The following sections of this BookRags Literature Study Guide is offprint from Gale's For Students Series: Presenting Analysis, Context, and Criticism on Commonly Studied Works: Introduction, Author Biography, Plot Summary, Characters, Themes, Style, Historical Context, Critical Overview, Criticism and Critical Essays, Media Adaptations, Topics for Further Study, Compare & Contrast, What Do I Read Next?, For Further Study, and Sources.
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The following sections, if they exist, are offprint from Beacham's Encyclopedia of Popular Fiction: "Social Concerns", "Thematic Overview", "Techniques", "Literary Precedents", "Key Questions", "Related Titles", "Adaptations", "Related Web Sites". (c)1994-2005, by Walton Beacham.
The following sections, if they exist, are offprint from Beacham's Guide to Literature for Young Adults: "About the Author", "Overview", "Setting", "Literary Qualities", "Social Sensitivity", "Topics for Discussion", "Ideas for Reports and Papers". (c)1994-2005, by Walton Beacham.
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fl. 1200s
Italian merchants who made the first European attempt to reach Asia by sailing westward. In 1281 or 1291, more than two centuries before the historic first voyage of Christopher Columbus (1451-1506), the Genoese Vivaldi brothers set sail for the Indies in two ships. The crafts left Genoa, passed through the Straits of Gibraltar, and landed briefly on the Moroccan coast before sailing westward, never to be heard from again. In later years the Vivaldi brothers became the subjects of legends that depicted them as having circumnavigated Africa before being captured by the mythical Christian king Prester John.