It really is fundamental to understanding why people like Columbus and de Gama were the way they were from knowing the state of Europe at the time. They were violent and desparate mercenaries from a violent and desparate place, when they arrived anywhere their first thoughts were "ok, what can I immediately loot and sell here, if I don't come back with something good my debtors are gonna cut my balls off"

https://www.reddit.com/r/BlackWolfFeed/comments/oj7mzt/540_its_coming_rome_feat_patrick_wyman_71221/

    • D61 [any]
      ·
      3 years ago

      I think a lot of getting loans from rich people during those times was having letters sent by common friends/acquaintances/etc. If nobody knew you and you weren't an amazing con-...-person, you weren't getting money.