This book contains the daily logs kept by Columbus -- himself, and by Magellan's scribe, Antonio Pigafetta, on their fateful voyages to the unknown Americas and, subsequently around the world. These voyages, of exploration and of discovery, have unequivocally changed and impacted on the western world like no other event except for the advent of Jesus Christ. The logs herewith are the first translation into English, and read like any modern adventure stories such as 'Around the World in 80 Days'. It also contains essays by Adolph Caso and Marco Giacomelli. Caso takes on the polemics surrounding the persona of Columbus -- especially the issues of Leif Ericson -- with the forged Vinland Map; of Columbus' 'Jewishness' -- with the claims that Columbus secretly worked for his Jewish brothers to find a Jewish state in the New World; and whether America should have a 'Columbus Day'. Giacomelli, on the other hand, tells the story of how America got its name.