Routes of the most important travels, great geographical discoveries, a conventional term adopted mainly in historical literature, denoting the largest. Great geographical discoveries Creating new pleasant memories that you will never forget

If you think that all the outstanding wanderers remained in the era of the great geographical discoveries, then we hasten to convince you: amazing travel our contemporaries are also doing. It is about these people that we will talk.

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If we talk about the great travelers of our time, then we cannot ignore the unique talent of Fyodor Filippovich Konyukhov to conquer what, at first glance, is impossible to conquer. Today Konyukhov is the first of best travelers the planet to which the North and South Poles submitted, highest peaks peace, seas and oceans. He has more than forty expeditions to the most inaccessible places on our planet.

A descendant of northern pomors from the Arkhangelsk province was born on the coast Sea of ​​Azov in the fishing village of Chkalovo. His irrepressible thirst for knowledge led to the fact that already at the age of 15, Fedor swam across the Sea of ​​Azov in a fishing rowboat. This was the first step towards great achievements. Over the next twenty years, Konyukhov takes part in expeditions to the North and South Poles, conquers the highest peaks, makes four trips around the world, participates in a dog sled race, and crosses the Atlantic Ocean fifteen times. In 2002, the traveler made a solo voyage across the Atlantic in a rowboat and set a record. More recently, on May 31, 2014, Konyukhov was greeted in Australia with several records at once. The famous Russian became the first to cross the Pacific Ocean from continent to continent. It cannot be said that Fyodor Filippovich is a person fixated only on travel. In addition to the nautical school, the great traveler has the Belarusian Art School in Bobruisk and the Modern Humanitarian University in Moscow. In 1983 Fyodor Konyukhov became the youngest member of the Union of Artists of the USSR. He is also the author of twelve books on his own experiences of overcoming the hardships of travel. At the end of the legendary crossing of the Pacific Ocean, Konyukhov said that he was not going to stop there. His plans include new projects: a flight around the world on hot-air balloon, circumnavigation 80 days for the Jules Verne Cup on a keelboat with a crew, diving into the Mariana Trench.

Today this young English traveler, TV presenter and writer is known to a multi-million audience thanks to the highest-rated TV show on the Discovery Channel. In October 2006, the program "Survive at any cost" began to air with his participation. The goal of the TV presenter is not only to entertain the viewer, but also to provide valuable advice and recommendations that may come in handy in unforeseen situations.

Bear was born in Great Britain into a family of hereditary diplomats, received an excellent education at the elite Ladgrove School and the University of London. Parents did not interfere with the son's hobby for sailing, rock climbing and martial arts. But the future traveler received the skills of endurance and the ability to survive in the army, where he mastered parachute jumping and mountaineering. These skills later helped him achieve his cherished goal - the conquest of Everest. This event took place at the very end of the last century, in 1998. Bear Grylls possesses simply irrepressible energy. The list of his travels is huge. From 2000 to 2007, he sailed around the British Isles in thirty days to raise funds for the British Royal Society of Water Rescue; crossed the North Atlantic in an inflatable boat; by plane with steam engine flew over Angel Falls, dined in a balloon at an altitude of over seven thousand meters; on a paraglider flew over the Himalayas ... In 2008, the traveler was at the head of an expedition organized to climb one of the most remote unclimbed peaks in Antarctica. Almost all of the expeditions that Grills participates in are charitable.

If you think that long-distance travel is the prerogative of a strong half of humanity, then you are deeply mistaken. And this was proved by the young American Abby Sunderland, who, at the age of 16, single-handedly committed trip around the world on a yacht. Interestingly, Abby's parents not only allowed her to undertake such a risky venture, but also helped prepare for it. It should be noted that the girl's father is a professional sailor.

On January 23, 2010, the yacht departed from Marina Del Rey, California. Unfortunately, the maiden voyage was unsuccessful. The second attempt took place on February 6. Very soon, Abby reported damage to the yacht's hull 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 was reported missing. However, a month later, the yacht received a distress signal from the southern Indian Ocean. After 11 hours of searching by Australian rescuers, a yacht was found in the area of ​​a severe storm, in which, fortunately, Abby was unharmed. A large supply of food and water helped her survive. The girl said that all the time after the last communication session she had to overcome the storm, and she was physically unable to get in touch and send a radiogram. Abby's example inspires the courageous spirit to test their capabilities and not stop there.

One of the most original travelers of our time spent on his unusual travel around the world for thirteen years of life. The non-standard of the situation was that Jason refused the achievements of civilization in the form of any kind of technology. The former British janitor set off on his round-the-world trip with a bicycle, a boat and ... rollers!

Photo: mikaelstrandberg.com

The expedition started from Greenwich in 1994. The 27-year-old Lewis chose his friend Steve Smith as his partner. In February 1995, the travelers reached the United States. After 111 days of sailing, the friends decided to cross the states separately. In 1996, a rollerblading Lewis was hit by a car. He spent nine months in the hospital. After recovering, Lewis travels to Hawaii, and from there he sails on a pedal boat to Australia. On the Solomon Islands he hit the epicenter civil war, and off the coast of Australia he was attacked by an alligator. Upon arrival in Australia, Lewis interrupts his travel due to financial difficulties and works for a time in a funeral home and sells T-shirts. In 2005 he moved to Singapore, from there to China, from which he moved to India. After cycling through the country, the Briton reaches Africa by March 2007. The remainder of Lewis's journey passes through Europe. He cycled through Romania, Bulgaria, Austria, Germany and Belgium, then swam across the English Channel and returned to London in October 2007, completing his unique journey around the world. James Lewis proved to the whole world and to himself that there is no limit to human capabilities.

Photo: mikaelstrandberg.com

Great geographical discoveries- the most important period in the history of mankind from the end of the 15th to the middle of the 16th centuries. The brave discoverers of Spain and Portugal discovered western world new lands, thus laying the foundation for 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, however, under the name "great", only those that took place in the 16-17 centuries entered history. The fact is that neither before this period of time, nor after it, none of the travelers and researchers was able to repeat the success of the medieval discoverers.

Geographic discovery is understood as the finding of new, previously unexplored geographic objects or patterns. It can be a part of the earth or a whole continent, a water basin or a strait, the existence of which on Earth the cultured mankind did not suspect.

Rice. 1. Middle Ages.

But why did the great geographical discoveries become possible precisely between the 15th and 17th centuries?


This was facilitated by the following factors:
  • active development of various crafts and trade;
  • the growth of European cities;
  • the need for precious metals - gold and silver;
  • development of technical sciences and knowledge;
  • major discoveries in navigation, the emergence of the most important navigation devices - the astrolabe and the compass;
  • development of cartography.

The catalyst for the Great Geographical Discoveries was the annoying fact that Constantinople in the Middle Ages came under the rule of the Ottoman Turks, who impeded direct trade between the European powers with India and China.

Great travelers and their geographical discoveries

If we consider the periodization of the Great Geographical Discoveries, then the first who gave the Western world new routes and endless opportunities were the Portuguese navigators. The British, Spaniards and Russians did not lag behind them, who also saw great prospects in the conquest of new lands. Their names have forever entered the history of navigation.

  • Bartolomeu Dias - a Portuguese navigator who circled Africa in 1488 in search of a convenient direction to India, discovered the cape Good Hope and became the first European to find himself in the waters of the Indian Ocean.
  • - it is with his name that the discovery in 1492 of an entire continent - America is associated.

Rice. 2. Christopher Columbus.

  • Vasco da Gama - the commander of the Portuguese expedition, who in 1498 managed to lay a direct trade route from Europe to Asia.

For several years, from 1498 to 1502, the northern coast was thoroughly explored by Christopher Columbus, Alonso Ojeda, Amerigo Vespucci and many other navigators from Spain and Portugal. South America... However, acquaintance with Western conquerors did not bring local residents nothing good - in the pursuit of easy money, they showed themselves extremely aggressive and cruel.

  • Vasca Nunens Balboa - in 1513, the brave Spaniard was the first to cross the Isthmus of Panama and discover the Pacific Ocean.
  • Fernand Magellan - the first person in history who made a round-the-world trip in 1519-1522, thereby proving that the Earth has the shape of a ball.
  • Abel Tasman - opened Australia to the Western world and New Zealand in the years 1642-1643.
  • Semyon Dezhnev - Russian traveler and pathfinder who was able to find the strait connecting Asia with North America.

Results of the great geographical discoveries

The great geographical discoveries significantly accelerated the transition from the Middle Ages to the New Age, with its most important achievements and the flourishing of most European states.

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Humanity has a different look at the world around us, new horizons have opened up for scientists. This contributed to the development of natural sciences, which could not but affect the general standard of living.

The conquest of new lands by Europeans led to the formation and strengthening of colonial empires that have become powerful raw material base Of the Old World. There was a cultural exchange between civilizations in various areas, there was a movement of animals, plants, diseases and even entire peoples.

Rice. 3. Colonies of the New World.

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

What have we learned?

When studying the topic "Great geographical discoveries" in the 6th grade geography program, we learned briefly about the great geographical discoveries, their significance 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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There are many reasons why your travels are beneficial. This is one of the most interesting things you can do. And this is exactly what you will remember throughout your life. I recently had the opportunity to live in London for 4 months while studying. I was lucky, I was able to visit some other countries, and this is my richest experience.

While it is not always practical to pack up and leave for an amount of time, there are many opportunities to travel, both domestically and internationally. Traveling today is easier than ever. With the right planning, this is possible with even the smallest budget, and the travel investment is well worth it. Here are 10 reasons why you should travel!

1. It's refreshing

How important is the root cause of the trip? Your destination is not where you normally eat, sleep, work, or play. This is a completely new destination with endless new attractions and new activities for you to explore. It’s very easy to become a couch potato, and it’s boring! Therefore, try to escape from home into the world around you. Visit other countries or at least a few neighboring cities.

2. It's simple

Yes, it is not a simple and easy walk, but travel becomes easier and easier every day. Of course, you should always plan your vacation so that everything goes smoothly. Keep your travel documents together, make sure all your reservations are confirmed, and make sure you know how to get from the station to your accommodation. With just a few simple steps on the plan, the journey can be really easy.

3. You will learn new things

About yourself, about other people, about other food, about the world in which you live. Traveling is arguably the most fun way to learn new things. It's fun to explore the world beyond yours. small town, so take this opportunity!

4. You can customize everything for yourself

As long as you travel without a guide or group, you have complete control over where and how to spend your time. It's so wonderful to do what you want. Is not it? Travel gives you a great excuse to discover and explore new interests in yourself.

5. You will meet new people

Traveling is a great way to meet new people. If you are a tourist it is often very easy to find groups of people who follow the same route as you. Hostels, for those on a budget, are also a good way to meet new people. Because many travelers travel alone or in small groups and choose a hostel for the night. There are tons of opportunities to meet travelers and locals alike.

6. You will acquire new skills

You can acquire a ton of new skills. It could be learning a new language or knitting a knot. Or maybe you learn time management skills just by planning your day. The good thing about traveling is that you often learn new skills without difficulty or even realizing it.

7. You have something to look forward to.

Sometimes it's really great to have something on your calendar that you are looking forward to. A simple little reminder that in just a couple of weeks, you will be on a plane to another country or on a road trip. This anticipation and excitement is almost as enjoyable as the ride itself.

8. And something to remember

Photos, memories, memorabilia, whatever you want to remember your trip with. Traveling is wonderful because even if the trip is over, you have the opportunity to remember every moment over and over again.

9. You will try new things.

Traveling is a great way to experiment with new things. You can try to zip up a chasm, go rafting, and just chill out on the beach if you've never done so. You will have tons of opportunities to try something for the first time.

10. It Can Make You Better

Visiting new places is a great way to broaden your horizons. Travelers are more interesting, well-read and, more often than not, more fun. Surround yourself with those who share your passion for travel and your interests in becoming a global citizen. And as a result, you will find yourself gradually getting better.

Routes of the most important travels GREAT GEOGRAPHICAL DISCOVERIES, a conventional term adopted mainly in historical literature, denoting the largest geographical discoveries of European travelers in the 15th to mid-17th centuries. In foreign literature, the period of the Great Geographical Discoveries is usually limited to the middle of the 15th to the middle of the 16th century. Great geographical discoveries




The caravel is a 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, reliable enough for ocean sailing had been created. sailing ships(caravels), Great geographical discoveries






Tusk of the Walrus New trade routes also forced the search for Turkish conquests, which cut off the traditional merchant ties with the East through the Mediterranean Sea. In overseas lands, Europeans hoped to find wealth: gems and metals, exotic goods and spices, ivory and walrus tusks. Great geographical discoveries


Coat of arms of Portugal The first systematic expeditions in Atlantic Ocean the Portuguese started. Portugal's activity at sea was predetermined by her geographic location in the extreme west of Europe and the historical conditions that developed after the end of the Portuguese Reconquista. Great geographical discoveries




Heinrich (Enrique) Navigator Traditionally, the success of Portugal at sea is associated with the name of Prince Henry the Navigator (). He was not only the organizer of sea expeditions, but also seriously engaged in the development of open lands.


Azores In 1416, the Portuguese sailor G. Velho, following south along Africa, discovered Canary Islands, in 1419 the Portuguese nobles Zarco and Vaz Teixeira discovered the islands of Madeira and Porto Santo, in 1431 V. Cabral Azores. Great geographical discoveries


Diogo Caen in the Congo During the 15th century, Portuguese caravels mastered the sea route along west coast Africa, reaching more and more southern latitudes. In the years Diogo Kan (Cao) crossed the equator, opened the mouth of the Congo River and went along the coast of Africa to Cape Cross. Kahn discovered the Namibian deserts, thereby refuting the legend of the impassability of the tropics, which existed since the time of Ptolemy. Great geographical discoveries






CHRISTOPHOR COLUMBUS, portrait of an unknown artist, 16th century In 1492, after the capture of Granada and the completion of the reconquest, the Spanish king Ferdinand and Queen Isabella accepted the project of the Genoese navigator Christopher Columbus () to reach the shores of India by sailing west.


Columbus Profile Columbus Coin The Columbus project had many opponents, but he received the support of scientists from the University of Salaman, the most famous in Spain, and, no less importantly, among the business people of Seville.








Christopher Columbus (yy) From the Canary Islands, Columbus headed west. October 12, 1492, after a month's voyage in open ocean, the fleet approached a small island from the group of the Bahamas, later named San Salvador.










The second expedition Subsequently, Columbus made three more trips to America in years, years, during which part of the Lesser Antilles, Puerto Rico, Jamaica, Trinidad, etc. were discovered; part of Atlantic coast Central and South America.








Columbus with an anchor and his noble coat of arms Columbus for his great discoveries was granted by the Spanish monarch a noble coat of arms, on which "the castle of Castile and the lion of Leon coexisted with images of the islands discovered by him, as well as anchors of the symbols of the admiral's title." Personal coat of arms of Columbus















Vasco da Gama Returning to Portugal in September 1499, Vasco da Gama was greeted with great honor, received a large monetary award and the title "Admiral Indian Ocean”, As well as the title of Don and the towns of Sines and Vila Nova de Milfontes in the fiefdom. In 1519 he received the title of Count of Vidigueira.


PORTRAIT OF VASCO YES GAMA Later I was in India twice more. Died in Cochin (India) on December 24th The ashes were transported to Portugal and buried in the small church of Quinta do Carmo in Alentejo. In 1880 the ashes were transferred to the Monastery of the Jeronimites in Lisbon.


John Cabot In Spain and Portugal, sea expeditions were equipped annually, which made overseas voyages and discovered new lands. Interested in overseas countries and others European states... In the years England equipped expeditions led by the Italian navigator John Cabot, who reached the shores North America in the area of ​​the island of Newfoundland. Great geographical discoveries


Pedro Alvares Cabral In 1500, a Portuguese squadron under the command of Pedro Cabral, heading for India, due to the equatorial current deviated greatly and reached Brazil, which Cabral took for an island. Then he continued his voyage, circled Africa and proceeded through the Mozambique Strait to India. Like previous travelers, Cabral considered the land he discovered in the west as part of Asia. Great geographical discoveries


Alonso de Ojeda On an engraving from the 18th century. The travels of the navigator Amerigo Vespucci were of great importance for understanding the essence of the discovery of Christopher Columbus. In the years he made four voyages to the shores of America, first as part of a Spanish expedition led by Alonso Ojeda, and then under the Portuguese flag. Great geographical discoveries


Amerigo Vespucci Comparing the data obtained, and the Spanish and Portuguese navigators discovered the entire northern coast of South America and its eastern coast up to 25 ° south latitude, Vespucci came to the conclusion that the open lands are not Asia, but a new continent, and proposed to call it the New World ".








John Cabot's research in North America was continued by his son Sebastian Cabot. In years, leading British expeditions, he tried to find the so-called Northwest Passage to India and managed to get out into Hudson Bay. Finding no shortcut to India, England showed little interest in open lands overseas. Hudson Bay Great Geographical Discoveries






Fernand Magellan finally confirmed the difference between America and Asia, who carried out the first circumnavigation (), which became practical evidence of the sphericity of the Earth. Fernand Magellan


A ship from the Magellan fleet. Image of 1523 An expedition led by Magellan surveyed the south eastern part South America, opened the strait between the Atlantic and Pacific oceans (Strait of Magellan) and sailed through southern part The Pacific... Great geographical discoveries










Cordoba, Calahorra Tower In the years, the Spanish conquistadors J. Ponce de Leon, F. Cordova, H. Grihalva discovered the entire eastern coast of South and Central America, the coast of the Gulf of Mexico, the Florida Peninsula. Great geographical discoveries




Campaign map Expedition to Mexico Great geographical discoveries


California map of the 17th century. The territory is depicted as an island. The search for gold, the mythical country of El Dorado, led the conquistadors far into the interior of the American continent. In the years that passed to the Spanish service Sebastian Cabot, explored the lower course of the Parana River and discovered the lower course of the Paraguay River.




Francisco Orellana sailed across the Amazon from the Andes to the mouth in 1542. By 1552, the Spaniards explored the entire Pacific coast of South America, discovered the largest rivers of the continent (Amazon, Orinoco, Parana, Paraguay), explored the Andes from 10 ° north latitude to 40 ° south latitude. Francisco de Orellana, depicted by the artist of our day.


ERNANDO DE SOTO In the second quarter of the 16th century, French navigators also achieved significant success. G. Verrazano (1524) and J. Cartier () discovered the eastern coast of North America and the St. Lawrence River. In the years, the Spaniards E. Soto and F. Coronado traveled to the Southern Appalachians and the Southern Rocky Mountains, to the basins of the Colorado and Mississippi rivers.


Russian explorer Semyon Dezhnev, who discovered the strait between the Asian continent and America. Russian explorers surveyed the northern coast of the Ob, Yenisei and Lena and mapped the contours of the northern coast of Asia. In 1642, Yakutsk was founded, which became the base for expeditions to the Arctic Ocean. Great geographical discoveries


Russian explorer Semyon Dezhnev, who discovered the strait between the Asian continent and America. Great geographical discoveries In 1648, Semyon Ivanovich Dezhnev (ok) left the Kolyma and bypassed the Chukotka peninsula, proving that the Asian mainland was separated from America by the strait. The outlines of the northern east coast Asia (1667, "Drawing of the Siberian land").


Cape Dezhnev But Dezhnev's report on the discovery of the strait lay for 80 years in the Yakut archive and was published only in 1758. The strait opened by Dezhnev was named after the Danish navigator in the Russian service Vitus Bering, who in 1728 reopened the strait. In 1898, in memory of Dezhnev, a cape of the northeastern tip of Asia was named after him. Great geographical discoveries




Henry Hudson made four expeditions to North America in years. He passed the strait between Labrador and Baffin Land into a vast bay deep in North America. Later, both the strait and the bay were named after the Hudson. A river in the east of North America, at the mouth of which the city of New York later arose, was named after him. The fate of the Hudson ended tragically, in the spring of 1611, the mutinous crew of his ship landed him with his teenage son in a boat in the middle of the ocean, where they disappeared without a trace. HENRY GOODSON


In years John Davis spent three voyages in the waters of the North Atlantic, discovered the strait between Greenland and America (Davis Strait), explored the coast of the Labrador Peninsula. John Davis The Great Geographical Discoveries


Portrait of William Baffin by Hendrik van der Borcht William Baffin sailed in the Arctic waters in years: he made expeditions to the shores of Spitsbergen, explored the Hudson Bay and the sea, later named after him, discovered a number of islands in the Canadian Arctic Archipelago, moving along west coast Greenland has reached 78 ° north latitude. Samuel de Champlain In the first quarter of the 17th century. Europeans begin to explore North America. At first, France was the most successful in this region. The first governor of Canada, Samuel Champlain in the years. explored part of the eastern coast of North America, traveled inland: discovered the Northern Appalachians, climbed up the St. Lawrence River to the Great Lakes and reached Lake Huron. By 1648, the French had discovered all five of the Great Lakes.


At the same time, at the beginning of the 17th century, European sailors penetrated the most distant part of the world from Europe, areas located south of South-East Asia... Spaniard Luis Torres discovered in 1606 South coast New Guinea and passed through the strait dividing Asia and Australia (Torres Strait). Torres Strait Map Great Geographical Discoveries



Abel Janszon Tasman In the years. Dutchman Abel Tasman discovered Tasmania, New Zealand, Fiji, part of the coast of Northern and Western Australia. Tasman identified Australia as a single land mass and called it New Holland. But Holland did not have enough resources, to develop a new continent, and a century later it had to be rediscovered. Great geographical discoveries