1492, By Felipe Fernández-Armesto

Friday 11 February 2011 01:00 GMT

Your support helps us to tell the story

From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.

At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.

The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.

Your support makes all the difference.

In 1492, so much more happened than Columbus and his frail tubs sailing the ocean blue. In west Africa, an empire tottered; in Spain, the expulsion of the Jews re-made Mediterranean culture; in Russia, a czar flexed new muscles. And in the East– well, the inaction of China proved the biggest event of all.

A far-seeing admiral of global history, Fernández-Armesto shows off all his gifts of rattling narrative and cross-cultural comparison in this portrait of "the year our world began".

However confused, Columbus's voyages "initiated European long-range imperialism" and so "re-carved" the Earth. And withdrawal in the East put a (temporary?) stop to the hegemony of – until then - "the planet's most dynamic and best-equipped exploring cultures".

Join our commenting forum

Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies

Comments

Thank you for registering

1492, By Felipe Fernández-Armesto

Join our commenting forum

Thank you for registering