Prince Henry the Navigator, the Hero of Portugal and of Modern Discovery, 1394-1460 A.D. With an Account of Geographical Progress Throughout the Middle Ages As the Preparation for His Work.

Set against a sweeping portrait of medieval geography, the work traces how ancient Greek and Arabic ideas filtered into the Christian world and shaped the map‑making minds of the Middle Ages. It opens with vivid accounts of early pilgrims, Viking seafarers, and crusading caravans, showing how each wave of travelers added new pieces to the continent’s mental picture of the globe.

Against this backdrop, the narrative turns to the Portuguese prince who would become known as the Navigator. Drawing on his upbringing, his strategic position at the turn of the 15th century, and his patronage of scholars and shipbuilders, the author reveals how Henry gathered knowledge, commissioned maps, and launched the first organized Atlantic expeditions. Readers get a clear sense of the bold ambition that drove the early voyages from Sagres and the capture of Ceuta, setting the stage for the age of discovery that followed.