The History of English Podcast Episode 145: A Sea Change for Europe
Feb 18, 2021
This podcast explores the European exploration and discovery in the 1400s, the linguistic impact of the New World discovery on the English language, the origins of nautical terms and shipbuilding incentives, the etymology of terms like 'denim', 'jeans', and 'maps', the historical origins of terms like Middle East and India, the influence of island chains on European exploration and naming conventions, the trading relationship between England and Iceland, and Christopher Columbus's search for support from Spanish rulers.
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Mystery Origin Of 'Sweepstakes'
- The earliest appearance of 'sweepstakes' is as a ship's name in Henry's records, origin uncertain.
- It may have referred to nets that 'swept' up fish, explaining later contest meaning.
Trade Began As A 'Track'
- 'Trade' entered English from Dutch meaning a track or course, later expanding to commercial exchange.
- Its nautical sense described a ship's route before evolving to modern commerce.
Constantinople's Fall Redirected Trade
- The 1453 fall of Constantinople blocked key East-West routes and led Europeans to seek alternate paths to Asia.
- Ottoman control and taxes made eastern trade more costly and uncertain.