Newberry Library - Descriptions of Cabral's voyage from Lisbon to Calicut, 1500 March 8-1501 June 27

Descriptions of Cabral's voyage from Lisbon to Calicut, 1500 March 8-1501 June 27

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Title Descriptions of Cabral's voyage from Lisbon to Calicut, 1500 March 8-1501 June 27

Date 1500-1501

Language Italian

Place India--Calicut

Subjects Explorers, Portuguese, Spice trade, Voyages and travels

Description Photostats of mss. in the Biblioteca nazionale marciana in Venice, Italy: Viaggi VI 277 Contarini A and B.
Leaves numbered 56-76.
In box with title: "Venetian Archives. Biblioteca nazionale di San Marco. Viaggi VI 208 [sic]. Contarini A & B."
English translations and additional information on the mss. in The voyage of Pedro Alvares Cabral to Brazil and India / trans. with introd. and notes by William Brooks Greenlee. London : The Hakluyt Society, 1938, p. 53-94, 114-23.
Forms part of the Edward E. Ayer Manuscript Collection (Newberry Library)

Summary Photostats of three manuscripts describing the Portuguese expedition from Lisbon to Calicut, India in 1500 under the command of Pedro Alvares Cabral. There are two accounts of Cabral's voyage: the Contarini A ms. is entitled "Tratado del viazo fato p. le nave del re di portogalo a cholochut...Copia del viazo de lisbona a cholocut de lengua portogalesse in lengua taliana;" the Contarini B ms. begins "Nel ano 1500...." Both reports describe the voyage made by an armada of 12 ships which leaves Portugal on March 9, 1500, en route to East Africa and Calicut. The unknown author, most likely a member of the fleet, records his observations of the geography and terrain of the places they visit, and includes description of the Moors, their customs, clothings, and foods. There is an account of Cabral's meeting with the king of Calicut, a potentate of enormous wealth; as well as a description of the dispute over spice cargoes to be taken back to Portugal which resulted in the deaths of many Moors and Christians. Only six ships return to Lisbon at the end of July, the other six having been lost on the voyage. The second ms. includes a supplement to the narrative, a list of the prices of spices and drugs in Calicut. Finally, there is a letter of June 27, 1501 from the Venetian ambassador to Portugal, Giovanni Matteo Cretico, most likely sent to the doge of Venice, Agostino Barbarigo. "Il Cretico" informs the doge of Cabral's expedition which has just returned to Lisbon from Calicut, and reports on the route taken by Cabral, his adventures in the East, and the prospects for Venetian participation in the spice trade.

Extent 3 items ([21] leaves) ; 28 cm

Format Early works, Manuscripts, Photomechanical prints, Reports, Travel literature

Archival Collection Title Edward E. Ayer Collection

Citation Please refer to the catalog record or finding aid for citations. Though it is not required when repurposing Newberry content, please use the credit "From the Newberry Library," and provide a link back to the item in our digital collections website. This helps us track how our collections are used, and provides justification for adding more digitized content in the future

Link to Catalog View record

Call Number Ayer MS 1252

BibID 127820

Rights Status No Copyright - United States

Contributing Institution Newberry Library

Newberry Open Access Policy The Newberry makes its collections available for any lawful purpose, commercial or non-commercial, without licensing or permission fees to the library, subject to these terms and conditions.

IIIF Resource Type Manifest

Filename 991278208805867_ayer_ms_1252

Unique Identifier NL11II8J

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