Cristóbal Colón y el descubrimiento de América, Tomo 2 / Historia de la geografía del nuevo continente y de los progresos de la astronomía náutica en los siglos XV y XVI

The author traces how centuries of geographic knowledge, maritime practice, and advances in nautical astronomy converged to enable transatlantic voyages. He places those voyages in a wider context of cultural contact, technical innovation, and expanding commercial demand that slowly prepared the way for long-distance navigation. Attention centers on the leading navigator's personal qualities, his methodical use of recently developed instruments, and the observational insights found in his writings. The account notes his persistent misidentification of the newly encountered lands as parts of Asia and argues that discovery resulted from deliberate reflection, accumulated experience, and scientific tools rather than from mere chance.