Great Epochs in American History, Volume 1. Voyages of Discovery and Early Explorations: 1000 A.D.-1682

This volume opens a ten‑part series that brings the first great epoch of American history to life through the very voices who witnessed it. Illustrated with period maps and engravings, the book pairs original narratives—from Columbus’s own log to Viking tales of Vinland and early Asian seafarers—with concise introductions that set the scene for modern listeners.

Readers will hear the daring ambition of explorers who set sail for unknown lands, the cautious reports of missionaries, and the reflections of later chroniclers such as Washington Irving and Francis Parkman. The editor’s notes weave these accounts together, highlighting how each expedition reshaped Europe’s view of the world and laid the groundwork for permanent settlement. The result is an authentic, engaging portrait of the age when the New World first entered the European imagination.