Christovam Colombo e o descobrimento da America

In this vivid collection of original lectures, a seasoned Brazilian scholar revisits the intellectual climate of fifteenth‑century Europe, tracing the shift from feudal fragmentation to the emergence of centralized monarchies, the rise of commerce, and the spreading of learning beyond cloistered walls. The speaker sets the stage for the momentous voyages that would soon reshape the world, offering listeners a clear picture of the political and economic forces that primed the age of discovery.

The first address moves naturally into a portrait of Christovam Colombo, the Portuguese navigator whose daring Atlantic crossing marked the fourth centenary of America’s discovery. Delivered with the spontaneity of a live oration, the talk blends historical facts with personal homage, inviting listeners to feel the excitement and melancholy of an era where new horizons beckoned while old regimes waned.