Ancient Uses and Explorations Prehistory and the Rise of
Seafaring History doesnt record who the first people were to
explore the oceans, nor when. But archaeologists date Native
American primitive fishhooks and spears to 5000 B.C. When was the
first sea voyage in a ship? No one knows although several cultures
have similar stories of a worldwide flood and a large boat full of
animals, the existence of the Ark (4000 B.C.) is widely debated.
Therefore, the earliest recorded sea voyage seems to have taken
place around 3200 B.C. by the Egyptians. At this time, the north
star was not Polaris but Thuban.
Slide 4
Ancient Phoenician Explorations and Discoveries Phoenicia was
an ancient civilization centered in the north of ancient Canaan,
with its heartland along the coast of modern day Lebanon, Syria and
northern Israel. Phoenician civilization was an enterprising
maritime trading culture that spread across the Mediterranean
during the first millennium BC, between the period of 1200 BC to
900 BC.
Slide 5
Ancient Phoenician Explorations and Discoveries
Slide 6
The ancient Phoenicians were among the most important early
Western seafarers. Traveled great distances for their day.
Established the first trade routes throughout the Mediterranean and
as far north as Great Britain. They steered at night by observing
the constellations and the north star (Polaris, 430 l.y.a.) in the
ancient world, the north star was called the Phoenician Star. This
is one of the earliest references to using the North Star for
navigation.
Slide 7
Ancient Polynesian Explorations and Discoveries The
significance of Polynesian seafaring is that it is the earliest
known regular, long distance, open ocean seafaring beyond sight of
land. Its estimated that it took more than 1000 years for the area
to be fully settled. But had been so for hundreds of years when the
first Europeans arrived.
Slide 8
Ancient Greek Explorations and Discoveries It was primarily the
ancient Greeks who first used mathematical principles and
sophisticated maps for seafaring. By applying their advancements in
early science and mathematics, this culture contributed to
understanding the oceans in many ways. Although western
civilization would lose the knowledge during the Middle Ages, the
Greeks knew that the world was a sphere and not flat.
Slide 9
Ancient Greek Explorations and Discoveries The Greek Pytheas
noted that he could predict the tides in the Atlantic based on the
phases of the moon. About 150 years later, Eratosthenes (264-194
B.C.) calculated the Earths circumference and invented the first
lattitude/longitude system a system of imaginary lines on the
Earth, used for navigation and mapping. Hipparchus invented a
better system the one used today later.
Slide 10
Slide 11
Slide 12
Ancient Greek Explorations and Discoveries Evolution of ancient
maps of the known world
Slide 13
The Latitude/Longitude System One of the Greeks primary
contributions to oceanography and seafaring is the
latitude/longitude system. Latitude lines run east-west and
longitude lines run north-south. Because they run around the sphere
of the Earth, they are numbered in degrees. For further accuracy,
degrees are numbered into 60 minutes and minutes into 60 seconds
like time.
Slide 14
Latitude Lines
Slide 15
Longitude Lines
Slide 16
Prime Meridian and Equator Longitude lines begin at one pole
and end at the other. Sometimes called meridians, the 0 meridian
runs through the Royal Naval Observatory in Greenwich, England.
This is called the Prime Meridian. Directly on the other side of
the world is the 180 meridian. If you are looking north, the
meridians on the right of the prime meridian are called east
longitude all the way to the 180 meridian.
Slide 17
Slide 18
Lets apply what we just learned to find the wreck of the
Titanic!!! 49 56 49 W, 41 43 57 N
Slide 19
Did you navigate correctly? 49 56 49 W, 41 43 57 N
Slide 20
The European Middle Ages The period of about 500 A.D. to 1500
in Europe is called the Middle Ages (Also known as the dark ages
because Europe entered an age of intellectual darkness.) This was
the period that we think of when we think of knights, castles, and
feudalism. Except for the Viking Voyages, there was little ocean
exploration by Europeans during this period. Middle Ages map of the
know world based on descriptions in the bible.
Slide 21
Viking Explorations and Discoveries The Viking period stretches
from about 790 A.D. to 1100. During this period Vikings raided
nearby land, explored, and established trade routes throughout
Britain, Ireland, Southern Europe, Northern Africa, and Asia. This
was the only significant exploration taking place in Europe during
this period.
Slide 22
Chinese Explorations and Discoveries Although science and
exploration lay idle in Europe during the Middle Ages, that wasnt
the case in China. Among many important contributions in that era,
the Chinese were responsible for inventing the magnetic compass.
Shipbuilding: central rudders and watertight compartments.
Slide 23
End of the Middle Ages and a Route Around Africa The
Renaissance (~1400 A.D.) marked the end of the Middle Ages in
Europe. With it came new interest in exploration and science.
Slide 24
Exploration of the New World In 1492, Portuguese Christopher
Columbus set out on the first of his four famous voyages. As
others..the purpose was to find a route to Asia and the East
Indies. Because he was using Ptolemys estimation of the Earths size
(which was too small) He thought hed reach Asia when he landed on a
Caribbean Island.
Slide 25
Vasco da Gamas Journey to India Magellans and Drakes around the
world voyage of discovery
Slide 26
As Britain began to compete with France and Spain for Global
conquest, they realized that the more they knew about the seas and
the world, the better. The Royal Navy launched voyages with the
objectives of exploration, mapping, and projecting British presence
around the world. The crew often included scientists and
naturalists. The Birth of Marine Science (1700-1900)
Slide 27
The Voyages of Captain James Cook largely received credit as
the first expeditions devoted to scientific oceanography. A major
contribution to Cooks voyages was the invention of the chronometer
clock or watch that wasnt affected by the waves and motion of the
sea. One of his major missions was to map the path of Venus between
the Earth and the Sun in order to calculate the distance between
the Earth and the Sun. Although he never found Antarctica, he did
find the Hawaii islands that was his downfall. He was considered an
oceanographer, anthropologist and naturalist. Cooks
Expeditions
Slide 28
Slide 29
Darwin and the HMS Beagle In addition to his work in the
Galapagos and the rest of his five year voyage aboard the Beagle
that we learned about in biology Darwin also contributed to modern
day marine science. Darwin hypothesized that the massive coral
reefs they saw could only result when the seafloor slowly sinks.
This is accepted by most scientist today.
Slide 30
United States Exploring Expedition One of the most important
scientific expeditions launched by the US was the US Exploring
Expedition also referred to as the Wilkes Expedition after its
commander, Charles Wilkes. In addition to surveying many parts of
North and South America, This expedition found the elusive southern
continent Antarctica. Approximately during the same time, US Naval
officer Mathew Maury who was among the first to envision a
worldwide pattern for surface winds and currents produced
instructions for making long distance sailing more efficient by
working with the prevailing currents and winds. Also, his systems
for recording oceanographic data from vessels was adopted
worldwide.
Slide 31
The Challenger Expedition Recognized as the only expedition to
date that was solely devoted to marine science. The deepest place
on Earth is the Challenger Deep (35,798 ft.) in the Marianas Trench
named after the expeditions that discovered it. Mt. Everest the
highest point on Earth is 29,035 ft. tall by comparison.
Challengers contributions to oceanography and marine science were
great. From over 4,700 new species to new habitats not previously
thought to hold life. NASA named one of its orbiters in its
honor.
Slide 32
The Challenger Expedition Challenger Deep
Slide 33
The Challenger Space Orbiter Later in the 20 th century NASA
named its Apollo 11 lunar module and its 2 nd space orbiter 1983
(Challenger) after this vessel. Challenger the orbiter exploded 73
seconds into launch on January 28 th, 1986. It carried aboard what
was supposed to be the first teacher in space, Sharon Christa
Corrigan McAuliffe. The alternate teacher chosen, Barbara Morgan,
completed that mission recently on August 7 th, 2007 aboard shuttle
Endeavour (21 years later)
Slide 34
Space Orbiter Challenger (1983-1986)
Slide 35
The Oceanography Explosion Too many to list, the great increase
in the exploration of oceanography and marine science in general
stemmed in large part from the industrial revolution with the
evolution of scientific and technological advancements. Three
expeditions stand out though
Slide 36
The German Meteor Expedition, Atlantis, and the HMS Challenger
II One of the first modern research cruises, the Meteors main
accomplishment was the mapping of the Atlantic seafloor with echo-
sounding technology. In 1931, the US launched the Atlantis. The
significance of the Atlantis is that she was the first ship
specifically designed and built for ocean studies. In 1951, the HMS
Challenger II began a two year voyage to measure the depths of the
ocean. Its greatest discovery was the deepest known point on Earth
located at the Marianas Trench discovered by the 1 st Challenger.
The deepest spot was named Challenger deep after the 1 st
vessel.
Slide 37
Atlantis the Space Orbiter NASA honored the Atlantis
expeditions by naming its 4 th shuttle after it. Atlantis the space
orbiter first flew in 1985 and is still in service today.
Slide 38
Other Space Orbiters Were Also Named in Honor of Historical
Expedition of Our Oceans. Columbia & Apollo 11 moon lander:
American Ocean vessel sent to circle the globe. Discovery: Henry
Hudson Explored the Hudson Bay for the Northwest passage from
Atlantic to Pacific. Endeavour (replacement for Challenger) named
in honor of Captain James Cooks vessel.
Slide 39
Extra Information About the Shuttle Fleet 1 st shuttle built:
Enterprise, originally named Constitution. Never flew in space but,
was used to test the gliding landings. 1 st Shuttle in space:
Columbia 1981. Heaviest of the fleet. Destroyed on re-entry
(February 1 st, 2003) due to heat shield damage from foam that hit
wing on launch. 2 nd Shuttle in space: Challenger 1983. Lost 73
seconds into launch due to rocket booster failure on January 28 th,
1986. 3 rd Shuttle in space: Discovery 1984. Still in service. 4 th
Shuttle in space: Atlantis 1985. Still in service. 5 th and last
shuttle to be built: Endeavour 1992. Still in service. The shuttle
fleet will be retired in 2010 to make way for the next generation
of space exploration vehicle.
