Drive Thru History with Dave Stotts—The Discovery: Columbus and the New World

Culled from a longer series produced in part by Focus on the Family, this program featuring European location footage follows hyper host Dave Stotts (who often dons shades and mugs cornily for the camera) as he traces the path of explorer Christopher Columbus, including stops at Columbus's boyhood home in Italy and the actual Palos de la Frontera (from which the Niña, Pinta, and Santa María sailed). The Discovery features interesting facts about Columbus's upbringing, the historical nature of trade-related travel (a connect-the-dots segment examines the ties between the Khans, the Silk Road, the Polo brothers, and the Mehmed siege of Constantinople), and other explorers such as cosmographer Paolo Toscanelli and mapmaker Amerigo Vespucchi. Oddly, despite the title, there is not much focus here on the New World. A compact historical travelogue with an overall approach and running time suited to classroom use, this is a strong optional purchase. Aud: I, J, P. (J. Williams-Wood)