199
Explorers 199-
PERILS OF THE SEA
Early sailors faced many natural dangers, such
as storms, reefs, icebergs, and fog. The sea was
an alien territory, and rumors and legends
spoke of huge sea monsters that swam in
unknown waters. These stories were probably
based on sightings of whales and other marine
creatures. They were exaggerated by returning
sailors telling tall tales of their adventures.
Writers and artists added more gruesome
details to these descriptions,
and so the myths grew.
PACIFIC ISLANDS
Europeans exploring the
Pacific Ocean in the 1500s
were amazed to find that
prehistoric peoples had
found the Pacific Islands
before them. In about
3000 bce, the original
Polynesians moved from
Southeast Asia to the
islands in the western
Pacific, sailing in fragile
canoes. By 1000 ce, they
had settled on hundreds
of other islands.EARLY IDEAS
The first explorers had few maps. Early
ideas about the shape of the world were
hopelessly inaccurate. Many people
thought the world was flat and that those
who went too far might fall off the edge.
Some believed that the world was
supported by a tortoise (above).Chocolate
was made
from cacao
beans from
the Americas.Maori ancestors leaving for New ZealandTODAY, PEOPLE ARE AWARE of the most remote corners of the
world. But hundreds of years ago, many did not know that countries
other than their own even existed. In the 6th century, an Irish saint,
Brendan, is said to have sailed across the Atlantic in search of a new
land. But it was not until the early 15th century that strong seaworthy
ships were developed and Europeans such as Christopher Columbus
were able to explore in earnest. Turkish Muslims had controlled
the overland trade route between Europe and the Indies (East
Asia) since the 11th century. They charged such high prices for
Asian goods that European merchants became eager to find
a direct sea route to Asia that would bypass the Turks. The
sailors who searched for these routes found the Americas and
other lands previously unknown to Europeans. Of course,
people already lived in most of these “newly discovered” lands,
and the results of these explorations were often disastrous for
their inhabitants. All too often the new arrivals exploited and
enslaved the native peoples, destroying their cultures.DISCOVERIES
Explorers took gold, treasure, and
exciting new vegetables from the
Americas to Europe; they also
carried silks, jewels, and
spices from Asia. People
in Europe were eager to
obtain these goods and
wanted more. This led
to a great increase in
trade between East
and West.Spices from
Tomatoes and chillies South Asia
from the AmericasVIKINGS
The Vikings came from Norway, Sweden, and
Denmark. Looking for new lands in which to
settle, they sailed to Iceland, Greenland, and
North America in their long ships, navigating
by the sun and the stars.Silk from
ChinaPotatoes
from North
America