Major geographical travel. The most famous travelers and their discoveries. Learn your abilities outside the comfort zone

The routes of the most important travels of great geographical discoveries, the conditional term adopted mainly in historical literature denoting the largest geographical discoveries of European travelers in 15 mid-17th centuries. In foreign literature, the period of great geographical discoveries is usually limited to mid 15 mid 16th century. Great geographical discoveries




Karavella Symbol of the Great Geographical Discoveries The great geographical discoveries became possible thanks to the successes of European science and technology. By the 15th century, sailing vessels (Karavella), great geographical discoveries were created for the ocean dating.






Fang Walgs New trading paths forced to look for both Turkish conquests, breaking traditional merchant ties with the East through the Mediterranean Sea. In overseas lands, Europeans hoped to find wealth: precious stones and metals, exotic goods and spices, elephant bone and wallages. Great geographical discoveries


Portugal coat of arms The first systematic expeditions in the Atlantic Ocean began the Portuguese. The activity of Portugal on the sea was predetermined by its geographical position in the extreme West of Europe and the historical conditions that have been completed after the end of Portuguese reconquists. Great geographical discoveries




Heinrich (Enriki) The navigator traditionally the success of Portugal on the sea is associated with the name of Prince Heinrich Mariable (). He was not only the organizer of maritime expeditions, but also seriously engaged in the development of open lands.


Azores In 1416, Portuguese Sailor G. Velu, following the south along Africa, opened the Canary Islands, in 1419, Portuguese noblemen Zarka and your Teixeira discovered the Islands of Madeira and Porto Santa, in 1431 V. Kabral Azores. Great geographical discoveries


Dios Kan in the Congo for the 15th century Portuguese caravels mastered the sea path along the western coast of Africa, reaching more and more southern latitudes. In the years, Dioga Kan (CAO) crossed the equator, opened the mouth of the Congo River and passed along the coast of Africa to Cape Cross. Kahn found Namibian deserts, thereby refuted the legend of obstruction of the tropics since the time of Ptolemy. Great geographical discoveries






Christopher Columbus, portrait of an unknown artist 16 in. In 1492, after taking Granada and the completion of reconquitors, the Spanish king of Ferdinand and Queen Isabella adopted a project of the Genoese navigator Christopher Columbus () to reach the shores of India, floating west.


Coin 1 Columbus with the Columbus profile from the Columbus project was quite a few opponents, but he received the support of scientists from the University of Salamansky, the most famous in Spain, and, which is no less significant, among the business people of Seville.








Christopher Columbus (G.G.) from the Canary O-GI Columbus took the course to the West. October 12, 1492, after a monthly swimming in the open ocean, the fleet approached the small O-WH from the Bahamas group, then named San Salvador.










The second expedition subsequently by Columbus made three more travels to America in the years, GG, during which part of small antillesko OGs were opened, Puerto Rico, Jamaica, Trinidad et al.; Part of the Atlantic coast of Central and South America was examined.








Columbus with an anchor and his noble coat of arms of Columbus for his great discovery by the Spanish monarch was granted the noble coat of arms, in which "Castle Castle and Leon Leon were adjacent to the images of the islands open to them, as well as the anchors of the admiral title characters." Personal coat of arms Columbus















Vasco da Gama returned to Portugal in September 1499, Vasco da Gama was met with great honor, received a major monetary award and title "Admiral Indian Ocean", as well as the title of Don and the city of Sinesh and Vilanov de Milfontesh in Votchin. In 1519 he received the title of Vijejeir's graph.


Portrait of Vasco da Gama later was twice twice in India. Died in Kochin (India) on December 24, dust was transported to Portugal and buried in a small church Quinta Do Carmo in Alenteju. In 1880, the dust was transferred to the monastery of the Jeronimites in Lisbon.


John Cabot in Spain and Portugal every year, sea expeditions were equipped every year, which made overseas swimming and opened new lands. Interested in overseas countries and other European states. In the years, England has an expedition handled under the leadership of the Italian navigator John Cabota, which reached the shores of North America in the Newfownland Island area. Great geographical discoveries


Pedro Alvarech Kabral In 1500, the Portuguese squadron under the command of Pedro Kabral, directed to India, due to the equatorial flow, was strongly rejected and reached Brazil, which Kabral accepted for the island. Then he continued swimming, he cut off Africa and through the Mozambique Strait proceeded to India. Like previous travelers, Cabral considered it the land in the West part of Asia. Great geographical discoveries


Alonso de Hedge on the XVIII century engraving. An important importance for understanding the essence of the opening of Christopher Columbus had the journey of the Mariety Amerigo Vespucci. In years, he made four travels to the shores of America, first as part of the Spanish Expedition under the leadership of Alonso Okha, and then under the Portuguese flag. Great geographical discoveries


Amerigo Vespucci comparing the received data, and the Spanish and Portuguese navigators discovered all the northern coast of South America and its eastern shore to 25 ° of southern latitude, Veszpucci came to the conclusion that open lands are not Asia, but a new mainland, and offered to call him "new light "








John Cabotas Studies in North America continued his son Sebastian Cabot. In years, leading English expeditions, he tried to find the so-called northwestern passage to India and managed to reach the bay at Hudsons. Having found a short way to India, England did not show much interest in open lands overseas. Hudsons Bay Great Geographical Discovery






Finally confirmed the difference between America and Asia Fernan Magellan, which carried out the first round-the-world swimming (), which became a practical evidence of the shag-likeness of the Earth. Fernan Magelan


Ship from fleet Magellan. The image of 1523, the expedition under the leadership of Magellan examined the southeast part of South America, opened the shed between the Atlantic and the Pacific Oceans (Magellan Strait) and walked through the southern part of the Pacific Ocean. Great geographical discoveries










Cordoba, Kalaorra Tower in the years Spanish conquistadors H. Ponce de Leon, F. Cordova, H. Grikhaalva opened the entire East Coast of South and Central America, the coast of the Gulf of Mexico, Peninsula Florida. Great geographical discoveries




Map of the hike. Expedition to Mexico Great geographical discoveries


California Map XVII century. The territory is depicted as the island of searching for gold, the mythical country of Eldorado, led conquistadors far deep into the American continent. In the years, which switched to the Spanish service of Sebastian Cabot, explored the lower course of the Parran River and opened the lower course of the Paraguay River.




Francisco Eaglean in 1542 sailed over the Amazon from Andes to the mouth. By 1552, the Spaniards examined the entire Pacific coast of South America, opened the largest rivers of the continent (Amazon, Orinoco, Parano, Paraguay), examined Andes from 10 ° north latitude to 40 ° of southern latitude. Francisco de Orelian, depicted by the artist of our day.


Hernando de Soto in the second quarter of the 16th century, French navigators reached significant success. J. Verchsano (1524) and J. Cartier () opened the East Coast of North America and the River of St. Lawrence. In the years, the Spaniards E. Soto and F. Koronado traveled to the southern Appalachi and the Southern Rocky Mountains, to the Pools of the Colorado rivers and Mississippi.


The Russian landowner Semyon Dezhnev, who opened the shed between Asian Mainst and America in 1617 centuries. Russian landlords examined the north coast of Obi, Yenisei and Lena and caused the contours of the northern coast of Asia on the map. In 1642, Yakutsk was founded, which became the base of expeditions to the Arctic Ocean. Great geographical discoveries


The Russian landowner Semyon Dezhnev, who opened the shed between Asian Mainland and America, the great geographical discoveries in 1648. Semyon Ivanovich Dezhnev (OK) came out of the Kolyma and bypassed the Chukotka peninsula, proving that the Asian Mainland was separated from America by the Strait. The outlines of the native and Eastern coast of Asia (1667, "Drawing of the Siberian Earth") were clarified and applied on maps.


Cape Dezhnev But the rejone's report on the opening of the Strait of the 80 years broke in the Yakut archive and was published only in 1758 in 18 V. Outdoor derage, the strait was called the name of the Danish navigator in the Russian service of Vitus Bering, which in 1728 revealed the strait. In 1898, the Cape of the North-Eastern Tip of Asia was named in memory of the Dezhnev. Great geographical discoveries




Henry Hudson took four expeditions to North America. He passed the strait between Labrador and the Baphin Earth into the extensive bay in the depths of North America. Later and the strait and the bay were named after Hudson. His name is named and the river in the east of North America, at the mouth of which the city of New York appeared later. The fate of Goodzon ended tragic, in the spring of 1611 rebeling the crew of his ship landed him with a teenage son in the boat in the midst of the ocean, where they were missing. Henry Hudson


John Davis in the years spent three swimming in the waters of the North Atlantic, opened the strait between Greenland and America (the devisians of the Strait), explored the coast of the Labrador Peninsula. John Davis Great Geographical Discovery


William William William William William William Blahfin Walled in the Arctic Waters in the years: I made an expedition to the shores of Spitsberena, explored the hackons bay and the sea, subsequently called him name, opened a number of islands in the Canadian Arctic Archipelago, moving along the western shore of Greenland reached 78 ° Northern latitude. Samuel De Shamplin in the first quarter of 17 century. Europeans are beginning to master North America. At first, France was achieved the greatest success in this region. The first governor of Canada Samuel Shaped in GG. He explored the part of the eastern coast of North America, traveled deep into the continent: opened the Northern Appalachi, rose up on the river of St. Lawrence to the Great Lakes and reached Lake Huron. By 1648, the French opened all five great lakes.


At the same time, at the beginning of the 17th century, European navigators penetrated the most remote from Europe part of the world areas located south of Southeast Asia. The Spaniard Louis Torres opened the southern bank of New Guinea in 1606 and passed the strait of partitioning Asia and Australia (Torres Strait). Map Torresov Strait Great Geographic Discovery



Abel Janzson Tasman in the years. Hollandets Abel Tasman opened Tasmania, New Zealand, Fiji, part of the coast of North and Western Australia. Tasman defined that Australia is a single sushi array and called it New Holland. But the Holland lacked resources, to master the new continent and later, he had to open it again. Great geographical discoveries

Travel always manifested people, but before they were not only interesting, but also extremely difficult. The territories were not studied, and, going on the road, everyone became a researcher. What travelers are the most famous and what exactly opened each of them?

James Cook

Famous Englishman was one of the best cartographers of the eighteenth century. He was born in the north of England and by thirteen years began to work with his father. But the trading boy turned out to be unable, so I decided to go to the navigation. In those days, all famous travelers of the world went to distant countries on ships. James became interested in the sea business and so quickly advanced through the career staircase, which he was offered to become captain. He refused and went to the Royal Fleet. Already in 1757, talented cook began to manage the ship himself. Its first achievement was the compilation of the Farwiter of the River, he opened the talent of the navigator and the cartographer. In the 1760s, he studied Newfoundland than attracted the attention of the Royal Society and Admiralty. He was instructed to travel through the Pacific Ocean, where he got to the shores of New Zealand. In 1770, he committed something that other famous travelers did not seek before, - opened a new mainland. In England in 1771, Cook returned to the famous pioneer of Australia. His last journey became an expedition in search of a passage connecting the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans. Today, even schoolchildren know the sad fate of Cook, who killed the natives-cannibals.

Christopher Columbus

Famous travelers and their discoveries have always had a considerable impact on the course of history, but few people turned out to be so famous as this person. Columbus became the national hero of Spain, resolutely expanding the country's card. Christor was born in 1451. The boy quickly achieved success, because he was diligent and well studied. Already at the age of 14, he went to the sea. In the 1479th he met his love and began his life in Portugal, but after the tragic death, the spouse went with her son to Spain. Having received the support of the Spanish king, he went to the expedition, the purpose of which was to find a way to Asia. Three ship sailed from the shores of Spain to the West. In October 1492, they reached the Bahamas. So America was open. The local residents of Christopher mistakenly decided to call Indians, believing that he got to India. His report has changed history: two new continents and many islands, open by Columbus, became the main direction of the colonizers in the next few centuries.

Vasco da Gama

The most famous traveler of Portugal was born in the city of Sinesh on September 29, 1460. From the young age he worked on the fleet and became famous as confident and fearless captain. In 1495 in Portugal, King Manuel, who dreamed of developing trade with India came to power. To do this, it was necessary for the sea route, in search of which Vasco da Gama had to go. There were also better famous navigators and travelers in the country, but for some reason chose the king. In 1497, four ships went to the south, reinforced and fell to Mozambique. There I had to stay for a month - half of the team was sick to the queen. After the break, Vasco da Gama reached Calcutta. In India, he established trading ties for three months, and in a year he returned to Portugal, where he became a national hero. The opening of the sea route, which allowed to get to Calcutta by the Eastern Coast of Africa, became its main achievement.

Nikolay Miklukho-Maclay

Famous Russian travelers also committed many important discoveries. For example, the same Nikolai Mihlukho-Maclay, born in 1864 in the Novgorod province. He could not finish the University of St. Petersburg, as it was expelled for participating in student demonstrations. For the continuation of education, Nikolai went to Germany, where he met Geckel - the naturalist who invited Miklukho-Maclay to his scientific expedition. So for him the world of wanderings opened. His whole life was devoted to travel and scientific work. Nikolai lived in Sicily, in Australia, studied New Guinea, embodying the project of the Russian geographical society, was in Indonesia, in the Philippines, on the Malacca Peninsula and in Oceania. In 1886, the naturalist returned to Russia and offered the emperor to establish a Russian colony overseas. But the project with New Guinea did not receive royal support, and Miklukho-Maclay seriously fell ill and soon died, so without completing his work on the book on travel.

Fernan Magellan

Many famous navigators and travelers lived in the era of the Grand Magellan, is no exception. In 1480, he was born in Portugal, in the city of Sabrose. After going to serve at the court (at that time he was only 12 years old), he learned about the confrontation between his native country and Spain, about traveling to East India and trade routes. So he was interested in the sea for the first time. In 1505, Fernan fell on the ship. Seven years after that, he fought maritime expanses, participated in expeditions to India and Africa. In 1513, Magellan went to Morocco, where he was wounded in battle. But this did not take traction to travel - he planned an expedition for spices. The king rejected his petition, and Magellan went to Spain, where he received all the necessary support. So began his world journey. Fernan thought that from the West way to India could be shorter. He crossed the Atlantic Ocean, got to South America and opened the strait, which would later call him the name. He became the first European who saw the Pacific Ocean. On him, he got to the Philippines and almost reached the goal - Molukky Islands, but died in a battle with local tribes, injured by a poisonous arrow. Nevertheless, his journey opened Europe a new ocean and an understanding that the planet is much more than the scientists thought before.

Ruled Amundsen

Norwegez was born at the very end of the era into which many famous travelers became famous. Amundsen became the last of the navigaters who tried to find unopened lands. Since childhood, he was distinguished by persistence and faith in his forces, which allowed him to conquer the southern geographical pole. The beginning of the path is connected with 1893, when the boy threw the university and settled the sailor. In 1896 he became a navigator, and next year he went to his first expedition to the Antarctic. The ship was lost in the ice, the team was sickling, but Amundsen did not give up. He took the command to herself, cured people, remembering his medical education, and brought the ship back to Europe. Becoming the captain, in 1903 he went to search for the northwestern pass from Canada. Famous travelers have never accomplished anything like that - in two years the team overcame the way from the East of American Mainland to its West. Amundsen became known for the whole world. The next expedition was a two-month trip to the southern plus, and the last enterprise is the search for Nobile, during which he disappeared.

David Livingston

Many famous travelers are associated with navigation. He became explorer Sushi, namely the African continent. The famous Scotland was born in March 1813. At the age of 20, he decided to become a missionary, met Robert Moffeth and wished to go to African villages. In 1841, he came to Kuruman, where he trained the local residents of agriculture, served as a doctor and taught a diploma. In the same place he learned the language of the Bechuiana, which helped him in travels in Africa. Livingston studied in detail the life and morals of local residents, wrote several books about them and went to the expedition to search for the origins of the Nile, in which he fell ill and died of fever.

Amerigo Vespucci

The most famous world travelers most often were from Spain or Portugal. Amerigo Vespucci was born in Italy and became one of the famous Florentine. He got a good education and learned to the financier. From 1490 he worked in Seville, in the Trade Representation of Medici. His life was associated with sea journey, for example, he sponsored Columbus's second expedition. Christor inspired him the idea of \u200b\u200btrying himself as a traveler, and already in 1499-M Vespucci went to Suriname. The goal of swimming was the study of the coastline. There he opened the settlement, called Venezuela - a small Venice. In 1500, he returned home, bringing 200 slaves. In 1501 and 1503. Amerigo repeated his journey, speaking not only by the navigator, but also by the cartographer. He discovered the Rio de Janeiro bay, whose name gave himself. From 1505 he served as the King of Castile and did not participate in the campaign, only equipped foreign expeditions.

Francis Dreyk

Many famous travelers and discoveries benefited humanity. But there are among them and those left by themselves and unsubstately memory, since their names were associated with fairly cruel events. Not an exception was the English Protestant, who was swimming on the ship from twelve years. He captured the locals in the Caribbean, selling them into slavery to the Spaniards, attacked the court and fought with Catholics. Perhaps no one could compare with a drone in the number of captured foreign ships. His hiking sponsored the Queen of England. In 1577, he went to South America to defeat the settlements of the Spaniards. During the journey, he found the fiery land and the strait, which was subsequently named after him. Having reinged Argentina, Drake looted the port of Valparaiso and two Spanish vessels. Reaching California, he met the aborigines who presented the British gifts from tobacco and bird feathers. Drake crossed the Indian Ocean and returned to Plymouth, becoming the first led from the UK, visited around the world. He was taken to the House of Communities and awarded the title of Sir. In 1595, he died in the last hike on the Caribbean.

Athanasius Nikitin

Few famous travelers in Russia have achieved the same heights as this leaving from Tver lands. Athanasius Nikitin became the first European, visiting India. He traveled to Portuguese colonizers and wrote "walking in three seas" - the most valuable literary and historical monument. The success of the expedition provided the Career of the merchant: Athanasius knew several languages \u200b\u200band knew how to negotiate people. In his journey, he visited Baku, lived in Persia for about two years and got to India on the ship. By visiting several cities of an exotic country, he went to parvat, where he stopped for a year and a half. After the province of Richur, he headed to Russia, putting the route through the Arabian and Somali Peninsula. However, Athanasius Nikitin did not get home, because it fell ill and died near Smolensky, but his notes were preserved and ensured the merchant world fame.

If you think that all outstanding wanderers remained in the era of great geographical discoveries, we hurry you to convince: Amazing travels are committed by our contemporaries. It is about these people who will be speech.

Photo: background-pictures.picphotos.net.

If we talk about great travelers of our time, then it is impossible to go around the side of the unique talent of Fedor Filippovich Konyukhov to conquer the fact that, at first glance, it is impossible to conquer. Today, Konyukhov is the first of the best travelers of the planet, which the Northern and South Poles will be submitted, the highest peaks of the world, the sea and oceans. In its asset, more than forty expeditions in the most inaccessible places of our planet.

The descendant of the Nordic Poms from the Arkhangelsk province was born on the shore of the Azov Sea in the fishing village of Chkalovo. His irrepressible thirst for knowledge led to the fact that at the age of 15, Fyodor was overwhelmed by the Azov Sea in a fishing boat. It was the first step towards great accomplishments. For the next twenty years, Konyukhov takes part in expeditions to the North and South Poles, conquers the highest peaks, makes four round-the-world travel, participates in the race on dog sledding, fifteen times crosses the Atlantic Ocean. In 2002, the traveler committed a single swimming through the Atlantic on a vein boat and installed the record. More recently, on May 31, 2014, Konyukhov met in Australia immediately with several records. The famous Russian became the first one who recruit the Pacific Ocean from the continent to the continent. It cannot be said that Fyodor Filippovich is a person, loaned only on travels. In addition to the nautical school in the asset of the Great Traveler, the Belarusian Art School in Bobruisk and a modern Humanitarian University in Moscow. In 1983, Fedor Konyukhov became the youngest member of the Union of Artists of the USSR. He is also the author of twelve books about his own experience overcoming the difficulties of wanderings. Upon completion of the legendary transition through the Pacific Ocean, Konyukhov said that it was not going to stop on the achieved. In his plans, new projects: Flying around the light on a balloon, round-the-world swimming in 80 days at the Jules Cup Verne on a killery yacht with a crew, dive into the Mariana Wpadin.

Today, this young English traveler, the TV presenter and the writer is known for the multi-million audience thanks to the most rated television broadcast on the Discovery Channel. In October 2006, the transfer of "Survive at any cost" began to go to the broadcast with his participation. The goal of the TV presenter is not only to entertain the viewer, but also give valuable advice and recommendations that can come in handy in unforeseen situations.

Bear in the UK was born in the family of hereditary diplomats, he received a wonderful education in the Elite School of Ladgrow and the University of London. Parents did not prevent her son's passion to sailing, climbing and martial arts. But the skills of endurance and the ability to survive the future traveler received in the army, where he mastered the jumps with parachute and mountaineering. These skills helped him subsequently achieve the cherished goal - conquering Everest. This event occurred at the very end of the last century, in 1998. BEAR GRILLS has simply irrepressible energy. The list of his travels is huge. From 2000 to 2007, he sailed around the British islands in thirty days to collect funds for the British Royal Society of Salvation on Waters; Relocation on an inflatable boat North Atlantic; On an airplane with a steam engine, Angel flew over the waterfall, took part in the ball at an altitude of more than seven thousand meters; At the paraglider flew over the Himalayas ... In 2008, the traveler went at the head of the expedition, organized with the aim of climbing one of the most remote unrelated peaks in Antarctica. Almost all expeditions in which Gills participates, are charitable.

If you think that distant wanderings are the prerogative of a strong half of humanity, they are deeply mistaken. And this young American Ebby Sunderland has proven, which at the age of 16 has made a round-world journey on the yacht. Interestingly, Ebby's parents not only allowed her to make such a risky enterprise, but also helped to prepare for him. It should be noted that the father of the girl is a professional sailor.

On January 23, 2010, the yacht came out of the port Marina del Rey that in California. Unfortunately, the first swimming was unsuccessful. The second attempt took place on February 6th. Very soon Abby reported damage to the hull of the yacht and engine malfunction. At this time she was between Australia and Africa, 2 thousand miles from the coast. After that, the connection with the girl was interrupted, and nothing was known about her. The search operation was unsuccessful, and Abby recognized missing. However, a month from the yacht, a disaster signal was received from the southern part of the Indian Ocean. After 11 hours of searching by Australian rescuers in the zone of a strong storm, a yacht was discovered in which, fortunately, there was a whole and unsatible ebby. Survive her helped a large stock of products and water. The girl reported that all the time after the last session of communication she had to overcome the storm, and she physically could not reach the connection and send the radiogram. An example of Abby inspires the bold spirit to experience their capabilities and not stop there.

One of the most original travelers of modernity spent on his unusual journey around the world of whole thirteen years of life. Non-standard situation was that Jason refused to achieve a civilization in the form of any technique. In his round-the-world journey, a former British cleaner went with a bicycle, boat and ... rollers!

Photo: Mikaelstrandberg.com.

The expedition started from Greenwich in 1994. A 27-year-old Lewis chose his friend Steve Smith to their partners. In February 1995, travelers got to the United States. After 111 days of swimming, friends decided to cross the states separately. In 1996, Lewis traveled on the rollers knocks the car. Nine months he spent in the hospital. After recovering Lewis goes to Hawaii, and from there on the pedal boat sails to Australia. In the Solomon Islands, he fell into the epicenter of the Civil War, and the Alligator attacked him off the coast of Australia. Upon arrival in Australia, Lewis interrupts the journey due to financial difficulties and works for some time in the funeral bureau and sells T-shirts. In 2005, he moves to Singapore, from there to China, from which he moved to India. Having drove the country by bike, the Briton by March 2007 gets to Africa. The rest of the path of Lewis passes through Europe. On a bicycle, he drove through Romania, Bulgaria, Austria, Germany and Belgium, then swam through La Mans and returned to London in October 2007, completing his unique journey around the world. James Lewis has proven to the world and himself that there is no limit to human capabilities.

Photo: Mikaelstrandberg.com.

The correct idea of \u200b\u200bthe Earth and its form has developed in different peoples not immediately and not at the same time. On the presentation of people about Earth influenced the surrounding nature. Thus, the residents of Babylon represented the Earth in the form of a mountain, on the western slope of which is Babylon. The ancient inhabitants of India represented the Earth in the form of half a bowl based on the elephants, which, in turn, stand on a huge turtle. The ancient Greeks believed that the Earth had the form of a convex disk, which washed the ocean river from all sides. A copper occasion was spread over the ground, according to which the sun is moving, lifting and plunging daily in the ocean water.

With the development of equipment and ship business, people began to make increasingly long journey. And gradually began to accumulate evidence of the shag-formation of the Earth.

The development of navigation and long-distance travel not only forced people to think about, they gave a huge amount of information about newly discovered territories. This information was necessary to somehow fixate, transmit from some people to others. So the first images of the area appeared, which began to be improved and subsequently turned into.

Outstanding travelers were the ancient Greeks. Herodot historian traveled by, Malaya Asia, Balkan, as well as on the southern regions of the Eastern European Plain - the lands of legendary Scythians. It made descriptions of nature, gathered interesting, sometimes semi-infantastic information about the peoples living in the north and northeast. Another traveler from the ancient was astronomer Pill. He explored the north of Europe, reached Britain, the first established the dependence between geographic latitude and day and night long. (Track Herodota and Pyfheus route on the map.)

But here's geography (XV-XVII centuries). She was preceded by an amazing journey. In 1271, he, together with his father and Uncle, went to the distant commerce. Their pathway ran through, then along the valley of the Tiger River to the Persian Gulf, then through the deserts and mountains of Central Asia to China. There, as many as 17 years, the Polo family was engaged in trade, and then sailed back. The path flew through the islands, around, past Zeylon. In total, the Polo family traveled 22 years.

Stories of travelers about distant countries, their wealth and luxury prompted Europeans to seek a comfortable seaway to the countries of the East. The expedition went to search for the way around Africa. Two more than a year, this expedition continued, and the new seaway from Europe to India was opened.

Following this, the idea was born from Europe to India not east around Africa, but to the west and reach India on the other hand. I managed to convince the Spanish kings to project the expedition, and in 1492 three ships came out in swimming. Columbus reached the islands of Central America, but that this is a new part of the world, and not Asia, they learned much later.

The first round trip committed. In 1519, his flotilla out of five ships came out. Only one ship in 1522 returned back. Magellan himself died.
Russian travelers have contributed to the opening of the last unknown mainland. In 1820, the ships under their command came up very close to the shores of the ice continent.

Nowadays, all land areas are sufficiently studied and described. Now the attention of scientists rushed into the upper, depth of the earth and the ocean. For research, balls-probes are launched, cosmic satellites transmit signals about the processes occurring on Earth, ultra-deep wells are placed on the bottom of the world's special vehicles. Geographically results; Research is used in all spheres of human life.

Great geographical discoveries are the most important period in the history of mankind from the end of 15 to the middle of the 16th centuries. The brave discovers of Spain and Portugal opened new lands to the Western world, thereby putting the beginning of the development of new trade routes and connections between continents.

The beginning of the period of great geographical discoveries

Throughout the existence of the human race, many important discoveries were made, but called "Great" in history included only those that took place in the 16-17 centuries. The fact is that neither this time interval, none of it, none of the travelers and researchers could repeat the success of medieval discoverers.

A geographical discovery understands the finding of new, previously unknown geographical objects or patterns. It may be part of the Earth or a whole mainland, a water pool or a strait, about the existence of which cultural mankind did not suspect on Earth.

Fig. 1. Middle Ages.

But why are the great geographical discoveries of steel possible in the gap between 15 and 17th centuries?


This was facilitated by the following factors:
  • active development of various crafts and trade;
  • growth of European cities;
  • the need for precious metals is gold and silver;
  • development of technical sciences and knowledge;
  • serious discoveries in navigation, the appearance of essential navigation devices - astrolabia and compass;
  • development of cartography.

The annoying fact became the catalyst for the great geographical discoveries that Constantinople in the Middle Ages was under the rule of Osmanov Turkov, who prevented the direct trade of European powers with India and China.

Great travelers and their geographical discoveries

If we consider the periodization of great geographical discoveries, then the first to the Western world new routes and endless possibilities, the Portuguese navigators became. They did not lag behind the British, Spaniards and Russians, who were also seen in the conquest of new lands, great prospects. Their names are forever entered the history of navigation.

  • Bartolome Diash - The Portuguese navigator, who in 1488 in search of a convenient direction to India ran into Africa, opened the Cape of Good Hope and became the first European in the waters of the Indian Ocean.
  • "It is with his name that the discovery in 1492 the whole continent - America is associated.

Fig. 2. Christopher Columbus.

  • Vasco da Gama - Commander of the Portuguese expedition, to which in 1498 it was possible to pave a direct trading path from Europe to Asia.

For several years, from 1498 to 1502, Christopher Columbus, Alonso Oving, Amerigo Vespucci and many other northwesters from Spain and Portugal, was carefully investigated by the Northern Coast of South America. However, acquaintance with Western conquerors did not bring anything good to local residents - in pursuit of light profit, they showed themselves extremely aggressive and cruel.

  • Vasaw Nunhens Balboa - In 1513, the brave Spaniard was first managed to cross Panaman's experiencing and open the Pacific Ocean.
  • Fernan Magellan - The first person in history, who in 1519-1522 made a world tour, thus proving that the earth has a shape of a ball.
  • Abel Tasman - opened the Western World Australia and New Zealand in 1642-1643.
  • Semen Dezhnev - Russian traveler and landlord, who was able to find a strait connecting Asia with North America.

Results of great geographical discoveries

Great geographical discoveries significantly accelerated the transition from the Middle Ages to a new time, with its most important achievements and the flourishing of the majority of European states.

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Humanity otherwise looked at the world around the world, new horizons opened before scientists. This contributed to the development of natural sciences, which could not not affect the overall standard of living.

Europeans conquering new lands led to the formation and strengthening of colonial empires that became a powerful raw material base of the old world. There was a cultural exchange between civilizations in various fields, animals, plants, diseases, and even whole nations took place.

Fig. 3. Colonies of new light.

Geographical discoveries were continued after the 17th century, which made it possible to create a full map of the world.

What did we know?

When studying the theme "Great Geographic Discovers" under the program of grade 6 geography, we learned briefly about the great geographical discoveries, their meaning in world history. We also made a brief overview of the greatest personalities who managed to make important discoveries in the geography of the Earth.

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