What gave Christopher Columbus the confidence in 1492 to set out across the Atlantic Ocean? What persuaded the king and queen of Spain to commission the voyage? It would be convenient to believe that Columbus and his men were uniquely courageous. A more reasonable explanation, however, is that Columbus was heir to a body of knowledge about seas and ships acquired at great cost over many centuries. Fish on Friday tells a new story of the discovery of America. In Brian Fagan's view, that discovery is the product of the long sweep of history: the spread of Christianity and the radical cultural changes it brought to Europe, the interaction of economic necessity with a changing climate, and generations of unknown fishermen who explored the North Atlantic in the centuries before Columbus. The Church's tradition of not eating meats on holy days created a vast market for fish that could not be fully satisfied by fish farms, better boats, or new preservation techniques. Then, when climate change in the thirteenth and fourteenth centuries diminished fish stocks off Norway and Iceland, fishermen were forced to range ever farther to the west-eventually discovering incredibly rich shoals within sight of the Nova Scotia coast. In Ireland in 1490, Columbus could well have heard about this unknown land. The rest is history.

About the Author

Brian Fagan is Emeritus Professor of Anthropology at the University of California, Santa Barbara. A former Guggenheim Fellow, he has written many internationally acclaimed popular books about archaeology, including The Little Ice Age, Floods, Famines, and Emperors, and The Long Summer. He lives in Santa Barbara, California.

"About this title" may belong to another edition of this title.

Store Description

The Reader's Corner is such fun,it's too bad you have to buy our books on line. We have eight foot tall outside bookshelves across the entire front of the store. There is a money slot in the door for night sales, which go to support National Public Radio. Inside, which can be too crowded at times, are surprisingly good books, only 1% are ever listed on-line. We also sell records, music cd's, comic books, mags, computer software and games. Best of all is the found art decorating every spare spot. The motto on the front door: NO SHOOTING, NO SMOKING, NO MOONING THE MANAGEMENT.

Visit Seller's Storefront

Seller's business information

Reader's Corner, Inc.
Reader's Corner, Inc, 3201 Hillsborough Street, Raleigh, NC, 27607, U.S.A.

Sale & Shipping Terms

Terms of Sale

Visa, Mastercard, Amex, Discover, Paypal or check. Shipping by USPS Priority Mail $6.50 first volume/$4 each add. vol.This is for octavo sized books only, oversize books will be more. USPS bookrate $3.50 first vol/$1.75 each add. vol. (I cover all Dust Jackets with Brodart Mylar protectors).(For EU: Reader's Corner, 3201 Hillsborough Street, Raleigh N.C., 27607, readcorner@aol.com)

Shipping Terms

Shipping costs are based on books weighing 2.2 LB, or 1 KG. If your book order is heavy or oversized, we may contact you to let you know extra shipping is required.

Shipping rates within U.S.A.

Shipping rates within U.S.A.
Order quantity	4 to 10 business days	3 to 6 business days
First item	US$ 5.50	US$ 14.00

Delivery times are set by sellers and vary by carrier and location. Orders passing through Customs may face delays and buyers are responsible for any associated duties or fees. Sellers may contact you regarding additional charges to cover any increased costs to ship your items.