American Quotations by William J. Federer 2024

Michelangelo (March 6, 1475-February 18, 1564) was one of the greatest artists in history. The son of Lodovico de Leonardo de Buonarroti Simoni, he lived during the Italian Renaissance and was known for his portrayal of living strength and energy in his paintings, sculptures and architectural designs. In 1508, he began painting the Sistine Chapel and finished with the completion of the Last Judgment, October 31, 1541. His sculptures include: David (1501-04), Moses (1513-16), Bound Captives (1513-16) and The Pieta' (1498-99), a touching depiction of Christ in His mother's arms after He was taken down from the cross. In his...

Criss-Cross (1475) originated from the Middle English Christ's-Cross, and earlier, 1390, from Cros-Kryst, was the mark + or X written before the alphabet. This originated from the Greek spelling of the name of Christ, which were X P, called "chi-rho." This is the origin of the use of X-mas for "Christmas." During Medieval times when many were illiterate, an individual would mark their name by the X, the Christ's Cross, and kiss it in front of witnesses to show sincerity. This was a written form of the oath, "So help me God." This was also the origin of signing Valentine...

Bartolome' de Las Casas (August 1474-July 17, 1566) was called "the Apostle of the Indies," as he was one of the first Christian missionaries to minister to the Indians of Latin America. The first priest ordained inthe New World, Las Casas became known for his devotion to the oppressed and enslaved natives. He wrote Apologetic History of the Indies (Apologetica Historia de las Indias), 1530, which exposed the oppression of the Indians in the forced labor "Encomienda" system and influenced Madrid to enact the New Laws, 1542, in the interest of Indian welfare. He also provided a great literary service...

Isabella I (April 22, 1451-November 26, 1504) was the Queen of Castile, who in 1481 married Ferdinand II, King of Aragon, thereby unifying Christian Spain. They successfully drove the Moors from Granada and financed Christopher Columbus' expedition to the Indies, which resulted in the discovery of America. In her commission to Columbus, Queen Isabella recited that the purpose of the voyage was: <For the Glory of God....it is hoped that by God's assistance some of the continents and islands in the oceans will be discovered.> 1451QI001 Queen Isabella informed the Pope of Columbus' attempt: <To bear the light of Christ...

Christopher Columbus (1451-May 20, 1506) was a Genoese explorer who sailed to America. After Muslim Turks conquered Constantinople in 1453, land routes were cut off from Europe to India and China. These land routes were used in the time of Venitian explorer Marco Polo, who travelled to China in 1271 and brought back stories of Beijing's Kublai Khan, Chinese gunpowder, charcoal, porcelein, silk, paper currency, and spaghetti. India was a trade destination for its dyes, spices and teas. When the Turkish Ottoman Muslims captured the Byzantine Empire, and Europe's Crusades were unsuccessful in regaining the land, Europe's monarchs sought new...