From Ferdinand Magellan and Sir Francis Drake to lesser-known scientific explorers and even an unknown mariner, a batch of new nonfiction works share previously overlooked stories set during the age of discovery. These titles expand our thinking about the people and missions that jumpstarted maritime travel and commerce.

Conquering the Pacific: An Unknown Mariner and the Final Great Voyage of the Age of Discovery
Andrés Reséndez, Sep 2021, Mariner Books, an imprint of Harper Collins
Themes: World history, Spanish history, Maritime history, Age of Discovery

CONQUERING THE PACIFIC shares an amazing account of a mid-16th century Spanish expedition that crossed the Pacific Ocean and returned. Launched from a secret port in Mexico, the crew included a Black mariner who captained the small, lead ship.
Take-aways: Of particular interest are the many examples of navigational techniques necessary to successfully cross this challenging ocean. In addition, the book details encounters with the Pacific Islanders and an assortment of near-disasters. ( )

Reséndez (b. 1970 Mexico) is a professor of history working at a US university. He is drawing attention to the first person to sail across the Pacific and back in the mid-16th century, establishing it could be done and thus the start of a "Columbia exchange" towards Asia, the consequences for the modern world "can not be over-estimated" (cliche that is true). The hero of the story is Lope Martín (mar-teen), a mulatto who had risen through the ranks to become one of the most qualified pilots of the era. Point your bow west from Mexico and sail, but it's not that easy - it requires knowledge of trade winds and currents, but also instinct and bravery. Martín is super important in world history up there with Columbus. He does not have a Wikipedia article as of this writing. The Spanish of the time managed to expunge his accomplishment from history attributing it to a non-mulatto aristocrat.

The book is fairly short with a lot of diagrams. The writing is a bit dense but understandable and dramatic in parts, Reséndez is showing his knowledge and can range widely but it gets more focused towards the end stick with it. It will make you feel smarter for having read it. There is a lot about 16th century navigation techniques, it was something of a black art based on arcane knowledge. The mutinies and violence shipboard foreshadow the golden age of privateering and piracy soon to overtake the Spanish. ( )

nonfiction, historical-figures, historical-places-events, historical-research, history-and-culture****

I requested and received a free temporary copy from Houghton Mifflin Harcourt via NetGalley. BUT. It was only available to the app on the phone screen and although I was able to only read about 25% in this manner due to vision issues, it seemed like an unusually good Publish or Perish. Written in a style that was engaging and informative, I really wish that I could have read the whole book without distress. The print copy should be well worth it whether the reader is of Spanish heritage or not. Hoping it comes out in large print. ( )