The World of Columbus and Sons

by Genevieve Foster

This is the story of a wonderful, changing, reawakening world of the Renaissance and Reformation. Measured by the lifetime of Columbus and his sons, this book spans the years from 1451-1539. With Columbus as the central figure of this narrative, readers will also learn the fascinating stories of Prince Henry the Navigator, Ivan III of Russia, Gutenberg, Queen Isabella, Leonardo da Vinci, Mohammed II, the African ruler Nomi Mansa, Martin Luther, Erasmus, Albrecht Dürer, Copernicus, Michaelangelo and many others.

Told in Foster's engaging and winsome style enhanced by her helpful chronologies and timelines, readers will learn of the religious, cultural and scientific changes that ushered in a new age of exploration and discovery.

Genres: History, Nonfiction, School, Historical, Biography, Childrens, Medieval

406 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1965

About the author

Genevieve Stump Foster was an American children's author and illustrator best known for her innovative approach to writing history books for young readers. Born in Oswego, New York, she spent most of her childhood in Wisconsin after the death of her father. Foster studied at Rockford College, the University of Wisconsin, and the Chicago Academy of Fine Arts. She began her career as a commercial artist before focusing on children’s literature. Inspired by her daughter, she developed a distinctive method of presenting history by integrating global events to show their connections. Her first major success, George Washington's World, highlighted how the American and French Revolutions and British imperialism affected Washington’s life. Foster's books, praised for bringing historical figures to life, were translated into numerous languages and distributed internationally. Over her career, she wrote 19 nonfiction books, several of which became Newbery Honor titles. Foster passed away in Westport, Connecticut, leaving a legacy that continues through her enduring works and influence on historical storytelling.

Reviews

[Jana · Rating 5 out of 5]

I took 4 months to read through this book with my 5th and 6th-grade homeschoolers. This era in history is fascinating (age of exploration, the renaissaince, the reformation), and I personally find all of the illustrations really helpful in remembering the myriad of historical figures and their connections with each other. We actually made color-coded character cards from photocopies of the illustrations in order to keep track of everybody. I hope to read through this again in coming years with my other kids and use those character cards again and perhaps even do more geography along with the reading. I really enjoy Foster's writing style, and we spent several hours playing with vocabulary that we learned from the book also. She does not avoid explaining the horrible mistreatment of the Caribbean natives that unfolded upon Columbus' discovery of the New World. Great book. Important era in history.

[Carol Bakker · Rating 4 out of 5]

A good overview of what was happening throughout the world between 1451 and 1537. It was helpful to see the interconnectedness of history. Ferdinand Columbus (Christopher's son) met and received an autographed book from Erasmus!

The illustrations are the jewels of these books.

[Syd · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thi was good 4 a history school book. Very interesting; story-telling; etc.

I don't know if I would read this again in my free time, but it's good 4 kids who want 2 learn something about Columbus and hi 'Sons'.

Recommended ages 11 & up.

[Millie Florence · Rating 5 out of 5]

An incredible book that makes history come to life!

[Alyssa Bohon · Rating 5 out of 5]

It's hard to describe just how good this book is for connecting the dots of a tumultuous and troubling time period. Foster's insights have a sympathetic honesty that allows you to see both the good and the bad in each character, and her narrative brings them all together into a pulsing world of painful change and longing in which history begins to visibly accelerate.

I never before saw the overlap between Columbus and Luther in this way - for example, previous to going up to the Diet of Worms to try Martin Luther, Charles V was dealing with protests of how the natives of the islands occupied by Columbus were being abused.

The tragedy that Columbus' discovery unleashed on the Americas were the outflow of Europe's corruption that lay behind him, and yet it was the Renaissance of learning that led him and others to want to explore further - that same Renaissance that also led Luther to cry out for a Reformation of the evil in church and state that this exploration was spreading further around the globe.

This is the second of Foster's 'World of' books I've read, and so far the best. It makes you truly feel that history is worth reading because it sheds light on our world. I read less of it aloud to the kids as the European church and monarchy become an absolute soap opera of power plays that is both complex and disturbing. Foster is discreet, but the tangled webs get a bit much for kids to follow, however they were fascinating to me.

[Colin · Rating 5 out of 5]

A really fascinating history book - a "horizontal" history, weaving together WHAT ELSE WAS HAPPENING, the context within which the events of the lifetime of Christopher Columbus and his sons were alive. It was written about 3/4 of a century ago, and focuses more on European history than anything else, but it covers well the interrelated dynamics of the Holy Roman Empire, the kings of England and France, the Renaissance in Italy, the "discovery" of America, right up to the trials and condemnation of Martin Luther by the Church (one of Columbus' sons was present for some of this, travelling with Holy Roman Emperor Charles V) . . . Also, for a book written so long ago, and with some sympathy for people who now get little (like Christopher Columbus), the book does accurately discuss the mistreatment and genocide of the Tainos and other indigenous peoples by Europeans.

[Lynette Caulkins · Rating 5 out of 5]

I do really love these history book by Foster. She chooses a significant figure and presents world history during the slice of that lifetime, so that you see what is going on everywhere as a whole. I always learn about similitudes that I never realized happened at the same time! Childrens books, but very readable and informative for adults. And she didn't pull punches about the nature of Columbus and the behavior of his people in the Caribbean.

[Zachary · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a really good book, considering it is history. Normally, history textbooks are where you memorize dates and titles, but in this book it's told as if a story, it envelopes you, and she weaves the plot together so well, while obviously keeping to the facts and along the way showing the dates and titles. I enjoyed this more than I want to admit.

[Michal · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book covers not only Columbus, but does a "horizontal history" of the people in the world at the same time as him who made an impact. Though it mostly concerns itself with Europeans, there are Muslim and African leaders and influencers included as well. This book is dense with lots of information and is probably best taken a few pages at a time.

[Eliza Fitzgerald]

We read this as a free read during the quarantine. I think it's an interesting read that is an accurate portrayal of Columbus set into the context of what else was happening all around the world at the same time.

[Rebecca · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the second book by G Foster of this type that we have read. We enjoy the storytelling take on history and the way she weaves the many different characters together into a comprehensive book. It is a lot to keep track of, but more fun that memorizing dates.

[Willow]

The kids are finishing this one up. We switched from reading it aloud to silent individual reading, so I only got about halfway through. They find it interesting and I enjoy hearing/reading their narrations on it. Not sure I'll pick it up again to finish unless I read it to E later.

[Alexandra Medina · Rating 4 out of 5]

A solid read. It really gives context to what was going on throughout Europe and the Middle East at the time of Columbus. Sometimes it got a little hard to follow, but that could be a me problem. Did address the treatment of the Tainos and the slave trade of the time.

[Hanna · Rating 1 out of 5]

This was boring. History is not boring, but this book was. End of story.

[Private Account · Rating 5 out of 5]

As far as history books for kids goes ... this is fantastic.

[Grace]

Return to a middle school classic.
I don't agree with all her interpretations (of course), but these books are a fun way to encounter the sweep of an era.

[Catherine Lowe · Rating 4 out of 5]

Used for homeschool history with my 8th grader as part of a Beautiful Feet Books curriculum. I like Foster's "horizontal history."

[Enoch Rhodes · Rating 5 out of 5]

Her best book, in my opinion.

[Laurie Wheeler · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great book for Dialectic homeschool history studies about the Renaissance and Reformation. Loaded with details.

[Phoebe Hinkle]

Nothing wrong with it - the author has an engaging style - I'm just not in the mood for it atm. 🫠

[Ruth Hansen · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love looking at history in a timeline and connecting what's happening at the same time.

[Shannon · Rating 5 out of 5]

Who said history was boring? It doesn't have be! The World of Columbus and Sons was written by Genevieve Foster, a four-time Newbery Honor award winner. Throughout her life, she wrote nineteen non-fiction books for children and illustrated most of them herself. The World of Columbus and Sons was published in 1965 and sadly seems to be out of print now, but is worth any trouble to get.

During the age of Columbus, many great figures stepped onto the stage of history, such as Lorenzo de Medici, Nicolaus Copernicus, Leonardo da Vinci, Martin Luther, Henry VIII and Michelangelo. During this amazing age, the world in general and Europe in particular, was radically changed as the Dark Ages ended and the Renaissance began. Art, science and religion would never be the same again. Indeed, nothing would be.

The World of Columbus and Sons is an incredible book. The author weaves the many strands of the story together in a way that is easy to remember and puts the history of the world into context. The events and people of the age are shown to be what they are: parts of a greater whole. Entire pages of the book are given to maps and drawings, simple but memorable. The author skilfully avoids adding to or rewriting stories, even if there is limited information available on them. Instead, she uses those stories as brief 'snapshots' and does not say what she does not know.

The World of Columbus and Sons will be beneficial and enjoyable for anyone, children and adults alike, but would probably be best for children between about twelve and sixteen.

[R. C. · Rating 4 out of 5]

It took a year, reading 3-5 times a week, to finish this intense book, but that was okay. For a whole year. Truly pleasant reading.

I don't think I will ever forget the events laid out in this slice of world history. So absorbing.

Points docked for old-fashioned racist terms for American Indians. But I am pretty sure the publisher has already updated that language in more recent editions. And I don't think the storytelling is quite as racist as the word choices. There's more/deeper Tusquantum ("Squanto") story here than in most kids books, too, though not nearly enough, and the terrible truth of the Pequot War is in here laid out quite as terribly as it was.

[Christina · Rating 3 out of 5]

I read this book for a history curriculum. The same curriculum as George Washington's World and The World of Captain John Smith. I'll say the same thing as I did about them.
Foster does an excellent job of telling about Columbus and also telling about what happens everywhere around the world during his time. She tells it like a story rather than just listing, "this happened at this time while King so-and-so fought in this battle..." or something like that. Foster makes it an interesting read.

[Stephanie Ziebarth · Rating 4 out of 5]

I do really appreciate and enjoy these "The World of..." history books by Genevieve Foster. She does a great job bringing important historic events to life, while also helping the student to understand where the events lie on history's timeline. My children and I did find the "War of Roses" to still be confusing even while reading this book, but perhaps someday we will find a good book on that dramatic time period...

[Betty Ann · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a wonderful history book, filled with so many people you know a little bit, or maybe a whole lot, about, who lived in the same time as Columbus. There's Henry VII and VIII, Erasmus, Sir Thomas Moore, Leonardo da Vinci, and just about everybody else you can think of, all woven into one huge story. Written for junior high and up, really a good read

[Lisa · Rating 4 out of 5]

Like all her other books, Foster brings history to life for young children in this lively retelling of the life and times of Christopher Columbus. This is far more than a biography of Columbus. She also tells the stories of many other illustrious people who lived at the same time as Columbus, including Martin Luther, Erasmus, Ivan the Great, Leonardo Da Vinci, the Medicis... the list goes on.

[Hilary · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great! Love the "horizontal history" format that really puts a personality to famous people of history.

[Michelle · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of the best world history books for the middle grades. Foster's books weave the events of one famous person's life with what was happening around the world. Wonderfully written!!

[Jennifer · Rating 4 out of 5]

Love this series of historical non-fiction-ish literature for kids. Excellent resource.