Page 54 - Lanzarotto Malocello from Italy to the Canary Islands

54 from Italy to the Canary Islands

imagery reigned, populated by mirabilia fuelled by a theological geogra-
phy against which every physical and human dimension lost interest and
meaning, became, bit by bit, an arena of conflict, in a domain open to profit
and power, because the allure of money, the needs of a credit-based econ-
omy and the emergence of businessmen showed the themes of present and
future of the individual and the community in money, credit, trade, gold,
long-distance trading, development and conquest.
To achieve this result, which is thought to have given rise to the “Atlan-
tic civilisation”, glorified at the end of this process by Columbus’ first jour-
ney, in which he identified and used a route passing by the Canary Islands,
still deemed excellent today for reaching the American continent in a sail-
ing boat and also for returning afterwards to Europe, many obstacles had
to be overcome and a cultural and scientific heritage had to be assembled,
based on Greek-Muslim-Jewish tradition, interlaced with the contribution
of practical knowledge, starting from the knowledge of the sabedores de
mar, who also included Lanzarotto Malocello.

Prof. Francesco Surdich
Full Professor of the History of Geographical Discoveries
at the University of Genoa