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Abraham Zacuto
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<p>Abraham Zacuto was a Sephardic Jewish <a href="/facts/Astronomer/ronF8j4a">astronomer</a>, <a href="/facts/Astrologer/kFP09KjH">astrologer</a>, <a href="/facts/Mathematician/eaFSR8Fx">mathematician</a>, <a href="/facts/Rabbi/vuBf5LYj">rabbi</a> and <a href="/facts/Historian/5DBH5eCb">historian</a>. Born in Castile, he served as Royal Astronomer to King <a href="/facts/John_II_of_Portugal/NJcxdbEC">John II of Portugal</a> before fleeing to Tunis. </p><p>His <a href="/facts/Astrolabe/BctVIEm4">astrolabe</a> of <a href="/facts/Copper/I8PEE8oX">copper</a>, astronomical tables, and maritime charts played an important role in the Spanish and Portuguese voyages of discovery, being used by both <a href="/facts/Vasco_Da_Gama/9lw5lIza">Vasco Da Gama</a> and <a href="/facts/Christopher_Columbus/8hLAb46S">Christopher Columbus</a>. </p>