Nicolas Wey-Gomez - What Columbus Discovered
For five centuries, the voyages of Christopher Columbus have inspired heated debate over the true nature of his Indies enterprise. Did Columbus believe he had reached Asia or a continent unknown to his European contemporaries? And what did he intend to accomplish once he crossed the Atlantic?
In this talk, Wey-Gomez will explore some of the facts and fiction surrounding Columbus's geographical surveys of the Bahamas and Caribbean Basin. He will show how the navigator's discoveries revolutionized old ideas about the globe, and how science, faith, and politics shaped the momentous encounter between Europe and the Americas.
Nicolas Wey-Gomez is Professor of History at Caltech.
Divsion of Humanities and Social Sciences
This is a free event; no tickets or reservations are required.
Reserved section tickets are available to members of the Friends of Beckman Auditorium and the Caltech Associates.
Presented by: Caltech Committee on Institute Programs