Without daring romantics, adventurers and adventurous world would be boring.It's quite different, because there would be a lot and did not open, not discovered, not invented.
epoch of geographical discoveries
It covers the period of time when explorers blazed new paths opened continents and islands, changed the map of the world.Covering several periods of the era:
- Early during which sailors accustomed to the Indian and Atlantic Ocean, the Mediterranean, the Baltic Sea, the Yellow Sea and the Black Sea, skirted Africa and made accurate maps of these areas.
- average, when they opened the American continent, found a sea route from Europe to Asia, made the first voyage around the world and discovered Australia.
- Later, during which he studied the North West America, Antarctica, the oceans.
middle of the fifteenth-seventeenth centuries called the era of great discoveries.And speaking of that time, not to mention the name of the seafarer, who has contributed to modern science.This Magellan Fernando, the man who proved that the Earth is a sphere.
brief biography of Magellan
F. Magellan (Magalyaynsh) was born in Portugal in 1470.However, the main achievements to science, he made under the Spanish flag.The young man came from a noble family, so got a good education, and practice in the Navy.Upon his retirement, Magellan Fernando moved to Spain, where he proposed a draft king voyage, which, after many thoughts yet been adopted.And the expedition of five ships went to the famous journey.
During this voyage was discovered and mapped the coast of South America, the southern Strait, which later received his name, Patagonian Cordillera.Way pilgrims passed through the Pacific Ocean, which previously did not go Europeans ships, Guam, the Philippines.There's a battle with natives Fernando died, but his team has been a great thing.
As a result, Magellan's expedition established the existence of a single world ocean, proved that the planet has a spherical shape.But these data were evaluated by society much later.
Strait of Magellan
Way Magellan and his crew began September 20, 1519.A small vessel in the amount of five pieces, which was carrying 265 people, out to sea.The captain used his unique signaling system that allowed all ships to stay together.Fernando wanted to cross the Atlantic, so around the end of December, he reached La Plata.More than a month they were looking for a passage to the South Sea, but were forced to stay for the winter.On three ships started a riot, but he was brutally suppressed.As a result of Magellan's expedition established the existence of a single ocean, the strait was found, and the journey continued.However, one ship was wrecked, and the other deserted.
death of the leader at the end of November 1520 the flotilla entered the South Sea, which was called the Pacific Ocean, because while swimming through it keep good weather.For four months the team spent in the ocean, being on the brink of survival.Starvation, scurvy, a high mortality rate - that's what the participants had to go through the first voyage around the world.Finally, the expedition of Ferdinand Magellan was at the Philippine archipelago.There Spaniards declared the island hold their King and demanded the conquest.
But the natives had other plans.The governor of Cebu allegedly gave a banquet in honor of the aliens in which he attacked his guests.The clash killed himself Magellan.The team retreated to the boat, but did not have enough people, so one of the ships had to burn.
Goal achieved?
all now know that as a result of Magellan's expedition established the existence of a single ocean on the planet, connected by channels and straits.But the island of spices, which kept the path navigator, yet were still not found.
About four months ships roamed the seas until he landed on the island of Tidore.Here, replenishing stocks of food and buying carnations, the ship continued on their way.But they were divided: one headed west along the African and the other detainees for repair."Victoria" has completed the world's first world tour September 6, 1522.On its board there were only eighteen.Later he returned to Spain seventeen people on board, "Trinidad."After selling spices, the team paid for all the costs of a long voyage.Instead of an epilogue
value first trip invaluable.As mentioned above, as a result of Magellan's expedition established the presence of the oceans.Seafarers have proved the fact that the land on our planet is less than water.In the name of the brave Portuguese called them not only to open the Straits to the Pacific Ocean, but the two star clusters mentioned by Antonio Pifachetta, member of the expedition and its historiography.Mariner novels and dedicated research.
But if the journey has brought benefit to Fernand and his family?He died during the voyage, he tried, like the conquistadors to conquer the natives of the Philippine Islands.The crew deserted ship Magellan accused of treason, so he took off with all the privileges and benefits.In the year before the last ship flotilla has thrown an anchor home, Fernando's son is dead.And six months later he died of his wife, who had just given birth to her second son was dead.That is what price the traveler had to pay for a great discovery!
