Spain, and King Ferdi­nand and Queen Isabella liked the idea of finding a new route to Asia. In August, 1492, Columbus and his three ships sailed from Spain. After leaving the Canary Islands, near the coast of Africa, they headed west into the Atlantic Ocean, still called The Sea of Dark­ness by many Europeans. After six weeks of sailing without sight of land the men began to demand that the ships turn back. Suddenly they saw an island and soon were able to land.

The people on the island watched as Columbus carried Spanish flags onto the beach; by doing that, he claimed the island for Spain. He named the island San Salvator which is Spanish for "Holy Sav­iour." The seafarer was sure that the island was in the East Indies, near Asia, and he called the people of the islands Indian. Three times Columbus returned to the new lands he had found. He did find other islands, but he never did find Asia. The islands he found were in the Caribbean Sea, between North and South America, now called the West Indies. On later trips Columbus also landed in Central and South America and the island of Trinidad.