History of travel: famous travelers of the era of geographical discoveries. Great Russian travelers and their discoveries Travelers and what they discovered
Updated: 10/22/2019 08:05:28
Expert: Savva Goldshmidt
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Today we know almost everything about our planet; every corner of the Earth has been carefully explored, described, photographed and found its place in geographical textbooks. And thanks to the active development of tourism, you can visit any exotic countries yourself or even go on a cruise to the shores of Antarctica. But several centuries ago, the only reliable source of knowledge about distant countries and territories were brave travelers who made an invaluable contribution to the exploration of our planet. Their names and discoveries will forever remain in history. Below we invite you to learn about the ten most famous travelers.
Rating of the most famous travelers and their discoveries
| Nomination | place | Traveler | fame rating |
| 10 most famous travelers and their discoveries | 10 | 4.1 | |
| 9 | 4.2 | ||
| 8 | 4.3 | ||
| 7 | 4.4 | ||
| 6 | 4.5 | ||
| 5 | 4.6 | ||
| 4 | 4.7 | ||
| 3 | 4.8 | ||
| 2 | 4.9 | ||
| 1 | 5.0 |
Famous Norwegian traveler, known primarily for his polar expeditions. Roald Amundsen dreamed of becoming a navigator since childhood; he was inspired by the example of Rear Admiral John Franklin. He began preparing for the rigors of life as a sailor and explorer in his teens by exercising, skiing, and generally leading a spartan lifestyle. During his preparation, Amundsen also attended lectures by polar explorer Eivin Astrup, which finally strengthened the young man's determination to devote his life to polar exploration. But, having tried to become a member of the expedition to Franz Josef Land, he was rejected due to lack of experience.
However, Amundsen did not give up, and in 1986, having received the rank of navigator, he went on an Antarctic expedition as part of Adrien de Gerlache's group. During this trip, he became the first person in the world to ski across Two Hammock Island. Together with his team, he was forced to spend thirteen months in the ice of the Southern Ocean, after which they had to return without reaching their goal. The turning point in Amundsen's life came in 1901, when he bought the yacht Gjoa and began to prepare again for a trip to the South Pole. Together with the crew on a converted fishing yacht, they reached the shores of Antarctica and reached their goal in mid-December, several weeks ahead of Captain Robert Scott.
Almost all of Roald Amundsen's life was spent on various expeditions. In 1928, his plane crashed while he went in search of his colleague, Umberto Nobile. Rescuers were never able to find the researcher himself.
David Livingston was a Scottish missionary who explored Africa and introduced its culture and customs to the world. Having received his doctorate, he applied to the London Missionary Society, and thus ended up on the African continent, starting his journey from its southern part. For the first seven years, Livingstone lived in the country of the Bechuanas, in what is now Botswana. Then he had the idea to study South African rivers to explore new routes into the interior of Africa. In 1849, he explored the Kalahari Desert and discovered Lake Ngami, then set off on a journey along the Zambezi River. David Livingstone became the first European to cross the African continent. In 1855, he made one of his greatest discoveries - he discovered a huge waterfall 120 meters high, located on the border of Zambia and Zimbabwe. Livingston named it Victoria Falls, in honor of the Queen of England.
A year later, the missionary returned home and published a book there, in which he described in detail his research and travels. He was also awarded a gold medal from the Royal Geographical Society. Going to Africa again, Livingston continued his travels, primarily exploring large rivers. They also discovered lakes Bangveulu and Mvelu. In 1873, while searching for the sources of the Nile, he died of malaria near the village of Chitambo (Zambia). During his lifetime, Livingston gained fame as a tireless traveler and received the nickname “Great Lion” from local residents, and after his death he left behind a lot of invaluable information about Africa.
Famous Russian traveler and scientist who made a huge contribution to the study of the indigenous peoples of Oceania, Australia and Southeast Asia. In his youth, Miklouho-Maclay was educated in Germany and was an assistant to the natural scientist Ernst Haeckel. Upon returning to Russia, he managed to convince the Russian Geographical Society of the need to explore the Pacific territories, and in the fall of 1870 he set off for New Guinea on the military ship Vityaz. Miklouho-Maclay explained his choice of location by the fact that on these islands the primitive society is of exceptional ethnographic and anthropological value, since it was least affected by civilization.
The Russian researcher lived among the Papuans for more than a year, becoming familiar with their customs, daily life, and religious rituals. In 1872, on the clipper "Emerald" Miklouho-Maclay circumnavigated the Philippine and a number of other Pacific islands. Two years later he returned to New Guinea and lived for some time in its western part, and in 1876 he went to study Western Micronesia and the islands of Melanesia. Miklouho-Maclay was known not only as a scientist, but also as a humanist, public figure, fighter for the rights of natives and an opponent of slavery. He spent the last years of his life in St. Petersburg.
The navigator is known for his three voyages around the world, during which new territories were discovered and detailed maps were drawn up of the islands of the Pacific, Atlantic, Indian Ocean, as well as the coasts of Newfoundland, Australia and New Zealand. James Cook was born and raised in a farmer's family, but against his father's wishes, he decided to become a sailor. From the age of 18 he worked as a cabin boy, then rose to the rank of officer and took part in the Seven Years' War.
In 1768, the English government decided to send a scientific expedition to explore the Pacific Ocean. This difficult task was entrusted to the already experienced navigator James Cook. He became the captain of the three-masted ship Endeavor and was ordered to set course for the islands of Tahiti in order to observe the passage of Venus through the solar disk, which would allow him to calculate the distance from the Earth to the Sun. Also, the mission, in addition to the astronomical one, had another goal - to find the Southern Continent. During this voyage, Cook discovered New Zealand and explored the east coast of Australia. A few years later, a second expedition took place, which was accompanied by a number of discoveries: Norfolk Island, Caledonia, and the South Sandwich Islands. It was followed by a third, during which Hawaii was discovered. In the Hawaiian Islands, an armed clash occurred between members of the ship and the local population, which resulted in the death of Cook. During his voyages, the captain managed to create such accurate and detailed maps that they remained relevant until the mid-19th century.
The legendary Scandinavian navigator is considered the first European in history to set foot on the shores of the North American continent. Leif Eriksson, nicknamed “the lucky one,” grew up in the family of the Viking Erik the Red, the discoverer of Greenland. Around 1000 AD he met the Norwegian Bjarni Herjulfsson, from whom he heard a story about unknown western lands. Burning with the desire to make a discovery and find new territories for the settlement of his fellow tribesmen, Ericsson purchased a ship, assembled a crew and set off.
During this journey, he discovered three regions of Canada. The first coast that met the sailors was Baffin Island, which the Scandinavians called Helluland (stone). Next was the Labrador Peninsula, which received from them the name Markland, which means "forest land." And finally, the third, most attractive coast of the island of Newfoundland, which Ericsson and his people called Vinland, that is, “fertile land.” There they founded a small settlement and stayed for the winter. After returning to his homeland, Leif instructed his brother, Torvald, to continue the exploration of Vinland. However, the second expedition of the descendants of the Vikings to the North American shores failed, as they had to retreat after fierce clashes with the Canadian Indian tribe.
The world's first explorer to travel around the world and make a number of important discoveries. Magellan was born in Portugal into a noble family. His first sea expedition took place in 1505, when he went to India as part of Francisco de Almeida's squadron. Soon Magellan had a plan to sail to the Molucco Islands in the hope of finding a western route to them. Unable to obtain the consent of the Portuguese monarch, he made the same request to the King of Spain and eventually received five ships at his disposal. In 1519, Magellan's expedition left the harbor.
After a year of sailing, Ferdinand Magellan and his flotilla reached the shores of South America, where he was forced to stop in the harbor for the winter. In the same year, he discovered the strait, later named after him, and entered the ocean. For almost four months of sailing through uncharted waters, the travelers were never overtaken by a storm, so they decided to call this ocean the Pacific. The expedition reached the Mariana Archipelago, then the Philippine Islands were discovered. This point became the end of Magellan's voyage, as he was killed during a battle with a tribe on the island of Mactan. Only one ship returned to Spain, bringing news of great discoveries.
Portuguese navigator, discoverer of the sea route to India, and the first European to set foot on Indian soil. Vasco da Gama grew up in a noble family and received an education; he joined the navy at a young age. He proved himself in battles with French corsairs and managed to earn the favor of King Manuel the First, who entrusted him with leading an expedition to India. Three ships and more than 170 crew members were involved in the journey. Vasco da Gama set sail in 1497, by December of the same year they managed to reach the shores of South Africa, and six months later the ships landed on the Indian coast. Although the travelers' plans to establish trade with the locals were not successful, they were greeted with honor in their homeland, and da Gama was appointed admiral of the Indian Ocean.
During his life, Vasco da Gama made two more voyages to India. The purpose of the second expedition was to establish Portuguese trading posts in new territories. The third time he went there was in 1502 to strengthen the power of the Portuguese government and fight corruption in the colonial administration. The navigator spent his last years in India.
Florentine navigator and merchant who first put forward the theory that the part of the world discovered by Christopher Columbus was a new, previously unknown continent. In his youth, Amerigo Vespucci graduated from a prestigious university and later worked in the Medici trading and banking house. In 1499, he joined the crew of a ship under the command of the Spanish admiral Alonso de Ojeda. The purpose of the expedition was to explore the lands of the New World.
During this sea voyage, Vespucci served as a navigator, geographer and cartographer. He described in detail all the details regarding the area, flora and fauna of the new lands, meetings with the natives, and also compiled a map of the starry sky. He subsequently took part in another expedition, in 1503, during which he commanded a small ship. Vespucci was the first explorer to explore a significant part of the Brazilian coast.
Christopher Columbus is best known as the discoverer of America, although he made other important discoveries during his life. He grew up in a poor family, but received a good education. In 1470 he took part in trade sea expeditions. Columbus's main dream was to find a sea route to India across the Atlantic. He repeatedly turned to European monarchs for help in organizing and financing the expedition, but only in 1492 received consent from the Spanish Queen Isabella.
Having received three ships at his disposal and having assembled a crew of volunteers, Christopher Columbus set sail. He discovered the Bahamas, Cuba and Haiti. This was followed by a second expedition, during which Jamaica, Puerto Rico, the Lesser Antilles and the Virgin Islands were discovered. In 1498, Columbus set out on his third voyage, which resulted in the exploration of the island of Trinidad. And finally, in 1502, he managed to obtain permission from the King of Spain for the fourth expedition, during which Columbus’s ships reached the shores of Central America. Throughout his subsequent life, Christopher Columbus was sure that the land he discovered was connected to Asia, and he nevertheless found a sea route to India.
One of the most famous travelers who inspired many discoverers, including Christopher Columbus. Marco Polo grew up in the family of a Venetian merchant and from an early age was accustomed to accompany him on his travels while searching for new trade routes. In 1271, the Pope sent them to China, appointing them as his official representatives. After a five-year expedition through Asia Minor, Persia and Kashmir, the Polo family reached the residence of Kublai Khan, ruler of the Mongol state of Yuan, of which China was at that time a part. The khan immediately liked the young and brave Marco, so he decided to leave the travelers at his court, where they spent the next 17 years.
In 1291, Kublai Khan assigned the Polo family to accompany the flotilla that was transporting the Mongol princess to Persia, where she was to become the wife of the Persian Shah. But during the trip, news came of the death of the Shah, after which the Polos decided to return to Venice. Soon after returning home, Marco took part in the war with Genoa and was captured by the Genoese. While imprisoned, he met the Italian writer Rustichello, who wrote down a detailed account of his amazing adventures and life in China.
Whoever reads about the brave wanderers of the Middle Ages who tried to open more profitable trade routes or perpetuate their name will be delighted to imagine how this happened. Passionate sea lovers smell the sea water and see the open sails of frigates in front of them. What is most surprising is how great travelers could survive their adventures in reality, showing so much perseverance and resourcefulness. Thanks to them, the world learned about new lands and oceans.
The Reality of Dangerous Travels
It is a pity that, in fact, the great travelers could not always feel the taste of romance: their ships were wrecked, and the entire crew could get sick with a disease unprecedented in those days. The sailors themselves, who ventured into new discoveries, had to endure hardships and were often overtaken by death. It is not surprising that today many are so admired by their courage and determination! One way or another, thanks to some of the travelers, new continents were discovered, and some of them made an invaluable contribution to world geography. With the help of historical documents that contain eyewitness accounts or notes from ship's logs, we can have a plausible account of their travels. However, it is a pity that great geographical travelers rarely achieved what they set out to achieve.
Christopher Columbus in pursuit of spices and gold
We are talking about a man who all his life dreamed of going on a long voyage. Like anyone else who found himself in his place, he understood that he could not do without financial support, and it was not so easy to find it from rich monarchs who did not want to share their finances. Where did the desperate traveler want to go? He wished with all his heart to find the shortest western route to India, which at that time was famous for its spices, which were worth their weight in gold.
Trying to prove that he was right, Columbus continued to repeatedly come to the Spanish king and queen for eight long years. It is worth noting that his plan had many flaws. Despite the fact that scientists were already convinced of the spherical shape of the Earth, the question was which strip of the world's oceans separates Europe from Asia. As it turned out later, Christopher made two serious mistakes. Firstly, he assumed that the territory of Asia occupied a much larger area than it actually was. Secondly, Columbus underestimated the size of our planet by a full quarter.
Columbus's first expedition
Be that as it may, “knock and it will be opened to you”: the expedition was approved, three ships were equipped for the voyage. The enterprising Spanish monarchs thirsted not only for profitable trade routes - they liked the very idea of converting the eastern countries to Catholicism. And so on August 3, 1492, about 90 people set off on a long voyage. They sailed many nautical miles, but rich lands never appeared on the horizon. Columbus constantly had to reassure his crew, sometimes even downplaying the actual distances traveled during the lengthy voyage. And finally, as it might seem, they achieved their goal! Where did our tireless sailors get to?
The land his team reached was the Bahamas. Naked natives were encountered there every now and then, and the tropical climate was conducive to relaxation. But in any case, this was not at all what the great travelers set out for, leaving their homes and families. After a two-week rest, the sailors moved on and reached Cuba. Columbus could not calm down because he could not find either spices or gold.
Then the odyssey continued to the east, where the treasured gold was discovered. This happened on the island to which Columbus gave the name La Isla Hispaniola (now Hispaniola). Christopher Columbus already dreamed of how these lands would be subordinated to the Spanish crown. A return home and great honors awaited him, as well as another journey.
Subsequent expeditions of Columbus
The following year, an entire armada, consisting of 17 ships and more than 1,200 people, set off with Columbus. Among the people there were many soldiers and priests. The Spaniards wanted to turn new lands into colonies and make the inhabitants Catholics. Columbus still wanted to reach the shores of India.
Two subsequent voyages to eastern India only slightly increased the navigator's happiness. Be that as it may, the sea routes that were designated by him contributed to the colonization of the entire continent - North America. Thanks to his achievements, the world turned upside down.
Vasco da Gama - the great navigator
Vasco da Gama lived a little earlier than Columbus, and had already discovered the route to India, skirting Africa. Preparations for his long journey began long before he was born - how different this case was from what happened to Columbus! The Portuguese monarchs understood the importance of the spice trade. Manuel I, King of Portugal, believed that only a person who, as one historian put it, “would combine the courage of a soldier with the cunning of a merchant and the tact of a diplomat” could become the head of the expedition. According to the king, it was Vasco da Gama who was suitable for this role.
In terms of natural skills and enterprise, this man was very different from Columbus - he knew his business well, understood where and why he was sailing. The first expedition, although it was associated with certain difficulties, ended in success - Vasco da Gama concluded peaceful relations and an agreement with the Indian ruler on the sale of spices. The delighted King of Portugal immediately ordered the organization of subsequent expeditions. Thus, thanks to this courageous man, a new sea route from Europe to Asia was opened.
For many centuries there lived different people who achieved a lot in natural science and geography. If we talk about the achievements of our compatriots, the first great Russian traveler who immediately comes to mind is Nikolai Miklouho-Maclay. Although his achievements, of course, cannot be put on a par with the merits of Christopher Columbus, James Cook, Vasco da Gama or Amerigo Vespucci. Particularly interesting is his conclusion that cultural and racial characteristics and differences between peoples are determined by the natural and social environment.
Among other Russian travelers who made a certain contribution to the development of geography are Fyodor Konyukhov, Yuri Senkevich, Ivan Papanin, Nikolai Przhevalsky, Afanasy Nikitin, Erofey Khabarov, Vitus Bering and many others. The life of each of them is a long journey, full of eventful events.
A huge thirst for knowledge invested in a person
The question may arise: where do people have such an urgent need for something unknown and distant? The fact is that from childhood, a person has a need to recognize the world around him, explore it, find answers to the questions: “What is the meaning of life? What are we doing on our planet?” We are all essentially “great” travelers and discoverers at heart. We are designed this way, one might even say, created this way, to constantly learn about the world around us. It is no coincidence that we are on Earth and are very different from animals, no matter how some try to prove that we descended from our smaller brothers. Many books have been written about a person’s desire to learn about the world around him since childhood. One of these stories was written by M. Zoshchenko - “Great Travelers”. Next, I would like to briefly tell you what kind of book this is.
M. Zoshchenko, "Great Travelers"
Every person, an adult or a very child, has his own Columbus or Vasco da Gama. Already from childhood, we can observe how a child wants to understand the world around him. Zoshchenko's story "Great Travelers" tells the story of three children who are going on a long journey around the world. They took a lot of different things, which were very difficult to carry, and which eventually turned into unnecessary rubbish. This short educational story teaches children that great achievements require knowledge. Zoshchenko's story "Great Travelers" is a masterpiece in miniature.
Instead of a conclusion
As we see, in each of us there lives a huge thirst for the unknown - whether you are a great Russian traveler or an ordinary person. Everyone strives to find answers to burning questions. Great travelers and their discoveries only prove this simple and very important truth. In the meantime, whether we travel long distances during our short lives or not, each of us will begin and end our earthly journey, full of adventure and lifelong. The only question is: what will we discover during this journey and what will we leave behind?
Russian travelers and geographers made a great contribution to the knowledge of our planet. First of all, they explored the colossal territory of our Motherland, constituting a sixth of the entire landmass. Many lands in all parts of the world and islands of the world's oceans were mapped for the first time by the Russians. They were the first to visit Alaska, made heroic voyages in the Arctic on small boats, were the first to penetrate Antarctica, collected information about the deserts of Iran and India, explored and described Mongolia, Tibet, Western China, mapped a significant part of Africa and South America. The names of many Russian explorers are depicted in geographical names on the world map.
The collection opens with a story about Afanasy Nikitin. The time to which the recording of his journey “Walking across the Three Seas” dates back to was significant for Russia - the unification of feudal principalities into a centralized Russian state was taking place. Nikitin's notes are interesting not only as the first reliable description of India in the 15th century compiled by a European, but also as a document that reflected important changes that took place in Rus'.
It is difficult to say to what time man's acquaintance with the polar countries dates back to. It is known that in the 12th - 15th centuries, Novgorodians explored and developed the coast of the Kola Peninsula and the shores of the White Sea. The Pomors discovered a number of islands in the Arctic Ocean: Novaya Zemlya, Kolguev, Medvezhiy, Spitsbergen. After Ermak's campaign in 1581-1584, Russian exploration of Siberia began. In 1586, the Tyumen fort was built on the Tura River, then the Tobolsk town was erected, which became the main support center of the first settlers. In 1601, having crossed Kamen (Ural), the Russians founded Mangazeya, a large trading city. In 1630, several detachments of Cossack explorers moved to Lena. Having gone down the Lena, they came out to the “Holy Sea” (Arctic Ocean).
In 1684, Fyodor Popov undertook a voyage from the mouth of the Kolyma to the east, and Semyon Dezhnev went with him (Fyodor Popov’s path was repeated only 200 years later by Nordenskiöld). At the beginning of the 19th century, industrialist Y. Sannikov discovered ancient crosses on Stolbovoy Island. And on Kotelny Island, an ancient winter hut was found - evidence that in the 22nd century, Russian sailors undertook ice voyages far into the depths of the ocean on their kochka boats.
A new page in the study of Russian sea routes was written as a result of the tireless work of a number of expeditions, equipped according to the plans of Peter 1. The 1st Kamchatka expedition (1725 - 1730) confirmed the hypothesis that Aznya and Acherika are separated by a strait, but since Bernng turned back before reaching lo Alaska, the existence of the strait was questioned. In 1732, it was decided to send a second, more significant expedition to the Pacific Ocean. Two ships were to go to America, and the other two were to go to Japan. At the same time, an expedition was sent to the Arctic Ocean to find out the possibility of sailing along the shores of Sibnri. This expedition went down in history as the Great Northern Expedition.
Russian navigators V. Pronchishchev, S. Chelyuskin, P. Lasinius, S. Muravyov, D. Ovtsyn, D. Sterlegov, F. Minin, Khariton and Dmitry Laptev quite accurately mapped the northern regions of Siberia and became convinced of the impossibility at that time of regular shipping in the eastern Arctic Ocean. The ships of the detachment of Bering and Chirikov - packet boats "St. Peter" and "St. Paul" first approached the shores of Northwestern America and put them on the map; discovered the Aleutian and Commander Islands. The 2nd Kamchatka expedition finally confirmed the existence of a strait between America and Asia.
For two hundred years (before the expedition of the ships "Taimyr" and "Vaigach" in 1910-1915), hydrographic data compiled by the participants of the Great Northern Expedition remained the only guidance for navigation in those places.
The objects of the study were the islands of Novaya Zemlya, Vaygach, and Kolguev. In 1767, Novaya Zemlya was explored by F. Rozmyslov, and in 1821 - 1824 by F. Litke. The work begun by Rozmyslov and Litke was continued in 1832 by P. Pakhtusov and A. Tsivolko. In 1912, on the ship "St. Foka" Georgy Sedov went to the pole. He managed to go around the northern tip of Novaya Zemlya.
A worthy place in the development of the Arctic belongs to Admiral S. Makarov, his theory of conquering the Arctic Ocean with the help of icebreakers. “All the way to the Pole” was Makarov’s motto. In order to improve navigation and establish regular flights of Russian ships from the Baltic ports to the shores of the Pacific Ocean, I. Kruzenshtern and Yu. Lisyansky undertook a circumnavigation. En route, enormous research work was carried out, a wealth of scientific material was collected, and vast little-known areas of the Pacific Ocean were studied in detail.
After Krusenstern and Lisyansky, V. Golovnin undertook a circumnavigation of the world on the sloop “Diana”; he studied Kamchatka and the adjacent islands in detail. The second circumnavigation of the world on the sloop "Kamchatka", which was made by V. Golovnin, enriched world science with major geographical discoveries.
In 1819, after long and careful preparation, the South Polar Expedition set off from Kronstadt, consisting of two sloops of war, “Vostok” and “Mirny”, with Lazarev and Bellshausen at the head. On January 29, 1821, ships saw a coast called the Land of Alexander I. This was Antarctica - the greatest discovery of the 19th century. The expedition, having spent 751 days sailing, covered more than 90 thousand kilometers and discovered 29 islands, as well as coral rocks.
A whole galaxy of geographers explored the mountain ranges and deserts of Central Asia. The name of the humanist scientist N. Miklouho-Maclay, a scientist, stands out somewhat especially among geographers. whose goal was to penetrate not into the depths of the ocean and not to pass through untrodden lands, but to penetrate into the depths of human society on earth.
The purpose of the proposed selection of postcards is to briefly acquaint the reader with the activities of Russian geographers and researchers and talk about the enormous contribution made by them to world geographical science, both in terms of the breadth of the problems posed and in the number and significance of discoveries.
P. Pavlinov
Afanasy Nikitin
Afanasy Nikitin
“Until now, geographers did not know that the honor of one of the oldest described European journeys to India belongs to Russia of the Johannine century. While Vasco da Gama was only thinking about the possibility of finding a way from Africa to Hindustan, our Tverite was already traveling along the shores of Malobar.” This is what N. Karamzin said about the notes he found from the 15th century Russian merchant Afanasy Nikitin, “Walking across Three Seas.” Leaving Tver in the summer of l466, a caravan of merchant ships led by Afanasy Nikitin descended along the Volga and Caspian Sea to Baku. Further the path lay through Persia to India on the Malobar coast.
The Indians appreciated Nikitin's friendly disposition towards them. Responding to his trust, they willingly devoted him to the peculiarities of their life and customs. Over the course of three years, Afanasy Nikitin collected the most interesting information about the “Bakhmani state,” the largest power in India in the 15th century. “Walking across Three Seas” was highly appreciated by his contemporaries: in 1472, the traveler’s diary was included in the Chronicle of the Russian State.
Ivan Moskvitin
Ivan Moskvitin
After the defeat of Khan Kuchum in 1598, “Sibirskaya Zemlya” (Western Siberia) was included in the Russian state. And, naturally, there was a desire to explore areas rich in “soft junk” and “fish teeth.” A detachment of 31 Cossacks in 1639 under the command of Ivan Yuryevich Moskvitin, having learned from the local residents (Evens) that there was a Lama (Sea of Okhotsk) beyond the Dzhugdzhur mountain range, dragged boats through the mountains and, going down the Ulye River in boats, came to Sea of Okhotsk. At the mouth of the Ulya they set up several huts, fenced them off and dug a ditch. This was the first Russian settlement on the Pacific coast. The pioneers explored the harsh Sea of Okhotsk, moving away from the shores at times by 500 - 700 kilometers.
Information about the “new lands” was included in the Yakut “Paintings of rivers and names of people on which rivers and people live.” The Russian Cossacks modestly described their campaign: “Before Lama, the marchers fed on wood, bark, and roots, but on Lama, along the rivers you can get a lot of fish and you can be well-fed.”
Erofey Khabarov
Hike to the Amur
Erofey Khabarov
Fascinated by stories about the wealth of the Amur land, Khabarov turned to the Yakut governor with a request to send him at the head of a detachment of Cossacks to the Amur. The voivode invited Khabarov not only to collect yasak, but also to describe the life of the local peoples, draw up “drawings” (maps) of the area and describe the natural conditions. Initially traveling by boat along the rivers of the Lena basin, Khabarov wrote down: “In the rapids, gear was torn, slops were broken, people were hurt...”. Even more difficult was the pass over the snow-covered Stanovoy Range, when, having hoisted the boats onto sledges, they had to be dragged. Khabarov made a number of campaigns in the Amur region and the rich Daurian land in 1649 - 1651. In one of his reports, he writes: “And along the rivers there live many, many Tungus, and down along the glorious great Amur River live the Daurian people, arable and cattle-farming, and in that great Amur River there is calushka fish, and sturgeon, and all sorts of fish opposite the Volga. And in the cities and uluses there are great arable lands, the forests along that great river are dark, large, there are a lot of sables and all kinds of animals. And in the ground you can see gold and silver.”
Semyon Dezhnev
Opening of the strait between Asia and America
Semyon Dezhnev
The “Mangazeya passage” - the path from the mouth of the Northern Dvina, Mezen to the Gulf of Ob - is a bright page in the history of Russian sea travel. This is the way Ustyug resident Semyon Ivanovich Dezhnev “went” to Siberia. In 1643, he led a detachment that set off on Kochs across the Kolyma and further to the east. According to Dezhnev’s report, three Kochas were approaching the “Big Stone Nose” (the most northeastern point of the Asian continent): Fedot Alekseeva (Popova), Semyon Dezhnev and Gerasim Ankidinov. “But that bow went out into the sea much further and there are a lot of good Chukhchi people living on it...” notes Dezhnev in his “reply”. Having lost Ankidinov's koch, Dezhnev and Popov turned their ships south and entered the strait separating Asia from America. Fog, which is common in these places, did not allow them to see Alaska.
Thanks to this expedition, an image of Northeast Asia appeared on the “Drawing of the Siberian Land” in 1667. The name of Dezhnev is crowned with the glory of the discovery of the strait between Asia and America, the Chukotka Peninsula, and the Anadyr Territory.
Vitus Bering and A.I. Chirikov
1st and 2nd Kamchatka expeditions
Vitus Bering and A.I. Chirikov
When the Russian Empire stretched from the Baltic to the Pacific Ocean, the time had come to accurately define its borders and the outlines of its sea coasts. For this purpose, Peter I decided to send an expedition to the Pacific Ocean. It was necessary to clarify not only the issue of borders and scientific “curiosity”, but also to open sea routes for trade with “gold-rich” Japan, according to the concept of that time. Vitus Bering, a Dane who served in Russia for many years, was appointed head of the 1st Kamchatka expedition (1725-1730), and Alexey Ilyich Chirikov was appointed assistant.
Bering walked around the eastern coast of Kamchatka, the southern and eastern coasts of Chukotka, and discovered the St. Lawrence Islands. Having passed through the Chukchi Sea to a latitude of 6718" and seeing that "the land does not extend further to the north", Bering, despite the proposal of Alexei Ilyich Chirikov to continue further north, considered the question of the existence of a strait between Asia and America to be resolved positively and turned back. In St. Petersburg, the results of the expedition were considered unsatisfactory. Bering received instructions for a new voyage. The instructions determined the scope and tasks of the 2nd Kamchatka and the associated Great Northern Expedition (1733 - 1743), which were tasked with making a description of the entire northern and eastern coasts of Siberia and familiarizing themselves with it. the shores of America and Japan and finally clarify the issue of the strait between Asia and America. The main objectives of the expedition were fulfilled. The survey materials produced during the expeditions were used by cartographers for two centuries.
H. Laptev and S. Chelyuskin
H. Laptev and S. Chelyuskin
In 1730, Bering, who returned from Kamchatka, began to equip an expanded expedition (2-Kamchatka): some ships were to be sent along the Pacific Ocean to Japan and the Americas, and others along the Arctic Ocean to describe and map the coast of the Arctic Ocean. The expedition in the North of Russia lasted 10 years (from 1733 to 1743) and in terms of its objectives, the size of the territories covered, and the results, it was rightly called the Great Sverpa Expedition. The expedition consisted of separate land and sea detachments that had bases at the mouths of large rivers in the North of Siberia. Its participants were Khariton and Dmitry Laptev, S. Chelyuskin, S. Malygin, V. Pronchishchev and many others. All of them showed unparalleled courage and perseverance in achieving their goal. As a result, a huge amount of material was collected about the nature of the northern seas, thousands of kilometers of the coast of the Arctic Ocean were mapped, large territories of the Russian North, and the life and way of life of the peoples inhabiting them were explored and described.
I.F.Kruzenshtern and Yu.F.Lisyansky
The first Russian trip around the world
I.F.Kruzenshtern and Yu.F.Lisyansky
By the beginning of the 19th century, there was a need to establish regular flights of Russian ships from the Baltic ports to Russian ports on the Pacific Ocean. In 1802, the Naval Ministry accepted the proposal of Lieutenant-Commander I. F. Krusenstern to organize the first Russian round-the-world expedition (1803 - 1806). The purpose of the expedition was: delivery of goods to Russian possessions in North America and Kamchatka, establishment of trade relations with Japan and China, research in the tropical part of the Pacific Ocean and near Russian possessions. Yu. F. Lisyansky was appointed Krusenstern's assistant. The expedition had two ships, Nadezhda and Neva. During the trip, the world map was updated, a number of islands were discovered, and numerous oceanographic studies were carried out. The descriptions of the life, customs, economy, and social structure of the inhabitants of Sakhalin and Kamchatka deserve special attention. Kruzenshtern compiled the “Atlas of the South Sea” - the most accurate for that time.
F.F. Bellingshausen and M.P. Lazarev
Discovery of Antarctica
F.F. Bellingshausen and M.P. Lazarev
In 1819, two military sloops set out from Kronstadt on a circumnavigation of the world: “Vostok” and “Mirny” under the command of Thaddeus Faddeevich Bellingshausen and Mikhail Petrovich Lazarev. The expedition had to solve an ancient riddle about the Southern Continent. Having overcome the enormous difficulties of sailing in ice conditions, the ships approached Antarctica. According to Lazarev’s companion on the expedition, midshipman Novosilsky, “the Russians were given the honor for the first time to lift the corner of the curtain hiding the distant, mysterious south, and to prove that behind the ice wall that encircles it, islands and lands are hidden.” On January 10, 1821, the sailors of the Mirny and Vostok simultaneously saw an island, which they called the Island of Peter I. Then a coast was discovered, called the Alexander I Coast.
F.P.Litke
Exploration of Novaya Zemlya
F.P.Litke
A major contribution to the study of Novaya Zemlya belongs to the navigator Admiral Fyodor Petrovich Litka, who, during expeditions in 1821 - 1824, for the first time since the Barents, examined and mapped the entire western coast of Novaya Zemlya, the Murmansk coast, and explored the eastern part of the Barents and White Seas. In 1826 - 1829, on the sloop Senyavin, Litke, leading a round-the-world expedition, explored and mapped the islands of the Caroline Archipelago, and surveyed Bonin Island. Fyodor Petrovich Litke was one of the founders of the Russian Geographical Society. A gold medal was established in his honor.
G.I.Nevelskoy
G.I.Nevelskoy
In the report of Admiral G. I. Nevelsky on the results of the voyage in 1848-1849 on the Baikal transport, it is written: “... we discovered
1) that Sakhalin is an island separated from the mainland by a strait 4 miles wide and having a minimum depth of 5 fathoms;
2) that the entrance to the Amur from the north from the Sea of Okhotsk and from the south from the Tatar Strait, as well as communication through the Amur Estuary of the Seas of Japan and Okhotsk is accessible to seagoing vessels;
3) that on the southwestern coast of the Sea of Okhotsk there is an extensive roadstead, closed from all winds, which I called the Gulf of St. Nicholas...”
Many saw Nevelskbgo’s action as a daring violation of instructions. After all, Nicholas 1 himself ordered: “The question of the Amur, as a useless river, should be left.” A special committee threatened to demote Nevelsky to sailor status. But still, he managed to prove the need to create the Amur Expedition (1850 - 1855), which explored the vast expanses of the Amur region and the island of Sakhalin. In 1854, Primorsky Krai was annexed to Russia.
P.P. Semenov Tian-Shansky
P.P. Semenov Tian-Shansky
The travels of the great Russian explorer Pyotr Petrovich Semenov-Tyan-Shansky marked the beginning of a new period in the study of Central and Central Asia. The results of the scientist’s research showed that the Tien Shan mountains are not of volcanic origin. During the expedition, he collected a large mineralogical collection, a herbarium, a collection of insects and mollusks, and valuable ethnographic material. The artist P. Kosharov provided great assistance to the geographer in his research, who made a huge number of sketches of the places through which the expedition passed.
The famous Soviet geographer Yu. Shakalsky wrote: “For us, old workers of the Society, the names Pyotr Petrovich and the Geographical Society are inseparable.” For more than 40 years, Semenov-Tyan-Shansky headed the Russian Geographical Society and was the direct organizer and ideological leader of the expeditions of N. Przhevalsky, G. Potanin, P. Kozlov and many others.
N.M. Przhevalsky
N.M. Przhevalsky
“In the history of science there are scientists whose ideas and works constitute an entire era. Such scientists include Nikolai Mikhailovich Przhevalsky,” wrote Doctor of Geographical Sciences E. Murzaev about the traveler. The routes of the expeditions of the great Russian traveler (from 1867 to 1888) covered the vast expanses of Central Asia. Przhevalsky was the first to describe in detail the deserts of the Gobi, Ordos, Dzungaria and Kashgaria, and was the first to suggest that the Gobi Desert is a huge bowl with a predominance of rocky and clayey soils. He refuted the theory of the famous geographer and traveler Humboldt about the grid direction of the central ridges of the Tibetan Plateau, proving their predominantly latitudinal direction. He was the first to describe the ridges of the Kuen Lun system, discovered the system of Nanshan ridges, and discovered a number of ridges of Humboldt, Columbus, Przhevalsky and others.
During his expeditions, the scientist collected remarkable collections of flora and fauna of Central Asia. His herbariums, which included unique plants, numbered 15 - 16 thousand plants. Przhevalsky collected a huge collection of animals. He discovered and described a wild camel and a wild horse, which received the name of Przhevalsky.
N.N. Miklouho-Maclay
N.N. Miklouho-Maclay
Academician L. Berg said excellently about N. Miklouho-Maclay: “While other geographers were discovering new, hitherto unknown lands, Miklouho-Maclay sought first of all to discover Man among the “primitive” peoples he studied, that is, peoples not touched by European culture " It is hardly possible to more accurately characterize the goal to which the life of the outstanding Russian traveler was dedicated.
In 1871, the Russian corvette Vityaz landed the scientist on the shore of New Guinea (now the Maclay Coast), where he lived among the Papuans for 15 months. “The Man from the Moon,” as the natives called him, with courage and trust, throwing away his weapons, sought the favor and love of the Papuans. MiklouhoMaclay became their faithful friend, with whom they parted with tears.
The traveler brought home diaries, sketches, and collections that contained valuable ethnographic material. The diaries of Nikolai Nikolaevich Miklouho-Maclay were published only after the October Revolution.
S.O. Makarov
S.O. Makarov
Among the famous Russian naval commanders, the name of Stepan Osipovich Makarov stands out - admiral, talented scientist, tireless polar explorer. 33-year-old Makarov, commanding the steamship Taman, on his own initiative began studying the currents in the Bosphorus Strait. He made more than 5 thousand observations with a device he invented - a fluctometer - and proved the presence of two opposite currents: the upper one, from the Black Sea, and the lower one, from the Mediterranean Sea. Sailing on the corvette Vityaz, Makarov continued hydrological observations along all sailing routes: he measured the temperature and density of water at various depths, and studied currents in different layers. The scientist systematized the research of expeditions in the Pacific Ocean in the two-volume work “Vityaz” and “The Pacific Ocean” (1894), which was awarded a prize from the Academy of Sciences and a gold medal from the Russian Geographical Society. Stepan Osipovich Makarov also came up with the idea of creating the world's first powerful icebreaker, the Ermak.
P.K. Kozlov
P.K. Kozlov
The outstanding explorer spent fifteen years on expeditions through the deserts and cities of Central Asia. On horseback, on foot and on camels, he made his way to the most remote and inaccessible areas. The length of his travels is over 40 thousand km. Pyotr Kuzmich Kozlov owns one of the most outstanding archaeological discoveries of the twentieth century: the discovery of the dead city of Khara-Khoto in the sands of Mongolia and burial mounds of the ancient Huns in the Mongolian Altai; he explored and described the largest river in Asia - the Mekong; in 1905, the first European met and talked with the Dalai Lama, who was then in Mongolia. Kozlov left an unforgettable impression upon the discovery of Khara-Khoto. The excavations made the Russian geographer famous throughout the world. Manuscripts, books, paintings, household and religious objects of the 11th - 12th centuries AD were discovered here. During the expeditions, the scientist collected valuable materials about the geology, climate, flora and fauna of Tibet and about little-known or completely unknown Eastern Tibetan tribes.
G.Ya.Sedov
Path to the North Pole
G.Ya.Sedov
On February 2, 1914, the already seriously ill famous polar explorer Georgy Yakovlevich Sedov left his last winter in Tikhaya Bay on Hooker Island. For almost a year and a half, Sedov’s expedition, which left Arkhangelsk on the ship “St. Foka" in August 1912, sought to break through the ice to the North Pole. But the attempt ended in failure. On February 20, 1914, before reaching Rudolf Island, Sedov died and was buried on Cape Auk of this island.
However, according to Nansen, the materials obtained by the brave researcher on Novaya Zemlya alone completely paid for the entire expedition, so great is their scientific value.
Pyotr Beketov (1600 - after 1661) - Russian explorer of the 17th century, explorer of Siberia.
One of the most exemplary “Russian conquistadors”, who honestly served his cause and did not get involved in any adventures, Beketov was the founder of several Russian cities.
Biography
Almost nothing is known about the early years of life of many prominent personalities of the 17th century; Pyotr Beketov is no exception in this sense. Information about him appears only in the 1620s, when he got a job as an archer in the government service.
After some time, in 1627, Beketov sent a petition to the tsar, in which he asked to be given the position of centurion in order to have at least some decent salary.
Vasily Poyarkov is one of the discoverers of Siberia. He made a huge contribution to the development of these lands.
In the 17th century, the Russian Empire dreamed of annexing Siberia to its lands. It was a huge and rich territory where many peoples lived.
Special expeditions were assembled to study and annex the Siberian lands. One of them was headed by Vasily Poyarkov.
Years of life
Accurate information about the years of Vasily Poyarkov’s life has not been preserved. Only documentary sources that contain information about his activities have survived to this day. They date back to 1610-1667.
Vasily Ermolaevich Bugor was an Arctic sailor and one of the pioneers of Siberia.
He explored unexplored territories, helping the Yenisei governor A. Oshanin.
Years of life
The exact years of Bugor's life are unknown, but historians believe that he was born around 1600 and died in 1668.
Biography of Bugor
Bugor did not have a noble origin. He was a Cossack foreman, participated in the construction of forts and the study of Siberia.
Mikhail Stadukhin is an explorer and polar navigator of the 17th century who explored North-Eastern Siberia, a man who was one of the first to visit the north of the Sea of Okhotsk, as well as the Kolyma, Gizhiga, Penzhina and Anadyr rivers.
The geographical discoveries of M. Stadukhin became a huge contribution to the discovery and study of the Russian coast of the Arctic and Pacific Ocean.
Years of life of Mikhail Stadukhin
Year of birth unknown, died in 1666.
Biography of Mikhail Stadukhin
It is not known for certain in what year Mikhail Stadukhin was born. Presumably, the Russian explorer was born into a family of Pomors in one of the villages on the Pinega River
The development of Siberia in the 17th century is often presented as the most important event in the history of modern Russia.
It is spoken of as the Russian analogue of the Great Geographical Discoveries of the European World and the conquest of the New World.
This is partly a fair comparison. In the context of the emergence of the all-Russian market and economic growth, the development of new trade routes is an important stage in the country’s development.
S.I. Chelyuskin is a sea traveler, researcher, participant in a long-term expedition who made serious geographical discoveries that were ignored during his lifetime.
Origin
Chelyuskin's ancestors (according to documents from the 17th century - the Chelyustkins) were at first quite successful people, held important positions, were well promoted, and were rich
But under Peter the Great, Semyon Ivanovich’s father fell into disgrace (he was among the rebellious Moscow archers) and until the end of his life his family vegetated in the wilderness of the village, barely making ends meet.
Accurate information about where and when S.I. Chelyuskin was born has not yet been discovered, approximately 1700.
Education
In 1714, the noble ignorant Semyon Chelyuskin was admitted to a Moscow school, where boys were taught exact sciences and navigation. Here the future researcher learned the wisdom of mathematics, geography, and astronomy.
He was a smart and diligent student. In 1721, having completed his studies, he was recommended for a certificate for navigating activities.
Yu. F. Lisyansky is an outstanding Russian navigator who, together with Krusenstern, traveled around the world.
Youth
Yu. Lisyansky was born in the Little Russian city of Nezhin in a simple family of a priest in 1773. Since childhood I dreamed of the sea, so I entered the Naval Cadet Corps and successfully graduated. Assigned to serve on the frigate "Podrazislav" as part of the squadron of Admiral S. K. Greig. He took part in the Hogland and several other naval battles in the war with the Swedes, served as a volunteer in the British fleet, participated in battles with the French on the shores of North America, and made voyages to the Antilles and India.
Circumnavigation
Returning to his homeland, Lisyansky was appointed commander of the sloop "Neva". This ship set off on a round-the-world expedition under the leadership of I. F. Kruzenshtern, who commanded the second sloop Nadezhda. These two Russian ships left their homeland in mid-summer 1803 from Kronstadt. In November 1804, Yu. F. Lisyansky and I. F. Krusenstern were the first in the history of the Russian fleet to cross the equator line. In February of the same year, both ships sailed around Cape Horn, entering Pacific waters. Here the ships separated.
Khariton Prokofievich Laptev is one of the largest Russian polar explorers. The future conqueror of the Arctic was born in the village of Pekarevo, located near Pskov, in 1700. In 1715, young Laptev entered the St. Petersburg Naval Academy, which three years later he successfully graduated and entered the navy as a midshipman. In 1726 he was promoted to midshipman. In 1734 he took part in the war against Stanislav Leszczynski, who had been proclaimed the Polish king a year earlier.
The frigate "Mitava", on which Laptev served, is captured during military operations by the French, who resorted to deception to achieve this. Upon returning to his homeland, Laptev, along with the rest of the Mitava officers, is sentenced to death for surrendering the ship without a fight, but the crew is promptly found innocent. After this misunderstanding, Khariton Prokofievich returns to service. In 1737, he was promoted to lieutenant and appointed commander of a detachment in the Great Northern Expedition. The purpose of the trip was to explore the Arctic coast between the Lena and Yenisei; another great Russian polar explorer, Dmitry Yakovlevich Laptev, cousin of Khariton Prokofievich, also took part in it. In the early spring of 1738, members of the expedition arrived in Yakutsk.
Dmitry Yakovlevich Laptev is a famous Russian traveler who, together with his cousin Khariton Prokofievich Laptev, became famous for their polar expeditions.
Born in 1701 into a family of small landed nobles in the village of Bolotovo, Pskov province. In 1715, together with his cousin, he began studying at the Maritime Academy in St. Petersburg. Upon completion of his studies in 1718, Laptev was promoted to midshipman on one of the ships of the Kronstadt squadron.
In 1721 he received the rank of midshipman, and in 1724 he became a non-commissioned lieutenant. From 1727 to 1729 he commanded the frigate "St. Jacob".
The biography of the great polar explorer Georgy Yakovlevich Sedov is unusual and tragic. He was born in 1877 in a small Azov village; today this village bears the name of the great polar explorer. George learned hard work from an early age. His father, a simple Azov fisherman, disappeared for several years. The boy had to work to feed his mother and eight brothers and sisters. He did not have time to learn to read and write, and until the age of 14 he could neither read nor write.
After his father returned home, in two years he graduated from parochial school and ran away from home. What the boy did in that life and how he made his way to his desired goal is little known. But at the age of 21, Georgy Sedov received a diploma as a long-distance navigator. At the age of 24, after successfully passing the exam, he receives the rank of lieutenant.
His first hydrographic expedition was to the Arctic Ocean. The northern ice has long attracted the young sailor. He dreamed of conquering the North Pole and proving that a Russian man could do this.
The Russo-Japanese War began and the expedition to the North Pole had to be postponed. But the idea does not leave him. He writes articles in which he proves that the development of the Northern Sea Route is necessary for Russia. He worked on the Caspian Sea, on Kolyma, and explored Krestovaya Bay on Novaya Zemlya.
History of humanity and travel. Herodotus is the first great traveler and the father of modern history. Arab and European travelers of the Middle Ages...
From Masterweb
26.06.2018 14:00The exploration of our planet took place over several centuries, and many people distinguished themselves, whose names and merits are captured in many historical books. All great travelers sought to escape from routine existence and look at the world with different eyes. A thirst for new knowledge, curiosity, a desire to expand known horizons - all these qualities were inherent in each of them.
About history and travelers
The history of mankind should be perceived as the history of travel. It is impossible to understand what the modern world would be like if previous civilizations had not sent travelers to the borders of a then unknown world. The thirst for travel is embedded in human DNA, because he has always strived to explore something and expand his own world.
The first people began colonizing the world 100,000 years ago, moving from Africa to Asia and Europe. In the Middle Ages and modern times, travelers went to unknown countries in search of gold, glory, new lands, or they simply ran away from their miserable existence and poverty. However, all great travelers possessed an impulse of power of the same nature, the endless fuel of explorers - curiosity. It only takes something that a person does not know or does not understand to create an alluring and irresistible force that cannot be resisted. The following article describes the exploits of the great travelers and their discoveries, which had a huge impact on the development of humanity. The following individuals are noted:
- Herodotus;
- Ibn Battuta;
- Marco Polo;
- Christopher Columbus;
- Ferdinand Magellan and Juan Sebastian Elcano;
- James Cook;
- Charles Darwin;
- explorers of Africa and Antarctica;
- famous Russian travelers.
Father of modern history - Herodotus
The famous Greek philosopher, Herodotus, lived in the 5th century BC. His first journey was exile, since Herodotus was accused of plotting against the tyrant of Halicarnassus, Lygdamis. During this exile, the great traveler travels throughout the Middle East. He describes all his discoveries and acquired knowledge in 9 books, thanks to which Herodotus received the nickname of the father of history. It is interesting to note that another famous historian of ancient Greece, Plutarch, gave Herodotus the nickname “father of lies.” In his books, Herodotus talks about distant countries and the cultures of many peoples, information about which the philosopher collected during his travels.
The stories of the great traveler are filled with political, philosophical and geographical reflections. They also contain sexual stories, myths and crime stories. Herodotus's style of presentation is semi-artistic. Modern historians consider Herodotus' work to be a paradigm of curiosity. The historical and geographical knowledge brought by Herodotus had a great influence on the development of Greek culture. The geographical map that Herodotus drew up, which included the limits from the Danube to the Nile, and from Iberia to India, for the next 1000 years determined the horizons of the then known world. Let us note that the scientist was very concerned that the knowledge he had acquired would not be lost by humanity over time, and therefore he outlined it in detail in his 9 books.
Ibn Battuta (1302 - 1368)
Like every Muslim, twenty-year-old Battuta began his pilgrimage from the city of Tangier to Mecca on the back of a donkey. He could not even imagine that he would return to his hometown only 25 years later, with enormous wealth and a whole harem of wives after having traveled most of the world. If you ask yourself which great travelers first explored the Muslim world, then you can safely name Ibn Battuta. He visited all countries, from the kingdom of Granada in Spain to China, and from the Caucasus Mountains to the city of Timbuktu, which is located in the Republic of Mali. This great traveler traveled 120,000 kilometers, met more than 40 sultans and emperors, served as ambassador to various sultans, and survived a number of disasters. Ibn Battuta always traveled with a large retinue, and in every new place he was treated as an important person.
Modern historians note that in the first half of the 14th century, when Ibn Battuta made his travels, the Islamic world was at the apogee of its existence, which allowed the traveler to quickly and easily move across many territories.
Just like Marco Polo, Battuta did not write his book ("Travels"), but dictated his stories to the Granadan polymath Ibn Khuzai. This work reflects Battuta's thirst for pleasure in life, which includes stories of sex and blood.
Marco Polo (1254 - 1324)
Marco Polo is one of the important names of great travelers. The book of the Venetian merchant Marco Polo, which tells in detail about his travels, became extremely popular 2 centuries before the invention of printing. Marco Polo traveled the world for 24 years. Upon his return to his homeland, he was imprisoned during the war between the Mediterranean trading powers of Genoa and Venice. In prison, he dictated stories of his travels to one of his unfortunate neighbors. As a result, in 1298 a book appeared called “Description of the World, Dictated by Marco.”
Marco Polo, together with his father and uncle, who were famous merchants of jewelry and silks, set off at the age of 17 on a journey to the Far East. During his trip, the great geographical traveler visited such forgotten places as the island of Hormuz, the Gobi Desert, the coasts of Vietnam and India. Marco knew 5 foreign languages and was the representative of the great Mongol Khan Kublai Khan for 17 years.
Note that Marco Polo was not the first European to visit Asia, however, he was the first to compile a detailed geographical description of it. His book is a mixture of truth and fiction, which is why many historians question most of its facts. On his deathbed, one priest asked Marco Polo, who was 70 years old, to admit his lies, to which the great traveler replied that he had not told half of what he saw.
Christopher Columbus (1451 - 1506)
Speaking about the travelers of the great age of discovery, first of all we should mention Christopher Columbus, who shifted the human economy to the west and marked the beginning of a new era in history. Historians note that when Columbus sailed to discover the New World, the word “gold” rather than the word “land” was most often found in his logbook entries.
Christopher Columbus, with information provided by Marco Polo, believed that he could reach the Far East, full of gold and riches, by sailing west. As a result, on August 2, 1492, he sailed from Spain on three ships and headed west. The journey across the Atlantic Ocean lasted longer than 2 months, and on October 11, Rodrigo Triana from the ship La Pinta saw land. This day radically changed the lives of Europeans and Americans.
Like many great travelers of the Age of Discovery, Columbus died in 1506 in poverty in the city of Valladolid. Columbus did not know that he had discovered a new continent, but thought that he managed to sail to India through the west.
Ferdinand Magellan and Juan Sebastian Elcano (16th century)
One of the amazing routes of the great travelers of the era of the Great Geographical Discoveries is the route of Ferdinand Magellan, when he was able to get from the Atlantic Ocean to the Pacific Ocean through a narrow strait, which Magellan named after its calm waters.
In the 16th century, there was a serious race for dominance of the seas and oceans between Portugal and Spain; historians compare this race with the race for space exploration between the USA and the USSR. Since Portugal dominated the African coast, Spain sought ways to reach the Spice Islands (modern Indonesia) and India via the west. Ferdinand Magellan became just the navigator who had to find a new route to the East through the West.
In September 1519, 5 ships with a total of 237 sailors set sail for the West, led by Ferdinand Magellan. Three years later, only one ship returned with 18 sailors on board, led by Juan Sebastian Elcano. This was the first time a man sailed around the entire globe. The great traveler Ferdinand Magellan himself died in the Philippine Islands.
James Cook (1728-1779)
This British great explorer is considered the most famous explorer of the Pacific Ocean. He left his parents' farm and became a great captain in the Royal Navy. He made three great voyages from 1768 to 1779, which filled in many of the blank spots on maps of the Pacific. All of Cook's voyages were conducted by Britain to achieve a number of geographical and botanical objectives in Oceania, Australia and New Zealand.
Charles Darwin (1809 - 1882)
Few people know that the story of great travelers and their discoveries must include the name of Charles Darwin, who at the age of 22 set off on a voyage on the brigantine Beagle in 1831 to explore the east coast of South America. On this journey, Charles Darwin sailed around the world in 5 years, collecting a wealth of information about the flora and fauna of our planet, which turned out to be key to Darwin's theory of the evolution of living organisms.
After this long journey, the scientist locked himself in his house in Kent in order to carefully study the collected material and draw the right conclusions. In 1859, that is, 23 years after his trip around the world, Charles Darwin published his work “On the Origin of Species by Means of Natural Selection,” the main thesis of which was that it is not the strongest living organisms that survive, but the most adapted to environmental conditions. .
Exploring Africa
The great travelers who distinguished themselves in the exploration of Africa are mainly British. One of the famous explorers of the black continent is Dr. Livingstone, who distinguished himself in his studies of the central regions of Africa. Livingstone is credited with the discovery of Victoria Falls. This man is a national hero of Great Britain.
Other famous Britons who distinguished themselves in the exploration of Africa are John Speke and Richard Francis Burton, who made numerous trips to the African continent in the second half of the 19th century. Their most famous journey is the search for the sources of the Nile.
Antarctica exploration
The exploration of the icy southern continent, Antarctica, marked a new stage in human history. The British Robert Scott and the Norwegian Roald Amundsen distinguished themselves in conquering the South Pole. Scott was an explorer and officer in the British Royal Navy, he led 2 expeditions to Antarctica, and on January 17, 1912, he and five members of his crew reached the south pole, however, the Norwegian Amundsen was several weeks ahead of him. Robert Scott's entire expedition died by freezing to death in the icy desert of Antarctica. Amundsen, in turn, having visited the South Pole on December 14, 1911, was able to return to his homeland alive.
First woman traveler
The thirst for travel and new discoveries was characteristic not only of men, but also of women. Thus, the first female traveler about whom there is reliable evidence was the Galician (northwestern part of Spain) Ejeria in the 4th century AD. Her travels were associated with holy lands and pilgrimages. Thus, it is known that within 3 years she visited Constantinople, Jerusalem, Sinai, Mesopotamia and Egypt. It is unknown whether Ejeria returned to her homeland.
Great Russian travelers who expanded the borders of Russia
Russia is the largest country in the world by area. Much of this fame owes to Russian travelers and explorers. The great travelers in the table below are given.
Russian travelers - explorers of the planet
Among them, Ivan Kruzenshtern should be noted, who was the first Russian to travel around the globe. We also mention Nikolai Miklouho-Maclay, who was a famous navigator and explorer of Oceania and Southeast Asia. Let us also note Nikolai Przhevalsky, who was one of the most famous explorers of Central Asia in the world.
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