Hudson Tercentenary / An historical retrospect regarding the object and quest of an all-water route from Europe to India; the obstacles in the way; and also Hudson's voyage to America in 1609 and some of its results

A historical survey traces European efforts to find an all-water route to India, explaining how ancient and medieval encounters with the East spurred demand for spices and luxury goods and revealed the limits of caravan transport. It describes Portuguese advances in ocean navigation that made round-Africa voyages feasible, rival western attempts to reach Asia by westward and eastward routes, and papal and national assertions over newly found lands. The narrative follows the formation of chartered trading companies and concludes with an account of the 1609 voyage into North American waters and its commercial and geopolitical repercussions.