The American Nation: A History — Volume 1: European Background of American History, 1300-1600

"The American Nation: A History — Volume 1: European Background of American History, 1300-1600" by Edward Potts Cheyney is a historical exploration into the European conditions that paved the way for the discovery of America. Readers are taken back to the late medieval period and early Renaissance, where a thirst for new trade routes to Asia ignited dreams of exploration, which were sparked by the spice trade, European politics, and socioeconomic forces. Early explorers faced immense challenges as they ventured into uncharted territories, spurred on by desires and the impact of the Ottoman Empire on the trade landscape; Italian advances in navigation and mapmaking provided crucial support, eventually culminating in the groundbreaking discovery of a New World and the roots of American society and governance.